Rice County Demographics

A map of Rice County's Population by Race

Rice County, Minnesota has an estimated population of 67,917, a slight increase from the 67,097 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 77.2% White, 10.5% Hispanic, 6.7% Black, 2.8% Multiracial, 2.3% Asian, and 0.6% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Rice County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Rice has become slightly less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is less diverse than Minnesota overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Rice County, that probability was 39.4% in 2020 and 38.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Rice County is ranked the 14th most populous county in Minnesota, out of 87 counties. Rice County was ranked the 14th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Rice County's White Population

52,405 residents of Rice County, or 77.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Rice County is comparable to the share in Minnesota overall, where 75.9% of the population is White. Rice County ranks 75th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rice County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.7%. White residents' share of Rice County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 77.2%.

Rice County is more White than neighboring Scott County (75.6% White), and Dakota County (72.7% White). Rice County is less White than neighboring Steele County (83.5% White), Le Sueur County (89% White), and Waseca County (87.2% White).

Rice County's Black Population

4,577 residents of Rice County, or 6.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Rice County is comparable to the share in Minnesota overall, where 6.9% of the population is Black. Rice County ranks 7th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rice County's Black population has grown by an estimated 5.1%. Black residents' share of Rice County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 6.7%.

Rice County is more Black than neighboring Steele County (3.3% Black), Scott County (6.1% Black), Le Sueur County (0.8% Black), and Waseca County (1% Black). Rice County is less Black than neighboring Dakota County (7.7% Black).

Rice County's Asian Population

1,545 residents of Rice County, or 2.3% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Rice County is slightly lower than in Minnesota overall, where 5.1% of the population is Asian. Rice County ranks 17th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rice County's Asian population has remained roughly the same. Asian residents' share of Rice County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.3%.

Rice County is more Asian than neighboring Steele County (0.7% Asian), Le Sueur County (0.5% Asian), and Waseca County (1.8% Asian). Rice County is less Asian than neighboring Scott County (6.3% Asian), and Dakota County (5.2% Asian).

Rice County's Hispanic Population

7,105 residents of Rice County, or 10.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Rice County is slightly higher than in Minnesota overall, where 6.4% of the population is Hispanic. Rice County ranks 7th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rice County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 4.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Rice County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 10.5%.

Rice County is more Hispanic than neighboring Steele County (8.9% Hispanic), Scott County (6.4% Hispanic), Dakota County (8.7% Hispanic), Le Sueur County (6.9% Hispanic), and Waseca County (7.3% Hispanic).

Rice County's Native American/Other Population

376 residents of Rice County, 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 Rice County is comparable to the share in Minnesota overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Rice County ranks 35th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rice County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 48.6%. Native American/Other residents' share of Rice County's population has decreased from 1.1% to 0.6%.

Rice County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Steele County (0.4% Native American/Other), and Le Sueur County (0.5% Native American/Other). Rice County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Scott County (0.9% Native American/Other), Dakota County (0.7% Native American/Other), and Waseca County (0.7% Native American/Other).

Rice County's Multiracial Population

1,909 residents of Rice County, or 2.8% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Rice County is comparable to the share in Minnesota overall, where 4.5% of the population is Multiracial. Rice County ranks 43rd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rice County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 11.3%. Multiracial residents' share of Rice County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.8%.

Rice County is more Multiracial than neighboring Le Sueur County (2.4% Multiracial), and Waseca County (2% Multiracial). Rice County is less Multiracial than neighboring Steele County (3.2% Multiracial), Scott County (4.6% Multiracial), and Dakota County (5% 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.