Columbus, GA Demographics

A map of Columbus's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Black	93,972	94,701	46.1%	45.8%
White	74,833	79,083	36.7%	38.2%
Hispanic	17,357	16,513	8.5%	8.0%
Multiracial	10,670	8,998	5.2%	4.3%
Asian	5,257	5,546	2.6%	2.7%
Native American/Other	1,622	2,081	0.8%	1.0%

Columbus, Georgia has an estimated population of 203,711, a slight decrease from the 206,922 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 46.1% Black, 36.7% White, 8.5% Hispanic, 5.2% Multiracial, 2.6% Asian, and 0.8% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Columbus, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Columbus has become slightly more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is slightly less diverse than Georgia overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Columbus, that probability was 63.5% in 2020 and 64.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Columbus is ranked the 2nd most populous place in Georgia, out of 675 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). Columbus was ranked the 2nd most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Columbus's White Population

74,833 residents of Columbus, or 36.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Columbus is considerably lower than in Georgia overall, where 49.1% of the population is White. Columbus ranks 505th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 675 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Columbus's White population has declined by an estimated 5.4%. White residents' share of Columbus's population has decreased from 38.2% to 36.7%.

Columbus is less White than neighboring Cataula (47.5% White), Ellerslie (62.4% White), Phenix City (40.3% White), Cusseta-Chattahoochee County unified government (54.1% White), and Piney Grove (95.8% White).

Columbus's Black Population

93,972 residents of Columbus, or 46.1% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Columbus is significantly higher than in Georgia overall, where 30.7% of the population is Black. Columbus ranks 179th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 675 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Columbus's Black population has remained roughly the same. Black residents' share of Columbus's population has remained roughly unchanged at 46.1%.

Columbus is more Black than neighboring Cataula (24.9% Black), Ellerslie (22% Black), Cusseta-Chattahoochee County unified government (19.3% Black), and Piney Grove (0% Black). Columbus is less Black than neighboring Phenix City (47.6% Black).

Columbus's Asian Population

5,257 residents of Columbus, or 2.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Columbus is comparable to the share in Georgia overall, where 4.5% of the population is Asian. Columbus ranks 103rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 675 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Columbus's Asian population has declined by an estimated 5.2%. Asian residents' share of Columbus's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.6%.

Columbus is more Asian than neighboring Cataula (2.4% Asian), Ellerslie (0.9% Asian), Phenix City (1.2% Asian), and Piney Grove (0% Asian). Columbus is less Asian than neighboring Cusseta-Chattahoochee County unified government (3.1% Asian).

Columbus's Hispanic Population

17,357 residents of Columbus, or 8.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Columbus is slightly lower than in Georgia overall, where 11% of the population is Hispanic. Columbus ranks 191st statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 675 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Columbus's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 5.1%. Hispanic residents' share of Columbus's population has increased from 8.0% to 8.5%.

Columbus is more Hispanic than neighboring Phenix City (5.7% Hispanic), and Piney Grove (4.2% Hispanic). Columbus is less Hispanic than neighboring Cataula (17.9% Hispanic), Ellerslie (11.1% Hispanic), and Cusseta-Chattahoochee County unified government (17.9% Hispanic).

Columbus's Native American/Other Population

1,622 residents of Columbus, or 0.8% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Columbus is comparable to the share in Georgia overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Columbus ranks 109th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 675 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Columbus's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 22.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Columbus's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.8%.

Columbus is more Native American/Other than neighboring Cataula (0% Native American/Other), Phenix City (0.2% Native American/Other), and Piney Grove (0% Native American/Other). Columbus is less Native American/Other than neighboring Ellerslie (3.7% Native American/Other), and Cusseta-Chattahoochee County unified government (2.1% Native American/Other).

Columbus's Multiracial Population

10,670 residents of Columbus, or 5.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Columbus is comparable to the share in Georgia overall, where 3.9% of the population is Multiracial. Columbus ranks 150th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 675 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Columbus's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 18.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Columbus's population has increased from 4.3% to 5.2%.

Columbus is more Multiracial than neighboring Ellerslie (0% Multiracial), Phenix City (5% Multiracial), Cusseta-Chattahoochee County unified government (3.4% Multiracial), and Piney Grove (0% Multiracial). Columbus is less Multiracial than neighboring Cataula (7.4% 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.