Wayne County Demographics

A map of Wayne County's Population by Race

Wayne County, Illinois has an estimated population of 15,973, a slight decrease from the 16,179 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 95.0% White, 2.1% Hispanic, 2.0% Multiracial, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% Black, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Wayne County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Wayne is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Illinois overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Wayne County, that probability was 9.3% in 2020 and 9.7% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Wayne County is ranked the 66th most populous county in Illinois, out of 102 counties. Wayne County was ranked the 66th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Wayne County's White Population

15,171 residents of Wayne County, or 95.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Wayne County is significantly higher than in Illinois overall, where 58.1% of the population is White. Wayne County ranks 7th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's White population has declined by an estimated 1.5%. White residents' share of Wayne County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 95.0%.

Wayne County is more White than neighboring Clay County (94.8% White), Hamilton County (94.7% White), Edwards County (94.7% White), and Richland County (93.4% White). Wayne County is less White than neighboring White County (95.2% White).

Wayne County's Black Population

41 residents of Wayne County, or 0.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Wayne County is considerably lower than in Illinois overall, where 13.3% of the population is Black. Wayne County ranks 73rd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's Black population has declined by an estimated 54.4%. Black residents' share of Wayne County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

Wayne County is more Black than neighboring Hamilton County (0.2% Black), and Edwards County (0.1% Black). Wayne County is less Black than neighboring White County (0.6% Black).

Wayne County's Asian Population

97 residents of Wayne County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Wayne County is lower than in Illinois overall, where 5.9% of the population is Asian. Wayne County ranks 83rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 98.0%. Asian residents' share of Wayne County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Wayne County is more Asian than neighboring Clay County (0.2% Asian), Hamilton County (0.5% Asian), Edwards County (0.2% Asian), White County (0.3% Asian), and Richland County (0.5% Asian).

Wayne County's Hispanic Population

330 residents of Wayne County, or 2.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Wayne County is significantly lower than in Illinois overall, where 18.8% of the population is Hispanic. Wayne County ranks 95th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 81.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Wayne County's population has increased from 1.1% to 2.1%.

Wayne County is more Hispanic than neighboring Clay County (2% Hispanic), Hamilton County (0.7% Hispanic), Edwards County (1.5% Hispanic), White County (1.6% Hispanic), and Richland County (2% Hispanic).

Wayne County's Native American/Other Population

7 residents of Wayne County, 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 Wayne County is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 0.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Wayne County ranks 61st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 88.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of Wayne County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Wayne County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Clay County (0.3% Native American/Other), Hamilton County (0.6% Native American/Other), Edwards County (0.1% Native American/Other), White County (0.1% Native American/Other), and Richland County (1% Native American/Other).

Wayne County's Multiracial Population

327 residents of Wayne County, or 2.0% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Wayne County is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 3.4% of the population is Multiracial. Wayne County ranks 94th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 17.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Wayne County's population has decreased from 2.5% to 2.0%.

Wayne County is less Multiracial than neighboring Clay County (2.3% Multiracial), Hamilton County (3.2% Multiracial), Edwards County (3.4% Multiracial), White County (2.2% Multiracial), and Richland County (2.8% 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.