San Luis Obispo County, CA Population

The population of San Luis Obispo County is 282,771, according to the U.S. Census Bureau ACS estimates.
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Updated Jun 23, 2023
Overview
282,771
Total Population
39.7
Median age
49.20%
Female population %
103.2:100
Gender ratio (M:F)
20-24 years
Largest age group
53.6
Total dependency ratio
White
Largest racial group
65,588
Hispanic population

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2021

Age

San Luis Obispo County's population is old compared to the rest of the country:

  • The median age in San Luis Obispo County is 39.7, compared to 38.8 nationwide, according to the American Community Survey 2017 - 2021 5 Year estimates.
  • San Luis Obispo County's population under 18 was 17.76%, compared to the 22.51% nationwide.
  • San Luis Obispo County's elderly or the senior population (over 65 age) was 20.24% as compared to 16.04% nationwide.
  • Of the total population in San Luis Obispo County, 14.65% were under the age of 15, 23.76% aged 15 to 29, 41.35% aged 30 to 64, 17.91% aged 65 to 84, and 2.33% were 85 years of age and older.
The graph shows San Luis Obispo County's population by age group, with age group on x-axis and the respective age group's percent of the total population on y-axis
San Luis Obispo County, CA population by age group. The largest age group was 20-24 years with a poulation of 28,811 (10.19% of the total population). Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021 5-Year Estimates.

Read more about San Luis Obispo County, CA population by age ➔

Gender

There are 4,515 less females than males in San Luis Obispo County:

  • The female percentage in the USA is 50.50% while the male percentage is 49.50%, compared to 49.20% females and 50.80% males in San Luis Obispo County, CA.
  • The San Luis Obispo County, CA gender ratio is 103.2:100 i.e. 103.2 men to 100 women (1.032).
  • For male population, the largest age group is 20-24 years with a population of 16,018.
  • For the female population, the largest age group is 20-24 years with a population of 12,793.
The grouped bar chart shows San Luis Obispo County, CA population by age and gender across 18 age groups, defined between the age of 0 and 85 and above. The female population is shown in pink color bar and male population is shown in blue color bar. Age group is plotted on x axis and population on y axis.
California population by gender and age. Largest age group (population): Male # 20-24 years (16,018) | Female # 20-24 years (12,793). Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021 5-Year Estimates.

Read more about San Luis Obispo County, CA population by gender ➔

Race / Ethnicity

San Luis Obispo County's population has become increasingly diverse:

  • Racial distribution of San Luis Obispo County population: 79.86% are White, 1.50% are Black or African American, 0.84% are American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.58% are Asian, 0.11% are Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 4.54% are some other race and 9.57% are multiracial.
  • San Luis Obispo County's racial breakdown clearly shows that there is an absolute majority of White population in the county.
  • By ethnicity, 65,588 is Hispanic or Latino (of any race), and 217,183 (76.81% of the total population) is Non-Hispanic.
  • The largest racial group in San Luis Obispo County is White with a population of 225,822 (79.86% of the total population).
The bar chart shows San Luis Obispo County, CA population by race, in percentage. The numbers shown are based on the American Community Survey respondents self identified race. The Hispanic and Latino population is spread across the races identified and not as a separate race category.
San Luis Obispo County, CA population by race. The largest racial group in San Luis Obispo County is White with a population of 225,822 (79.86% of the total population). Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021 5-Year Estimates.

Read more about San Luis Obispo County, CA population by race ➔

Year by year

San Luis Obispo County's population has already reached its peak and is showing a trend of decline:

  • The peak population was 283,250 in the year 2018
  • From 2000 to 2010, San Luis Obispo County's population increased by 21,869 (8.82%), as compared to the national growth of 9.63%.
  • From 2010 to 2020, San Luis Obispo County's population increased by 12,079 (4.48%), according to Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program. For the same period, the rate of growth for the United States was 7.17%.
  • Between the year 2000 and 2022, San Luis Obispo County's population was lowest in year 2000 at 247,931.
The graph shows San Luis Obispo County's population from 2000 to 2022, with years on x-axis and population on y-axis
San Luis Obispo County's population from 2000 to 2022. The estimated population at the end of 2022 was 282,013. Source: U.S. Census Bureau (Population Estimates Program)

Read more about San Luis Obispo County, CA population by year ➔

References

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