Gem County Demographics

A map of Gem County's Population by Race

Gem County, Idaho has an estimated population of 20,614, an increase from the 19,123 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 83.5% White, 9.7% Hispanic, 4.5% Multiracial, 1.5% Native American/Other, 0.8% Asian, and 0.0% Black. This demographic dot map shows the population of Gem County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Gem has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Idaho overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Gem County, that probability was 27.8% in 2020 and 29.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Gem County is ranked the 19th most populous county in Idaho, out of 44 counties. Gem County was ranked the 19th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Gem County's White Population

17,211 residents of Gem County, or 83.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Gem County is slightly higher than in Idaho overall, where 78.6% of the population is White. Gem County ranks 21st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 44 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Gem County's White population has grown by an estimated 6.7%. White residents' share of Gem County's population has decreased from 84.4% to 83.5%.

Gem County is more White than neighboring Payette County (75.5% White), Canyon County (67.1% White), Washington County (77.6% White), and Ada County (80.9% White).

Gem County's Black Population

2 residents of Gem County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Gem County is comparable to the share in Idaho overall, where 0.7% of the population is Black. Gem County ranks 32nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 44 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Gem County's Black population has declined by an estimated 93.1%. Black residents' share of Gem County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Gem County is less Black than neighboring Payette County (0.1% Black), Canyon County (0.7% Black), Washington County (0.3% Black), Ada County (1.3% Black), and Boise County (0.2% Black).

Gem County's Asian Population

159 residents of Gem County, or 0.8% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Gem County is comparable to the share in Idaho overall, where 1.3% of the population is Asian. Gem County ranks 18th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 44 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Gem County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 60.6%. Asian residents' share of Gem County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.8%.

Gem County is more Asian than neighboring Payette County (0.7% Asian), and Washington County (0.6% Asian). Gem County is less Asian than neighboring Ada County (2.7% Asian), and Boise County (1.5% Asian).

Gem County's Hispanic Population

1,992 residents of Gem County, or 9.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Gem County is slightly lower than in Idaho overall, where 13.6% of the population is Hispanic. Gem County ranks 23rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 44 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Gem County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 15.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Gem County's population has increased from 9.0% to 9.7%.

Gem County is more Hispanic than neighboring Boise County (5.1% Hispanic). Gem County is less Hispanic than neighboring Payette County (17.9% Hispanic), Canyon County (26% Hispanic), Washington County (16.5% Hispanic), and Ada County (9.8% Hispanic).

Gem County's Native American/Other Population

319 residents of Gem County, or 1.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Gem County is comparable to the share in Idaho overall, where 1.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Gem County ranks 20th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 44 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Gem County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 32.9%. Native American/Other residents' share of Gem County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.5%.

Gem County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Canyon County (1.4% Native American/Other), Washington County (0.6% Native American/Other), and Ada County (1% Native American/Other). Gem County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Payette County (1.6% Native American/Other), and Boise County (3.2% Native American/Other).

Gem County's Multiracial Population

931 residents of Gem County, or 4.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Gem County is comparable to the share in Idaho overall, where 4.2% of the population is Multiracial. Gem County ranks 11th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 44 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Gem County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 3.3%. Multiracial residents' share of Gem County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.5%.

Gem County is more Multiracial than neighboring Payette County (4.2% Multiracial), Canyon County (4% Multiracial), Washington County (4.3% Multiracial), and Ada County (4.3% Multiracial). Gem County is less Multiracial than neighboring Boise County (6.5% 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.