Kalamazoo County Demographics

A map of Kalamazoo County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	195,720	193,428	74.6%	73.9%
Black	28,246	29,686	10.8%	11.3%
Hispanic	15,483	14,776	5.9%	5.6%
Multiracial	14,258	14,554	5.4%	5.6%
Asian	7,427	6,983	2.8%	2.7%
Native American/Other	1,241	2,243	0.5%	0.9%

Kalamazoo County, Michigan has an estimated population of 262,375, a less than 1% change from the 261,670 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 74.6% White, 10.8% Black, 5.9% Hispanic, 5.4% Multiracial, 2.8% Asian, and 0.5% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Kalamazoo County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Kalamazoo has become slightly less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is less diverse than Michigan overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Kalamazoo County, that probability was 43.4% in 2020 and 42.5% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Kalamazoo County is ranked the 9th most populous county in Michigan, out of 83 counties. Kalamazoo County was ranked the 9th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Kalamazoo County's White Population

195,720 residents of Kalamazoo County, or 74.6% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Kalamazoo County is slightly higher than in Michigan overall, where 72.4% of the population is White. Kalamazoo County ranks 73rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 83 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kalamazoo County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.2%. White residents' share of Kalamazoo County's population has increased from 73.9% to 74.6%.

Kalamazoo County is less White than neighboring St. Joseph County (83.5% White), Barry County (91.8% White), Calhoun County (75.3% White), Cass County (84% White), and Branch County (86.4% White).

Kalamazoo County's Black Population

28,246 residents of Kalamazoo County, or 10.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Kalamazoo County is slightly lower than in Michigan overall, where 13.1% of the population is Black. Kalamazoo County ranks 9th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 83 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kalamazoo County's Black population has declined by an estimated 4.9%. Black residents' share of Kalamazoo County's population has decreased from 11.3% to 10.8%.

Kalamazoo County is more Black than neighboring St. Joseph County (2.1% Black), Barry County (0.3% Black), Calhoun County (9.6% Black), Cass County (4% Black), and Branch County (1.7% Black).

Kalamazoo County's Asian Population

7,427 residents of Kalamazoo County, or 2.8% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Kalamazoo County is comparable to the share in Michigan overall, where 3.4% of the population is Asian. Kalamazoo County ranks 8th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 83 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kalamazoo County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 6.4%. Asian residents' share of Kalamazoo County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.8%.

Kalamazoo County is more Asian than neighboring St. Joseph County (0.7% Asian), Barry County (0.6% Asian), Calhoun County (2.6% Asian), Cass County (0.8% Asian), and Branch County (0.4% Asian).

Kalamazoo County's Hispanic Population

15,483 residents of Kalamazoo County, or 5.9% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Kalamazoo County is comparable to the share in Michigan overall, where 5.9% of the population is Hispanic. Kalamazoo County ranks 19th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 83 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kalamazoo County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 4.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Kalamazoo County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 5.9%.

Kalamazoo County is more Hispanic than neighboring Barry County (3.7% Hispanic), and Cass County (4.5% Hispanic). Kalamazoo County is less Hispanic than neighboring St. Joseph County (9.4% Hispanic), and Branch County (6.8% Hispanic).

Kalamazoo County's Native American/Other Population

1,241 residents of Kalamazoo County, or 0.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Kalamazoo County is comparable to the share in Michigan overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Kalamazoo County ranks 37th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 83 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kalamazoo County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 44.7%. Native American/Other residents' share of Kalamazoo County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Kalamazoo County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Calhoun County (0.7% Native American/Other), Cass County (1.5% Native American/Other), and Branch County (0.6% Native American/Other).

Kalamazoo County's Multiracial Population

14,258 residents of Kalamazoo County, or 5.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Kalamazoo County is comparable to the share in Michigan overall, where 4.5% of the population is Multiracial. Kalamazoo County ranks 8th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 83 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kalamazoo County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 2.0%. Multiracial residents' share of Kalamazoo County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 5.4%.

Kalamazoo County is more Multiracial than neighboring St. Joseph County (3.8% Multiracial), Barry County (3.1% Multiracial), Cass County (5.2% Multiracial), and Branch County (4.1% Multiracial). Kalamazoo County is less Multiracial than neighboring Calhoun County (6% 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.