Gulf Shores, AL Demographics

A map of Gulf Shores's Population by Race

Gulf Shores, Alabama has an estimated population of 16,401, an increase from the 15,014 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 87.3% White, 6.1% Hispanic, 2.7% Black, 2.2% Multiracial, 1.1% Asian, and 0.6% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Gulf Shores, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Gulf Shores has become slightly 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 Gulf Shores, that probability was 23.9% in 2020 and 23.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Gulf Shores is ranked the 44th most populous place in Alabama, out of 594 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). Gulf Shores was ranked the 48th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Gulf Shores's White Population

14,318 residents of Gulf Shores, or 87.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Gulf Shores is significantly higher than in Alabama overall, where 63.4% of the population is White. Gulf Shores ranks 162nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gulf Shores's White population has grown by an estimated 9.6%. White residents' share of Gulf Shores's population has remained roughly unchanged at 87.3%.

Gulf Shores is more White than neighboring Bon Secour (78.5% White), Foley (76.2% White), and Elberta (84.8% White). Gulf Shores is less White than neighboring Magnolia Springs (88.4% White).

Gulf Shores's Black Population

439 residents of Gulf Shores, or 2.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Gulf Shores is significantly lower than in Alabama overall, where 25.6% of the population is Black. Gulf Shores ranks 454th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gulf Shores's Black population has grown by an estimated 43.0%. Black residents' share of Gulf Shores's population has increased from 2.0% to 2.7%.

Gulf Shores is more Black than neighboring Magnolia Springs (0% Black), and Elberta (0.3% Black). Gulf Shores is less Black than neighboring Bon Secour (3.5% Black), Orange Beach (3.9% Black), and Foley (6.3% Black).

Gulf Shores's Asian Population

187 residents of Gulf Shores, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Gulf Shores is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 1.4% of the population is Asian. Gulf Shores ranks 91st statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gulf Shores's Asian population has grown by an estimated 16.1%. Asian residents' share of Gulf Shores's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.1%.

Gulf Shores is more Asian than neighboring Bon Secour (0% Asian), Orange Beach (0.1% Asian), Magnolia Springs (0.4% Asian), and Elberta (0.5% Asian). Gulf Shores is less Asian than neighboring Foley (2.9% Asian).

Gulf Shores's Hispanic Population

994 residents of Gulf Shores, or 6.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Gulf Shores is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 5.6% of the population is Hispanic. Gulf Shores ranks 176th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gulf Shores's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 59.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Gulf Shores's population has increased from 4.1% to 6.1%.

Gulf Shores is more Hispanic than neighboring Orange Beach (4% Hispanic), and Magnolia Springs (4.1% Hispanic). Gulf Shores is less Hispanic than neighboring Bon Secour (17.1% Hispanic), Foley (9.3% Hispanic), and Elberta (7.2% Hispanic).

Gulf Shores's Native American/Other Population

96 residents of Gulf Shores, 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 Gulf Shores is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Gulf Shores ranks 123rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gulf Shores's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 40.7%. Native American/Other residents' share of Gulf Shores's population has decreased from 1.1% to 0.6%.

Gulf Shores is more Native American/Other than neighboring Bon Secour (0.4% Native American/Other), and Magnolia Springs (0% Native American/Other). Gulf Shores is less Native American/Other than neighboring Foley (2.1% Native American/Other), and Elberta (2.7% Native American/Other).

Gulf Shores's Multiracial Population

367 residents of Gulf Shores, or 2.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Gulf Shores is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 3.3% of the population is Multiracial. Gulf Shores ranks 137th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gulf Shores's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 47.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Gulf Shores's population has decreased from 4.7% to 2.2%.

Gulf Shores is more Multiracial than neighboring Bon Secour (0.6% Multiracial). Gulf Shores is less Multiracial than neighboring Orange Beach (4.1% Multiracial), Foley (3.3% Multiracial), Magnolia Springs (7.1% Multiracial), and Elberta (4.4% 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.