Clay County Demographics

A map of Clay County's Population by Race

Clay County, Mississippi has an estimated population of 18,383, a slight decrease from the 18,636 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 60.2% Black, 36.8% White, 2.7% Multiracial, 0.2% Hispanic, 0.1% Asian, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Clay County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Clay has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Mississippi overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Clay County, that probability was 51.5% in 2020 and 50.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Clay County is ranked the 49th most populous county in Mississippi, out of 82 counties. Clay County was ranked the 48th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Clay County's White Population

6,773 residents of Clay County, or 36.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Clay County is significantly lower than in Mississippi overall, where 55.2% of the population is White. Clay County ranks 61st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's White population has declined by an estimated 5.9%. White residents' share of Clay County's population has decreased from 38.6% to 36.8%.

Clay County is less White than neighboring Oktibbeha County (54.7% White), Chickasaw County (49.4% White), Monroe County (66.3% White), Lowndes County (49% White), and Webster County (77.9% White).

Clay County's Black Population

11,058 residents of Clay County, or 60.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Clay County is significantly higher than in Mississippi overall, where 36.3% of the population is Black. Clay County ranks 20th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Black population has grown by an estimated 2.5%. Black residents' share of Clay County's population has increased from 57.9% to 60.2%.

Clay County is more Black than neighboring Oktibbeha County (35.4% Black), Chickasaw County (47.7% Black), Monroe County (29.7% Black), Lowndes County (43.6% Black), and Webster County (18.7% Black).

Clay County's Asian Population

20 residents of Clay County, or 0.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Clay County is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 1% of the population is Asian. Clay County ranks 44th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 64.9%. Asian residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.1%.

Clay County is less Asian than neighboring Oktibbeha County (3.2% Asian), Chickasaw County (0.4% Asian), Monroe County (0.3% Asian), Lowndes County (1% Asian), and Webster County (0.3% Asian).

Clay County's Hispanic Population

36 residents of Clay County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Clay County is slightly lower than in Mississippi overall, where 3.7% of the population is Hispanic. Clay County ranks 74th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 80.6%. Hispanic residents' share of Clay County's population has decreased from 1.0% to 0.2%.

Clay County is less Hispanic than neighboring Oktibbeha County (2.4% Hispanic), Chickasaw County (1.1% Hispanic), Monroe County (1.6% Hispanic), Lowndes County (2.3% Hispanic), and Webster County (1.9% Hispanic).

Clay County's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Clay County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Clay County is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Clay County ranks 35th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Clay County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Oktibbeha County (0.3% Native American/Other), Monroe County (0.2% Native American/Other), Lowndes County (1% Native American/Other), and Webster County (0.1% Native American/Other).

Clay County's Multiracial Population

496 residents of Clay County, or 2.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Clay County is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 3% of the population is Multiracial. Clay County ranks 64th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 46.3%. Multiracial residents' share of Clay County's population has increased from 1.8% to 2.7%.

Clay County is more Multiracial than neighboring Chickasaw County (1.3% Multiracial), Monroe County (1.9% Multiracial), and Webster County (1.1% Multiracial). Clay County is less Multiracial than neighboring Oktibbeha County (4% Multiracial), and Lowndes County (3.1% 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.