Chesapeake, VA Demographics

A map of Chesapeake's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	135,855	135,679	53.8%	54.4%
Black	71,944	70,885	28.5%	28.4%
Hispanic	19,408	17,824	7.7%	7.1%
Multiracial	13,519	13,900	5.4%	5.6%
Asian	9,654	8,868	3.8%	3.6%
Native American/Other	2,203	2,266	0.9%	0.9%

Chesapeake, Virginia has an estimated population of 252,583, a slight increase from the 249,422 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 53.8% White, 28.5% Black, 7.7% Hispanic, 5.4% Multiracial, 3.8% Asian, and 0.9% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Chesapeake, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Chesapeake has become slightly more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is more diverse than Virginia overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Chesapeake, that probability was 61.4% in 2020 and 61.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Chesapeake is ranked the 2nd most populous place in Virginia, out of 688 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Chesapeake was ranked the 2nd most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Chesapeake's White Population

135,855 residents of Chesapeake, or 53.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Chesapeake is slightly lower than in Virginia overall, where 58.4% of the population is White. Chesapeake ranks 499th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chesapeake's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Chesapeake's population has decreased from 54.4% to 53.8%.

Chesapeake is more White than neighboring Portsmouth (35.4% White), and Norfolk (41.2% White). Chesapeake is less White than neighboring Moyock (75.5% White), South Mills (93.5% White), and Virginia Beach (58.8% White).

Chesapeake's Black Population

71,944 residents of Chesapeake, or 28.5% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Chesapeake is considerably higher than in Virginia overall, where 18.3% of the population is Black. Chesapeake ranks 115th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chesapeake's Black population has grown by an estimated 1.5%. Black residents' share of Chesapeake's population has remained roughly unchanged at 28.5%.

Chesapeake is more Black than neighboring Moyock (10% Black), South Mills (6.5% Black), and Virginia Beach (18.2% Black). Chesapeake is less Black than neighboring Portsmouth (50.2% Black), and Norfolk (38.9% Black).

Chesapeake's Asian Population

9,654 residents of Chesapeake, or 3.8% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Chesapeake is slightly lower than in Virginia overall, where 6.9% of the population is Asian. Chesapeake ranks 158th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chesapeake's Asian population has grown by an estimated 8.9%. Asian residents' share of Chesapeake's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.8%.

Chesapeake is more Asian than neighboring Portsmouth (1.6% Asian), Moyock (1.7% Asian), South Mills (0% Asian), and Norfolk (3.6% Asian). Chesapeake is less Asian than neighboring Virginia Beach (7.1% Asian).

Chesapeake's Hispanic Population

19,408 residents of Chesapeake, or 7.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Chesapeake is slightly lower than in Virginia overall, where 11% of the population is Hispanic. Chesapeake ranks 238th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chesapeake's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 8.9%. Hispanic residents' share of Chesapeake's population has increased from 7.1% to 7.7%.

Chesapeake is more Hispanic than neighboring Portsmouth (5.4% Hispanic), Moyock (5.5% Hispanic), and South Mills (0% Hispanic). Chesapeake is less Hispanic than neighboring Norfolk (10.1% Hispanic), and Virginia Beach (9.1% Hispanic).

Chesapeake's Native American/Other Population

2,203 residents of Chesapeake, or 0.9% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Chesapeake is comparable to the share in Virginia overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Chesapeake ranks 190th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chesapeake's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 2.8%. Native American/Other residents' share of Chesapeake's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.9%.

Chesapeake is more Native American/Other than neighboring Moyock (0% Native American/Other), South Mills (0% Native American/Other), and Virginia Beach (0.8% Native American/Other).

Chesapeake's Multiracial Population

13,519 residents of Chesapeake, or 5.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Chesapeake is comparable to the share in Virginia overall, where 4.7% of the population is Multiracial. Chesapeake ranks 135th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chesapeake's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 2.7%. Multiracial residents' share of Chesapeake's population has remained roughly unchanged at 5.4%.

Chesapeake is more Multiracial than neighboring South Mills (0% Multiracial), and Norfolk (5.3% Multiracial). Chesapeake is less Multiracial than neighboring Portsmouth (6.5% Multiracial), Moyock (7.4% Multiracial), and Virginia Beach (6% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.