Meridian, MS Demographics

A map of Meridian's Population by Race

Meridian, Mississippi has an estimated population of 34,137, a slight decrease from the 35,052 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 59.7% Black, 30.3% White, 5.1% Multiracial, 2.3% Hispanic, 1.4% Native American/Other, and 1.2% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Meridian, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Meridian has become considerably more 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 Meridian, that probability was 48.9% in 2020 and 54.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Meridian is ranked the 8th 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). Meridian was ranked the 8th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Meridian's White Population

10,343 residents of Meridian, or 30.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Meridian is significantly lower than in Mississippi overall, where 55.2% of the population is White. Meridian ranks 305th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 427 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Meridian's White population has grown by an estimated 4.0%. White residents' share of Meridian's population has increased from 28.4% to 30.3%.

Meridian is more White than neighboring Marion (23.3% White). Meridian is less White than neighboring Nellieburg (64.4% White), Meridian Station (52.2% White), Toomsuba (80.7% White), and Collinsville (87.1% White).

Meridian's Black Population

20,371 residents of Meridian, or 59.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Meridian is significantly higher than in Mississippi overall, where 36.3% of the population is Black. Meridian ranks 115th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 427 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Meridian's Black population has declined by an estimated 11.3%. Black residents' share of Meridian's population has decreased from 65.5% to 59.7%.

Meridian is more Black than neighboring Nellieburg (31.5% Black), Meridian Station (16.6% Black), Toomsuba (1.8% Black), and Collinsville (11% Black). Meridian is less Black than neighboring Marion (65.2% Black).

Meridian's Asian Population

417 residents of Meridian, or 1.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Meridian is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 1% of the population is Asian. Meridian ranks 58th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 427 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Meridian's Asian population has grown by an estimated 17.8%. Asian residents' share of Meridian's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.2%.

Meridian is more Asian than neighboring Marion (0% Asian), Toomsuba (0% Asian), and Collinsville (0% Asian). Meridian is less Asian than neighboring Nellieburg (2.2% Asian), and Meridian Station (7.1% Asian).

Meridian's Hispanic Population

777 residents of Meridian, or 2.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Meridian is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 3.7% of the population is Hispanic. Meridian ranks 190th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 427 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Meridian's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 2.1%. Hispanic residents' share of Meridian's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.3%.

Meridian is more Hispanic than neighboring Nellieburg (0% Hispanic), and Collinsville (0% Hispanic). Meridian is less Hispanic than neighboring Marion (8% Hispanic), Meridian Station (13.5% Hispanic), and Toomsuba (8.8% Hispanic).

Meridian's Native American/Other Population

474 residents of Meridian, or 1.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Meridian is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Meridian ranks 159th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 427 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Meridian's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 182.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Meridian's population has increased from 0.5% to 1.4%.

Meridian is more Native American/Other than neighboring Marion (0% Native American/Other), Nellieburg (0% Native American/Other), Toomsuba (0% Native American/Other), and Collinsville (1.3% Native American/Other). Meridian is less Native American/Other than neighboring Meridian Station (5.9% Native American/Other).

Meridian's Multiracial Population

1,755 residents of Meridian, or 5.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Meridian is slightly higher than in Mississippi overall, where 3% of the population is Multiracial. Meridian ranks 236th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 427 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Meridian's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 114.0%. Multiracial residents' share of Meridian's population has increased from 2.3% to 5.1%.

Meridian is more Multiracial than neighboring Marion (3.5% Multiracial), Nellieburg (1.9% Multiracial), Meridian Station (4.7% Multiracial), and Collinsville (0.6% Multiracial). Meridian is less Multiracial than neighboring Toomsuba (8.8% 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.