Wayne County Demographics

A map of Wayne County's Population by Race

Wayne County, Mississippi has an estimated population of 19,718, a less than 1% change from the 19,779 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 56.5% White, 37.9% Black, 2.4% Multiracial, 2.2% Hispanic, 0.6% Asian, and 0.4% 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 has become 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 Wayne County, that probability was 52.0% in 2020 and 53.6% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Wayne County is ranked the 46th most populous county in Mississippi, out of 82 counties. Wayne County was ranked the 46th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Wayne County's White Population

11,143 residents of Wayne County, or 56.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Wayne County is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 55.2% of the population is White. Wayne County ranks 40th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 82 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 decreased from 57.2% to 56.5%.

Wayne County is less White than neighboring Clarke County (62.7% White), Greene County (70.9% White), Jones County (62.9% White), Washington County (65% White), and Perry County (77.3% White).

Wayne County's Black Population

7,465 residents of Wayne County, or 37.9% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Wayne County is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 36.3% of the population is Black. Wayne County ranks 37th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's Black population has declined by an estimated 3.2%. Black residents' share of Wayne County's population has decreased from 39.0% to 37.9%.

Wayne County is more Black than neighboring Clarke County (31.2% Black), Greene County (23.8% Black), Jones County (28.2% Black), Washington County (24.1% Black), and Perry County (15.4% Black).

Wayne County's Asian Population

117 residents of Wayne County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Wayne County is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 1% of the population is Asian. Wayne County ranks 63rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 234.3%. Asian residents' share of Wayne County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Wayne County is more Asian than neighboring Clarke County (0.2% Asian), Greene County (0% Asian), Jones County (0.4% Asian), and Washington County (0.2% Asian). Wayne County is less Asian than neighboring Perry County (2.1% Asian).

Wayne County's Hispanic Population

433 residents of Wayne County, or 2.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Wayne County is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 3.7% of the population is Hispanic. Wayne County ranks 44th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 26.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Wayne County's population has increased from 1.7% to 2.2%.

Wayne County is more Hispanic than neighboring Clarke County (1.1% Hispanic), Greene County (1.5% Hispanic), Washington County (1% Hispanic), and Perry County (1.9% Hispanic). Wayne County is less Hispanic than neighboring Jones County (6.3% Hispanic).

Wayne County's Native American/Other Population

82 residents of Wayne County, or 0.4% 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 Mississippi overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Wayne County ranks 70th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 86.4%. Native American/Other residents' share of Wayne County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Wayne County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Jones County (0.3% Native American/Other), and Perry County (0.2% Native American/Other). Wayne County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Greene County (1.2% Native American/Other), and Washington County (7% Native American/Other).

Wayne County's Multiracial Population

478 residents of Wayne County, or 2.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Wayne County is comparable to the share in Mississippi overall, where 3% of the population is Multiracial. Wayne County ranks 71st statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 82 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 42.3%. Multiracial residents' share of Wayne County's population has increased from 1.7% to 2.4%.

Wayne County is more Multiracial than neighboring Jones County (2% Multiracial). Wayne County is less Multiracial than neighboring Clarke County (4.4% Multiracial), Greene County (2.6% Multiracial), Washington County (2.7% Multiracial), and Perry County (3.2% 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.