DeKalb, IL Demographics

A map of DeKalb's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	22,790	22,211	56.4%	55.1%
Hispanic	8,058	7,185	19.9%	17.8%
Black	5,587	7,296	13.8%	18.1%
Multiracial	2,131	1,809	5.3%	4.5%
Asian	1,627	1,570	4.0%	3.9%
Native American/Other	250	219	0.6%	0.5%

DeKalb, Illinois has an estimated population of 40,443, a less than 1% change from the 40,290 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 56.4% White, 19.9% Hispanic, 13.8% Black, 5.3% Multiracial, 4.0% Asian, and 0.6% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of DeKalb, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

DeKalb has become slightly less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is more 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, that probability was 62.8% in 2020 and 61.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

DeKalb is ranked the 41st most populous place in Illinois, out of 1,461 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). DeKalb was ranked the 39th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

DeKalb's White Population

22,790 residents of DeKalb, or 56.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in DeKalb is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 58.1% of the population is White. DeKalb ranks 1331st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb's White population has grown by an estimated 2.6%. White residents' share of DeKalb's population has increased from 55.1% to 56.4%.

DeKalb is less White than neighboring Cortland (70% White), Sycamore (80.8% White), Malta (69.2% White), Maple Park (83.6% White), and Waterman (80.8% White).

DeKalb's Black Population

5,587 residents of DeKalb, or 13.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in DeKalb is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 13.3% of the population is Black. DeKalb ranks 93rd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb's Black population has declined by an estimated 23.4%. Black residents' share of DeKalb's population has decreased from 18.1% to 13.8%.

DeKalb is more Black than neighboring Cortland (5.1% Black), Sycamore (3% Black), Malta (2.5% Black), Maple Park (0.6% Black), and Waterman (2.1% Black).

DeKalb's Asian Population

1,627 residents of DeKalb, or 4.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in DeKalb is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 5.9% of the population is Asian. DeKalb ranks 149th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb's Asian population has grown by an estimated 3.6%. Asian residents' share of DeKalb's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.0%.

DeKalb is more Asian than neighboring Cortland (0.7% Asian), Sycamore (1.9% Asian), Malta (0% Asian), Maple Park (0.1% Asian), and Waterman (0.3% Asian).

DeKalb's Hispanic Population

8,058 residents of DeKalb, or 19.9% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in DeKalb is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 18.8% of the population is Hispanic. DeKalb ranks 130th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 12.2%. Hispanic residents' share of DeKalb's population has increased from 17.8% to 19.9%.

DeKalb is more Hispanic than neighboring Cortland (17.2% Hispanic), Sycamore (11.3% Hispanic), Maple Park (10.8% Hispanic), and Waterman (9.2% Hispanic). DeKalb is less Hispanic than neighboring Malta (23.3% Hispanic).

DeKalb's Native American/Other Population

250 residents of DeKalb, or 0.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in DeKalb is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 0.5% of the population is Native American/Other. DeKalb ranks 456th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 14.2%. Native American/Other residents' share of DeKalb's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

DeKalb is more Native American/Other than neighboring Cortland (0% Native American/Other), Sycamore (0% Native American/Other), Malta (0% Native American/Other), Maple Park (0% Native American/Other), and Waterman (0% Native American/Other).

DeKalb's Multiracial Population

2,131 residents of DeKalb, or 5.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in DeKalb is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 3.4% of the population is Multiracial. DeKalb ranks 377th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, DeKalb's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 17.8%. Multiracial residents' share of DeKalb's population has increased from 4.5% to 5.3%.

DeKalb is more Multiracial than neighboring Sycamore (2.9% Multiracial), Malta (4.9% Multiracial), and Maple Park (4.9% Multiracial). DeKalb is less Multiracial than neighboring Cortland (7.1% Multiracial), and Waterman (7.7% 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.