DeKalb County Demographics

A map of DeKalb County's Population by Race

DeKalb County, Illinois has an estimated population of 100,703, a less than 1% change from the 100,420 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 71.0% White, 14.5% Hispanic, 6.8% Black, 4.8% Multiracial, 2.2% Asian, and 0.7% Native American/Other. 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 is about as racially diverse as it was in 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 DeKalb County, that probability was 46.9% in 2020 and 46.7% in the most recent ACS estimates.

DeKalb County is ranked the 20th most populous county in Illinois, out of 102 counties. DeKalb County was ranked the 20th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

DeKalb County's White Population

71,499 residents of DeKalb County, or 71.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in DeKalb County is considerably higher than in Illinois overall, where 58.1% of the population is White. DeKalb County ranks 85th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb County's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of DeKalb County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 71.0%.

DeKalb County is more White than neighboring Kane County (54% White), Boone County (68% White), and Kendall County (62% White). DeKalb County is less White than neighboring McHenry County (76.1% White), and Lee County (83.4% White).

DeKalb County's Black Population

6,810 residents of DeKalb County, or 6.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in DeKalb County is lower than in Illinois overall, where 13.3% of the population is Black. DeKalb County ranks 21st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb County's Black population has declined by an estimated 22.0%. Black residents' share of DeKalb County's population has decreased from 8.7% to 6.8%.

DeKalb County is more Black than neighboring Kane County (4.7% Black), Boone County (2.3% Black), McHenry County (1.4% Black), and Lee County (5.3% Black). DeKalb County is less Black than neighboring Kendall County (7.6% Black).

DeKalb County's Asian Population

2,262 residents of DeKalb County, or 2.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in DeKalb County is slightly lower than in Illinois overall, where 5.9% of the population is Asian. DeKalb County ranks 14th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb County's Asian population has remained roughly the same. Asian residents' share of DeKalb County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.2%.

DeKalb County is more Asian than neighboring Boone County (1% Asian), and Lee County (0.7% Asian). DeKalb County is less Asian than neighboring Kane County (4% Asian), Kendall County (3.5% Asian), and McHenry County (3% Asian).

DeKalb County's Hispanic Population

14,647 residents of DeKalb County, or 14.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in DeKalb County is slightly lower than in Illinois overall, where 18.8% of the population is Hispanic. DeKalb County ranks 12th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 7.7%. Hispanic residents' share of DeKalb County's population has increased from 13.5% to 14.5%.

DeKalb County is more Hispanic than neighboring Lee County (7.6% Hispanic). DeKalb County is less Hispanic than neighboring Kane County (33.4% Hispanic), Boone County (25.6% Hispanic), Kendall County (22.4% Hispanic), and McHenry County (16.1% Hispanic).

DeKalb County's Native American/Other Population

672 residents of DeKalb County, or 0.7% 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 Illinois overall, where 0.5% of the population is Native American/Other. DeKalb County ranks 43rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 50.7%. Native American/Other residents' share of DeKalb County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

DeKalb County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Kane County (0.5% Native American/Other), Boone County (0.4% Native American/Other), Kendall County (0.5% Native American/Other), McHenry County (0.3% Native American/Other), and Lee County (0.1% Native American/Other).

DeKalb County's Multiracial Population

4,813 residents of DeKalb County, or 4.8% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in DeKalb County is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 3.4% of the population is Multiracial. DeKalb County ranks 22nd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 16.9%. Multiracial residents' share of DeKalb County's population has increased from 4.1% to 4.8%.

DeKalb County is more Multiracial than neighboring Kane County (3.4% Multiracial), Boone County (2.8% Multiracial), Kendall County (3.9% Multiracial), McHenry County (3.2% Multiracial), and Lee County (2.9% 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.