Laurel, MS Demographics

A map of Laurel's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Black	10,846	10,642	61.3%	62.0%
White	5,070	4,465	28.7%	26.0%
Hispanic	1,611	1,455	9.1%	8.5%
Multiracial	111	368	0.6%	2.1%
Asian	41	109	0.2%	0.6%
Native American/Other	0	122	0.0%	0.7%

Laurel, Mississippi has an estimated population of 17,679, an increase from the 17,161 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 61.3% Black, 28.7% White, 9.1% Hispanic, 0.6% Multiracial, 0.2% Asian, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Laurel, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Laurel has become slightly less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is 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 Laurel, that probability was 54.0% in 2020 and 53.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Laurel is ranked the 24th most populous place in Mississippi, out of 427 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). Laurel was ranked the 23rd most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Laurel's White Population

5,070 residents of Laurel, or 28.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Laurel is significantly lower than in Mississippi overall, where 55.2% of the population is White. Laurel ranks 316th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 427 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurel's White population has grown by an estimated 13.5%. White residents' share of Laurel's population has increased from 26.0% to 28.7%.

Laurel is less White than neighboring Sharon (79.3% White), Ellisville (58.2% White), Sandersville (88.9% White), Soso (76.3% White), and Moselle (100% White).

Laurel's Black Population

10,846 residents of Laurel, or 61.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Laurel is significantly higher than in Mississippi overall, where 36.3% of the population is Black. Laurel ranks 128th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 427 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurel's Black population has grown by an estimated 1.9%. Black residents' share of Laurel's population has decreased from 62.0% to 61.3%.

Laurel is more Black than neighboring Sharon (11.6% Black), Ellisville (33.9% Black), Sandersville (7% Black), Soso (23% Black), and Moselle (0% Black).

Laurel's Asian Population

41 residents of Laurel, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Laurel is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 1% of the population is Asian. Laurel ranks 104th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 427 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurel's Asian population has declined by an estimated 62.4%. Asian residents' share of Laurel's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Laurel is more Asian than neighboring Sandersville (0% Asian), and Moselle (0% Asian). Laurel is less Asian than neighboring Sharon (0.8% Asian), Ellisville (0.4% Asian), and Soso (0.7% Asian).

Laurel's Hispanic Population

1,611 residents of Laurel, or 9.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Laurel is higher than in Mississippi overall, where 3.7% of the population is Hispanic. Laurel ranks 25th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 427 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurel's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 10.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Laurel's population has increased from 8.5% to 9.1%.

Laurel is more Hispanic than neighboring Sharon (1.8% Hispanic), Ellisville (6.1% Hispanic), Sandersville (4.1% Hispanic), Soso (0% Hispanic), and Moselle (0% Hispanic).

Laurel's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Laurel, or 0.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Laurel is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Laurel ranks 98th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 427 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurel's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Laurel's population has decreased from 0.7% to 0.0%.

Laurel is less Native American/Other than neighboring Ellisville (0.4% Native American/Other).

Laurel's Multiracial Population

111 residents of Laurel, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Laurel is slightly lower than in Mississippi overall, where 3% of the population is Multiracial. Laurel ranks 259th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 427 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurel's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 69.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Laurel's population has decreased from 2.1% to 0.6%.

Laurel is more Multiracial than neighboring Sandersville (0% Multiracial), Soso (0% Multiracial), and Moselle (0% Multiracial). Laurel is less Multiracial than neighboring Sharon (6.5% Multiracial), and Ellisville (0.9% 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.