Ocean County Demographics

A map of Ocean County's Population by Race

Ocean County, New Jersey has an estimated population of 654,362, a slight increase from the 637,229 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 81.1% White, 10.9% Hispanic, 2.9% Black, 2.7% Multiracial, 1.9% Asian, and 0.5% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Ocean County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Ocean has become slightly more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than New Jersey overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Ocean County, that probability was 32.0% in 2020 and 32.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Ocean County is ranked the 5th most populous county in New Jersey, out of 21 counties. Ocean County was ranked the 6th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Ocean County's White Population

530,679 residents of Ocean County, or 81.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Ocean County is significantly higher than in New Jersey overall, where 50.9% of the population is White. Ocean County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 21 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ocean County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.9%. White residents' share of Ocean County's population has decreased from 81.7% to 81.1%.

Ocean County is more White than neighboring Burlington County (62.4% White), Monmouth County (71.5% White), Atlantic County (54% White), Middlesex County (37.5% White), and Mercer County (42.7% White).

Ocean County's Black Population

18,756 residents of Ocean County, or 2.9% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Ocean County is lower than in New Jersey overall, where 12.2% of the population is Black. Ocean County ranks 19th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 21 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ocean County's Black population has grown by an estimated 6.3%. Black residents' share of Ocean County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.9%.

Ocean County is less Black than neighboring Burlington County (15.8% Black), Monmouth County (5.8% Black), Atlantic County (12.6% Black), Middlesex County (9.7% Black), and Mercer County (17.9% Black).

Ocean County's Asian Population

12,370 residents of Ocean County, or 1.9% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Ocean County is lower than in New Jersey overall, where 10% of the population is Asian. Ocean County ranks 18th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 21 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ocean County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 9.1%. Asian residents' share of Ocean County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.9%.

Ocean County is less Asian than neighboring Burlington County (5.8% Asian), Monmouth County (5.4% Asian), Atlantic County (7.8% Asian), Middlesex County (25.4% Asian), and Mercer County (12.3% Asian).

Ocean County's Hispanic Population

71,391 residents of Ocean County, or 10.9% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Ocean County is considerably lower than in New Jersey overall, where 22.5% of the population is Hispanic. Ocean County ranks 15th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 21 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ocean County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 7.6%. Hispanic residents' share of Ocean County's population has increased from 10.4% to 10.9%.

Ocean County is more Hispanic than neighboring Burlington County (9.6% Hispanic). Ocean County is less Hispanic than neighboring Monmouth County (12.9% Hispanic), Atlantic County (20.4% Hispanic), Middlesex County (23.6% Hispanic), and Mercer County (23.1% Hispanic).

Ocean County's Native American/Other Population

3,578 residents of Ocean 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 Ocean County is comparable to the share in New Jersey overall, where 0.9% of the population is Native American/Other. Ocean County ranks 11th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 21 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ocean County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 21.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Ocean County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Ocean County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Burlington County (0.8% Native American/Other), Monmouth County (0.9% Native American/Other), Atlantic County (0.8% Native American/Other), Middlesex County (0.9% Native American/Other), and Mercer County (0.6% Native American/Other).

Ocean County's Multiracial Population

17,588 residents of Ocean County, or 2.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Ocean County is comparable to the share in New Jersey overall, where 3.5% of the population is Multiracial. Ocean County ranks 18th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 21 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ocean County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 4.7%. Multiracial residents' share of Ocean County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.7%.

Ocean County is less Multiracial than neighboring Burlington County (5.6% Multiracial), Monmouth County (3.6% Multiracial), Atlantic County (4.5% Multiracial), Middlesex County (2.9% Multiracial), and Mercer County (3.4% 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.