Coles County Demographics

A map of Coles County's Population by Race

Coles County, Illinois has an estimated population of 46,777, a less than 1% change from the 46,863 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 88.0% White, 3.9% Hispanic, 3.6% Black, 3.1% Multiracial, 1.1% Asian, and 0.4% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Coles County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Coles has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Illinois overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Coles County, that probability was 25.4% in 2020 and 22.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Coles County is ranked the 31st most populous county in Illinois, out of 102 counties. Coles County was ranked the 31st most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Coles County's White Population

41,146 residents of Coles County, or 88.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Coles County is significantly higher than in Illinois overall, where 58.1% of the population is White. Coles County ranks 60th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Coles County's White population has grown by an estimated 2.0%. White residents' share of Coles County's population has increased from 86.1% to 88.0%.

Coles County is more White than neighboring Douglas County (87.4% White). Coles County is less White than neighboring Cumberland County (95% White), Moultrie County (95.1% White), Clark County (95% White), and Edgar County (95.8% White).

Coles County's Black Population

1,666 residents of Coles County, or 3.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Coles County is lower than in Illinois overall, where 13.3% of the population is Black. Coles County ranks 37th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Coles County's Black population has declined by an estimated 18.5%. Black residents' share of Coles County's population has decreased from 4.4% to 3.6%.

Coles County is more Black than neighboring Cumberland County (0.2% Black), Douglas County (1.2% Black), Moultrie County (1% Black), Clark County (0.5% Black), and Edgar County (0.7% Black).

Coles County's Asian Population

514 residents of Coles County, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Coles County is slightly lower than in Illinois overall, where 5.9% of the population is Asian. Coles County ranks 21st statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Coles County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 16.7%. Asian residents' share of Coles County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.1%.

Coles County is more Asian than neighboring Cumberland County (0% Asian), Douglas County (0.4% Asian), Moultrie County (0.1% Asian), Clark County (0.1% Asian), and Edgar County (0.2% Asian).

Coles County's Hispanic Population

1,809 residents of Coles County, or 3.9% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Coles County is considerably lower than in Illinois overall, where 18.8% of the population is Hispanic. Coles County ranks 42nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Coles County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 2.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Coles County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.9%.

Coles County is more Hispanic than neighboring Cumberland County (0.4% Hispanic), Moultrie County (1.7% Hispanic), Clark County (1.9% Hispanic), and Edgar County (1.5% Hispanic). Coles County is less Hispanic than neighboring Douglas County (8.5% Hispanic).

Coles County's Native American/Other Population

200 residents of Coles County, or 0.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Coles County is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 0.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Coles County ranks 8th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Coles County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 36.9%. Native American/Other residents' share of Coles County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Coles County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Cumberland County (0% Native American/Other), Moultrie County (0.1% Native American/Other), Clark County (0% Native American/Other), and Edgar County (0% Native American/Other).

Coles County's Multiracial Population

1,442 residents of Coles County, or 3.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Coles County is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 3.4% of the population is Multiracial. Coles County ranks 32nd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Coles County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 18.3%. Multiracial residents' share of Coles County's population has decreased from 3.8% to 3.1%.

Coles County is more Multiracial than neighboring Douglas County (2% Multiracial), Moultrie County (2.1% Multiracial), Clark County (2.5% Multiracial), and Edgar County (1.7% Multiracial). Coles County is less Multiracial than neighboring Cumberland County (4.4% 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.