Kent County Demographics

A map of Kent County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	143,517	144,761	83.7%	85.0%
Hispanic	11,762	9,665	6.9%	5.7%
Multiracial	7,152	7,055	4.2%	4.1%
Asian	5,007	4,830	2.9%	2.8%
Black	3,196	2,889	1.9%	1.7%
Native American/Other	822	1,163	0.5%	0.7%

Kent County, Rhode Island has an estimated population of 171,456, a less than 1% change from the 170,363 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 83.7% White, 6.9% Hispanic, 4.2% Multiracial, 2.9% Asian, 1.9% Black, and 0.5% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Kent County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Kent has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Rhode Island overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Kent County, that probability was 27.2% in 2020 and 29.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Kent County is ranked the 2nd most populous county in Rhode Island, out of 5 counties. Kent County was ranked the 2nd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Kent County's White Population

143,517 residents of Kent County, or 83.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Kent County is significantly higher than in Rhode Island overall, where 68% of the population is White. Kent County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 5 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kent County's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Kent County's population has decreased from 85.0% to 83.7%.

Kent County is more White than neighboring Providence County (56.5% White), Newport County (82.4% White), and Bristol County (75.3% White). Kent County is less White than neighboring Washington County (88.9% White), and Bristol County (88.3% White).

Kent County's Black Population

3,196 residents of Kent County, or 1.9% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Kent County is slightly lower than in Rhode Island overall, where 4.9% of the population is Black. Kent County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 5 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kent County's Black population has grown by an estimated 10.6%. Black residents' share of Kent County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.9%.

Kent County is more Black than neighboring Washington County (1.2% Black), and Bristol County (1% Black). Kent County is less Black than neighboring Providence County (7% Black), Newport County (3.2% Black), and Bristol County (4% Black).

Kent County's Asian Population

5,007 residents of Kent County, or 2.9% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Kent County is comparable to the share in Rhode Island overall, where 3.5% of the population is Asian. Kent County ranks 2nd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 5 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kent County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 3.7%. Asian residents' share of Kent County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.9%.

Kent County is more Asian than neighboring Washington County (2.1% Asian), Bristol County (2.6% Asian), Newport County (1.7% Asian), and Bristol County (2.4% Asian). Kent County is less Asian than neighboring Providence County (4.2% Asian).

Kent County's Hispanic Population

11,762 residents of Kent County, or 6.9% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Kent County is considerably lower than in Rhode Island overall, where 17.7% of the population is Hispanic. Kent County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 5 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kent County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 21.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Kent County's population has increased from 5.7% to 6.9%.

Kent County is more Hispanic than neighboring Washington County (3.8% Hispanic), Bristol County (4.2% Hispanic), and Newport County (6.7% Hispanic). Kent County is less Hispanic than neighboring Providence County (25.6% Hispanic), and Bristol County (10.2% Hispanic).

Kent County's Native American/Other Population

822 residents of Kent 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 Kent County is comparable to the share in Rhode Island overall, where 1% of the population is Native American/Other. Kent County ranks 4th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 5 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kent County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 29.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of Kent County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Kent County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Bristol County (0.3% Native American/Other). Kent County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Providence County (1.3% Native American/Other), Washington County (0.6% Native American/Other), Newport County (1.2% Native American/Other), and Bristol County (1.8% Native American/Other).

Kent County's Multiracial Population

7,152 residents of Kent County, or 4.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Kent County is comparable to the share in Rhode Island overall, where 4.9% of the population is Multiracial. Kent County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 5 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kent County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 1.4%. Multiracial residents' share of Kent County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.2%.

Kent County is more Multiracial than neighboring Washington County (3.4% Multiracial), and Bristol County (3.7% Multiracial). Kent County is less Multiracial than neighboring Providence County (5.4% Multiracial), Newport County (4.9% Multiracial), and Bristol County (6.2% 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.