DeKalb, Illinois Population 2024

40,208

DeKalb Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of DeKalb was:

  • White: 62.59%
  • Black or African American: 15.2%
  • Two or more races: 12.21%
  • Other race: 5.28%
  • Asian: 3.9%
  • Native American: 0.82%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0%
Land Area (mi²)
17.3 sq mi
Density (mi²)
2,320.20/sq mi
Growth Since 2020
-0.03% (-11)
The current population of DeKalb, Illinois is 40,208 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates (released May 2024). The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 40,219.

Population by Race

Race
Population
Percentage (of total)
White25,32862.59%
Black or African American6,14915.2%
Two or more races4,94012.21%
Other race2,1375.28%
Asian1,5783.9%
Native American3320.82%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander00%

White

Black or African American

Two or more races

Other race

Asian

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

DeKalb Population by Race

DeKalb Population Pyramid 2024

DeKalb Median Age

25.4

Total

25

Male

26

Female

DeKalb Adults

There are 32,437 adults, (4,375 of whom are seniors) in DeKalb.

DeKalb Age Dependency

44.2

Age Dependency Ratio

15.6

Old Age Dependency Ratio

28.6

Child Dependency Ratio

DeKalb Sex Ratio

Female20,42250.47%
Male20,04249.53%

DeKalb Population by Age

DeKalb Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Household Type
Count
Average Size
Owner
Renter
All16,0152.2842.557.5
Non Family8,1801.3424.475.6
Married4,5373.2480.119.9
Female2,4463.4334.465.6
Male8522.8239.660.4

3.11

Average Family Size

2.28

Average Household Size

42.5%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

DeKalb Households and Families

Male

Female

Education Attained
Count
Percentage
9th to 12th Grade1,1275.51%
Associates Degree2,05310.03%
Bachelors Degree4,38821.45%
Graduate Degree2,92014.27%
High School Graduate4,88223.86%
Less Than 9th Grade9934.85%
Some College4,09620.02%

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

DeKalb Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

DeKalb Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

Race
Total
High School
Bachelors
White13,30312,5884,840
Hispanic3,2712,211868
Black2,1141,861462
2+ Races1,9861,555865
Other Race1,154673341
Asian947832527
Native American131273

The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 94.63%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 55.65%.

DeKalb Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

Name
Average
Male
Female
Bachelors Degree$44,291$49,469$32,047
Graduate Degree$72,355$94,896$59,276
High School Graduate$33,818$40,820$26,037
Less Than 9th Grade$34,019$46,644$0
Overall$43,030$48,530$32,956
Some College$45,058$50,361$35,173

$43,030

Average Earnings

$48,530

Average Male

$32,956

Average Female

DeKalb Earnings by Educational Attainment

DeKalb Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

DeKalb Language

81.79% of DeKalb residents speak only English, while 18.21% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 10.77% of the population.

DeKalb Language

DeKalb Poverty by Race

rate

Name
Total
In Poverty
Poverty Rate
White21,1804,52421.36%
Black5,1182,53949.61%
Hispanic6,9121,76525.54%
Multiple4,5691,08023.64%
Other2,05762230.24%
Asian1,32439029.46%
Native3295516.72%

25.7%

Overall Poverty Rate

24.26%

Male Poverty Rate

27.14%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in DeKalb

The race most likely to be in poverty in DeKalb is Black, with 49.61% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in DeKalb is Native, with 16.72% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 4.89%. Among those working part-time, it was 35.84%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 33.15%.

DeKalb Poverty

rate

Rate
Poverty
Less Than 9th Grade27.4%
High School24.39%
Some College16.09%
Bachelors or Greater4.6%

DeKalb Poverty Rate by Education

rate

Rate
Poverty
Female Unemployed47.71%
Male Unemployed31.9%
Female Employed19.04%
Male Employed17.16%

DeKalb Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

DeKalb Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

Name
Median
Mean
Families$67,617$84,714
Households$46,564$65,561
Married Families$103,117$-999,999,999
Non Families$30,789$43,086

mean

median

Income by Household Type

DeKalb Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

29.3%

Overall Marriage Rate

31.9%

Male Marriage Rate

26.8%

Female Marriage Rate

DeKalb Married by Age and Sex

male

female

DeKalb Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.

DeKalb Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

DeKalb Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

1,310

Number of Veterans

1,041

Male Veterans

269

Female Veterans

War
Veterans
Second Gulf War479
Vietnam344
First Gulf War243
Korea69
World War II45

DeKalb Veterans by War

count

Age Group
Veterans
35 to 54401
75+281
65 to 74260
18 to 34250
55 to 64118

DeKalb Veterans by Age

count

Name
Veterans
% of Total
White1,1075.2%
Black1112.55%
Hispanic1062%
Other Race613.71%
Asian161.09%
Native American104.59%
2+ Races50.14%

DeKalb Veterans by Race

DeKalb Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

1.64%

Veteran Poverty Rate

12.09%

Veteran Disability Rate

DeKalb Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

67.7%

Labor Force Participation

60.5%

Employment Rate

10.6%

Unemployment Rate

DeKalb Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

DeKalb Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

DeKalb Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

72.32%

Born in DeKalb

90.94%

Native Born

9.06%

Foreign Born

4.87%

Non Citizen

4.19%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

90.94% of DeKalb residents were born in the United States, with 72.32% having been born in Illinois. 4.87% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.

DeKalb Place of Birth

Note: data after 2022 is projected based on recent change
Year
Population
Growth
Change
202940,195-20%
202840,197-3-0.01%
202740,200-3-0.01%
202640,203-20%
202540,205-3-0.01%
202440,208-3-0.01%
202340,211-8-0.02%
202240,219-73-0.18%
202140,292730.18%
202040,219-2,731-6.36%
201942,9501490.35%
201842,801-70-0.16%
201742,871470.11%
201642,824-166-0.39%
201542,990-266-0.61%
201443,256-9-0.02%
201343,265-249-0.57%
201243,514-206-0.47%
201143,720-387-0.88%
201044,10700%
200039,0184,09311.72%
199034,9251,7685.33%
198033,1572080.63%
197032,94914,46378.24%
196018,4866,77857.89%
195011,7082,56228.01%
19409,1466017.03%
19308,5456748.56%
19207,871-231-2.85%
19108,1022,19837.23%
19005,9043,325128.93%
18902,579-37,616-93.58%

DeKalb Population by Year