Memphis, TN Demographics

A map of Memphis's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Black	387,985	387,964	62.7%	61.3%
White	138,561	151,581	22.4%	23.9%
Hispanic	64,506	62,167	10.4%	9.8%
Multiracial	13,994	16,316	2.3%	2.6%
Asian	10,442	11,503	1.7%	1.8%
Native American/Other	3,492	3,573	0.6%	0.6%

Memphis, Tennessee has an estimated population of 618,980, a slight decrease from the 633,104 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 62.7% Black, 22.4% White, 10.4% Hispanic, 2.3% Multiracial, 1.7% Asian, and 0.6% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Memphis, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Memphis has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably more diverse than Tennessee overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Memphis, that probability was 55.6% in 2020 and 54.5% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Memphis is ranked the 2nd most populous place in Tennessee, out of 504 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). Memphis was ranked the 2nd most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Memphis's White Population

138,561 residents of Memphis, or 22.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Memphis is significantly lower than in Tennessee overall, where 71% of the population is White. Memphis ranks 503rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 504 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Memphis's White population has declined by an estimated 8.6%. White residents' share of Memphis's population has decreased from 23.9% to 22.4%.

Memphis is less White than neighboring Southaven (50.7% White), Horn Lake (35.7% White), Germantown (83.1% White), Olive Branch (52.7% White), and Bartlett (68.8% White).

Memphis's Black Population

387,985 residents of Memphis, or 62.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Memphis is significantly higher than in Tennessee overall, where 15.4% of the population is Black. Memphis ranks 6th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 504 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Memphis's Black population has remained roughly the same. Black residents' share of Memphis's population has increased from 61.3% to 62.7%.

Memphis is more Black than neighboring Southaven (39.3% Black), Horn Lake (50% Black), Germantown (4.4% Black), Olive Branch (35.7% Black), and Bartlett (19.7% Black).

Memphis's Asian Population

10,442 residents of Memphis, or 1.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Memphis is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 1.9% of the population is Asian. Memphis ranks 45th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 504 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Memphis's Asian population has declined by an estimated 9.2%. Asian residents' share of Memphis's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.7%.

Memphis is more Asian than neighboring Southaven (1.2% Asian), and Horn Lake (0.8% Asian). Memphis is less Asian than neighboring Germantown (6.3% Asian), Olive Branch (2.1% Asian), and Bartlett (3.9% Asian).

Memphis's Hispanic Population

64,506 residents of Memphis, or 10.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Memphis is slightly higher than in Tennessee overall, where 7.4% of the population is Hispanic. Memphis ranks 39th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 504 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Memphis's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 3.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Memphis's population has increased from 9.8% to 10.4%.

Memphis is more Hispanic than neighboring Southaven (5.3% Hispanic), Horn Lake (9.2% Hispanic), Germantown (3% Hispanic), Olive Branch (6.3% Hispanic), and Bartlett (4.4% Hispanic).

Memphis's Native American/Other Population

3,492 residents of Memphis, 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 Memphis is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 0.6% of the population is Native American/Other. Memphis ranks 218th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 504 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Memphis's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 2.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of Memphis's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Memphis is more Native American/Other than neighboring Horn Lake (0.4% Native American/Other), Olive Branch (0.3% Native American/Other), and Bartlett (0.5% Native American/Other). Memphis is less Native American/Other than neighboring Southaven (1.1% Native American/Other), and Germantown (0.7% Native American/Other).

Memphis's Multiracial Population

13,994 residents of Memphis, or 2.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Memphis is comparable to the share in Tennessee overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Memphis ranks 413th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 504 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Memphis's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 14.2%. Multiracial residents' share of Memphis's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.3%.

Memphis is less Multiracial than neighboring Horn Lake (3.9% Multiracial), Germantown (2.6% Multiracial), Olive Branch (2.9% Multiracial), and Bartlett (2.7% 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.