DeKalb County Demographics

A map of DeKalb County's Population by Race

DeKalb County, Alabama has an estimated population of 72,269, a less than 1% change from the 71,608 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 77.0% White, 17.1% Hispanic, 3.4% Multiracial, 1.3% Black, 1.0% Native American/Other, and 0.2% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of DeKalb County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

DeKalb has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Alabama overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In DeKalb County, that probability was 39.1% in 2020 and 37.7% in the most recent ACS estimates.

DeKalb County is ranked the 20th most populous county in Alabama, out of 67 counties. DeKalb County was ranked the 20th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

DeKalb County's White Population

55,620 residents of DeKalb County, or 77.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in DeKalb County is considerably higher than in Alabama overall, where 63.4% of the population is White. DeKalb County ranks 19th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb County's White population has grown by an estimated 2.0%. White residents' share of DeKalb County's population has increased from 76.1% to 77.0%.

DeKalb County is more White than neighboring Etowah County (76.2% White). DeKalb County is less White than neighboring Cherokee County (90.4% White), Jackson County (88.2% White), Chattooga County (81% White), and Dade County (91.5% White).

DeKalb County's Black Population

975 residents of DeKalb County, or 1.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in DeKalb County is significantly lower than in Alabama overall, where 25.6% of the population is Black. DeKalb County ranks 64th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb County's Black population has declined by an estimated 4.3%. Black residents' share of DeKalb County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.3%.

DeKalb County is more Black than neighboring Dade County (1.1% Black). DeKalb County is less Black than neighboring Cherokee County (3.8% Black), Jackson County (3.1% Black), Chattooga County (8.9% Black), and Etowah County (14.7% Black).

DeKalb County's Asian Population

136 residents of DeKalb County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in DeKalb County is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 1.4% of the population is Asian. DeKalb County ranks 43rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 42.6%. Asian residents' share of DeKalb County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

DeKalb County is less Asian than neighboring Jackson County (0.5% Asian), Chattooga County (0.4% Asian), Etowah County (0.7% Asian), and Dade County (1.2% Asian).

DeKalb County's Hispanic Population

12,382 residents of DeKalb County, or 17.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in DeKalb County is considerably higher than in Alabama overall, where 5.6% of the population is Hispanic. DeKalb County ranks 2nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 5.4%. Hispanic residents' share of DeKalb County's population has increased from 16.4% to 17.1%.

DeKalb County is more Hispanic than neighboring Cherokee County (1.8% Hispanic), Jackson County (3.6% Hispanic), Chattooga County (5.7% Hispanic), Etowah County (5.2% Hispanic), and Dade County (2.9% Hispanic).

DeKalb County's Native American/Other Population

709 residents of DeKalb County, or 1.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in DeKalb County is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. DeKalb County ranks 8th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 13.2%. Native American/Other residents' share of DeKalb County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.0%.

DeKalb County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Cherokee County (0.3% Native American/Other), Jackson County (0.6% Native American/Other), Chattooga County (0.1% Native American/Other), Etowah County (0.5% Native American/Other), and Dade County (0.1% Native American/Other).

DeKalb County's Multiracial Population

2,447 residents of DeKalb County, or 3.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in DeKalb County is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 3.3% of the population is Multiracial. DeKalb County ranks 7th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 25.0%. Multiracial residents' share of DeKalb County's population has decreased from 4.6% to 3.4%.

DeKalb County is more Multiracial than neighboring Etowah County (2.8% Multiracial), and Dade County (3.1% Multiracial). DeKalb County is less Multiracial than neighboring Cherokee County (3.5% Multiracial), Jackson County (4% Multiracial), and Chattooga County (3.8% 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.