Gary, IN Demographics

A map of Gary's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Black	51,585	54,660	75.7%	79.1%
Hispanic	7,069	5,221	10.4%	7.6%
White	6,421	6,374	9.4%	9.2%
Multiracial	2,248	2,201	3.3%	3.2%
Native American/Other	550	513	0.8%	0.7%
Asian	240	124	0.4%	0.2%

Gary, Indiana has an estimated population of 68,113, a slight decrease from the 69,093 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 75.7% Black, 10.4% Hispanic, 9.4% White, 3.3% Multiracial, 0.8% Native American/Other, and 0.4% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Gary, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Gary has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is slightly less diverse than Indiana overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Gary, that probability was 35.9% in 2020 and 40.6% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Gary is ranked the 11th most populous place in Indiana, out of 976 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). Gary was ranked the 11th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Gary's White Population

6,421 residents of Gary, or 9.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Gary is significantly lower than in Indiana overall, where 75.4% of the population is White. Gary ranks 695th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 976 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gary's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Gary's population has remained roughly unchanged at 9.4%.

Gary is more White than neighboring East Chicago (6.1% White). Gary is less White than neighboring New Chicago (48.2% White), Lake Station (59.1% White), Griffith (58.7% White), and Hobart (65.3% White).

Gary's Black Population

51,585 residents of Gary, or 75.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Gary is significantly higher than in Indiana overall, where 9.1% of the population is Black. Gary ranks 1st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 976 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gary's Black population has declined by an estimated 5.6%. Black residents' share of Gary's population has decreased from 79.1% to 75.7%.

Gary is more Black than neighboring New Chicago (1.8% Black), Lake Station (2.5% Black), Griffith (14.5% Black), Hobart (14.3% Black), and East Chicago (36.1% Black).

Gary's Asian Population

240 residents of Gary, or 0.4% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Gary is slightly lower than in Indiana overall, where 2.6% of the population is Asian. Gary ranks 441st statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 976 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gary's Asian population has grown by an estimated 93.5%. Asian residents' share of Gary's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Gary is more Asian than neighboring East Chicago (0% Asian). Gary is less Asian than neighboring New Chicago (1.2% Asian), Lake Station (1.4% Asian), Griffith (2% Asian), and Hobart (1.1% Asian).

Gary's Hispanic Population

7,069 residents of Gary, or 10.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Gary is comparable to the share in Indiana overall, where 8.6% of the population is Hispanic. Gary ranks 103rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 976 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gary's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 35.4%. Hispanic residents' share of Gary's population has increased from 7.6% to 10.4%.

Gary is less Hispanic than neighboring New Chicago (43.5% Hispanic), Lake Station (32.8% Hispanic), Griffith (19.1% Hispanic), Hobart (16.7% Hispanic), and East Chicago (57.2% Hispanic).

Gary's Native American/Other Population

550 residents of Gary, 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 Gary is comparable to the share in Indiana overall, where 0.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Gary ranks 136th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 976 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gary's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 7.2%. Native American/Other residents' share of Gary's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.8%.

Gary is more Native American/Other than neighboring Lake Station (0% Native American/Other), Griffith (0.5% Native American/Other), Hobart (0.2% Native American/Other), and East Chicago (0.2% Native American/Other). Gary is less Native American/Other than neighboring New Chicago (1.6% Native American/Other).

Gary's Multiracial Population

2,248 residents of Gary, or 3.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Gary is comparable to the share in Indiana overall, where 3.8% of the population is Multiracial. Gary ranks 404th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 976 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gary's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 2.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Gary's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.3%.

Gary is more Multiracial than neighboring Hobart (2.3% Multiracial), and East Chicago (0.5% Multiracial). Gary is less Multiracial than neighboring New Chicago (3.6% Multiracial), Lake Station (4.2% Multiracial), and Griffith (5.2% 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.