Lafayette County Demographics

A map of Lafayette County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	39,956	38,766	68.5%	69.5%
Black	13,164	11,300	22.6%	20.2%
Hispanic	2,151	2,142	3.7%	3.8%
Multiracial	1,581	1,698	2.7%	3.0%
Asian	1,292	1,685	2.2%	3.0%
Native American/Other	183	222	0.3%	0.4%

Lafayette County, Mississippi has an estimated population of 58,327, an increase from the 55,813 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 68.5% White, 22.6% Black, 3.7% Hispanic, 2.7% Multiracial, 2.2% Asian, and 0.3% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Lafayette County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Lafayette is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Mississippi overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Lafayette County, that probability was 47.3% in 2020 and 47.7% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Lafayette County is ranked the 12th most populous county in Mississippi, out of 82 counties. Lafayette County was ranked the 14th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Lafayette County's White Population

39,956 residents of Lafayette County, or 68.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Lafayette County is considerably higher than in Mississippi overall, where 55.2% of the population is White. Lafayette County ranks 17th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lafayette County's White population has grown by an estimated 3.1%. White residents' share of Lafayette County's population has decreased from 69.5% to 68.5%.

Lafayette County is more White than neighboring Yalobusha County (57.2% White), Marshall County (47.1% White), Calhoun County (63.7% White), and Panola County (46.5% White). Lafayette County is less White than neighboring Pontotoc County (74% White).

Lafayette County's Black Population

13,164 residents of Lafayette County, or 22.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Lafayette County is considerably lower than in Mississippi overall, where 36.3% of the population is Black. Lafayette County ranks 69th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lafayette County's Black population has grown by an estimated 16.5%. Black residents' share of Lafayette County's population has increased from 20.2% to 22.6%.

Lafayette County is more Black than neighboring Pontotoc County (14.7% Black). Lafayette County is less Black than neighboring Yalobusha County (37% Black), Marshall County (42.8% Black), Calhoun County (26.4% Black), and Panola County (48.2% Black).

Lafayette County's Asian Population

1,292 residents of Lafayette County, or 2.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Lafayette County is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 1% of the population is Asian. Lafayette County ranks 1st statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lafayette County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 23.3%. Asian residents' share of Lafayette County's population has decreased from 3.0% to 2.2%.

Lafayette County is more Asian than neighboring Yalobusha County (0.2% Asian), Marshall County (0.2% Asian), Calhoun County (0.1% Asian), Panola County (0.5% Asian), and Pontotoc County (0% Asian).

Lafayette County's Hispanic Population

2,151 residents of Lafayette County, or 3.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Lafayette County is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 3.7% of the population is Hispanic. Lafayette County ranks 18th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lafayette County's Hispanic population has remained roughly the same. Hispanic residents' share of Lafayette County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.7%.

Lafayette County is more Hispanic than neighboring Yalobusha County (1.7% Hispanic), and Panola County (2.1% Hispanic). Lafayette County is less Hispanic than neighboring Marshall County (5.1% Hispanic), Calhoun County (6.3% Hispanic), and Pontotoc County (7.1% Hispanic).

Lafayette County's Native American/Other Population

183 residents of Lafayette County, or 0.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Lafayette County is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Lafayette County ranks 34th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lafayette County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 17.6%. Native American/Other residents' share of Lafayette County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

Lafayette County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Yalobusha County (0.4% Native American/Other), Marshall County (0.9% Native American/Other), Calhoun County (0.7% Native American/Other), Panola County (0.4% Native American/Other), and Pontotoc County (0.6% Native American/Other).

Lafayette County's Multiracial Population

1,581 residents of Lafayette County, or 2.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Lafayette County is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 3% of the population is Multiracial. Lafayette County ranks 12th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lafayette County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 6.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Lafayette County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.7%.

Lafayette County is more Multiracial than neighboring Panola County (2.2% Multiracial). Lafayette County is less Multiracial than neighboring Yalobusha County (3.6% Multiracial), Marshall County (3.9% Multiracial), Calhoun County (2.9% Multiracial), and Pontotoc County (3.6% 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.