Richmond County, also known as Staten Island, is a borough of New York City, New York, United States. Staten Island is the least populated of the five boroughs, with 495,747 people, but is the third largest in area, at .
As of the 2020 census, there were 495,747 people living on Staten Island, which was an increase of 5.6% from the 2000 census.
Notably, despite Staten Island being the least populous of the five boroughs of New York City, the island still has a greater population than large, independent cities such as Raleigh, Oakland, St. Louis, Miami, and New Orleans.
Demographics 2020 census +Staten Island / Richmond County, New York – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)300,511303,081316,316300,169277,98185.34%79.97%71.29%64.04%56.07%Black or African American alone (NH)24,48028,17239,70444,31346,8356.95%7.43%8.95%9.45%9.45%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)3836115996956240.11%0.16%0.13%0.15%0.13%Asian alone (NH)6,70916,48324,78634,69758,7531.91%4.35%5.59%7.40%11.85%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census119137135xx0.03%0.03%0.03%Other race alone (NH)1,1543918571,0283,1410.33%0.10%0.19%0.22%0.63%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census7,7976,64011,318xx1.76%1.42%2.28%Hispanic or Latino (any race)18,88430,23953,55081,05196,9605.36%7.98%12.07%17.29%19.56%Total352,121378,977443,728468,730495,747 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
Out of all of the boroughs of New York City, Staten Island has the lowest population concentration, and as of the 2020 census data from the New York City Department of City Planning, there were a total population of 495,747 residents with 277,981 White residents making up 56.1%, 96,960 Hispanic residents making up 19.6%, 58,753 Asian residents making up 11.9%, and 46,835 Black residents making up 9.4%. Through most of the 20th century, NYC has long been dominantly populated by European American White enclaves, but starting in the 1970s and moving forward, there was a rapid increasing changing cultural and racial diversity in the city and by the 1980s going forward, Non-White enclaves became the dominant majority of the city while the overall white population fell under 50% including in each other borough; however, Staten Island is the only and last borough of NYC that is still retaining a more than 50% White European American majority despite the increasing cultural and racial diversity. However, Staten Island's White population has been steadily declining from 300,169 residents at 64.0% in 2010 to 277,981 at 56.1% in 2020, a loss of 22,188 or 7.4%. Meanwhile, other racial populations are increasing with the Black population increasing from 44,313 residents at 9.5% in 2010 to 46,835 residents at 9.4% in 2020, a gain of 2,522 residents or 5.7%, though due to other racial population increases in the borough, the percentage portion of the Black residents out of the total Staten Island population slightly declined. The Hispanic population went from 81,051 residents at 17.3% in 2010 to 96,960 residents at 19.6%, a gain of 15,909 residents or 19.6%, and the Asian population experienced the largest increase from 34,697 residents at 7.4% in 2010 to 58,753 residents at 11.9% in 2020, a gain of 24,056 residents or 69.3%."2020 Census Results for New York City". nyc.gov
2000 census At the 2000 census, there were 443,728 people, 156,341 households, and 114,052 families residing in the borough/county. The population density was . There were 163,993 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 77.6% White, 9.7% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 5.7% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.1% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.1% of the population.
Staten Island Compared2000 CensusStaten IslandNY CityNY StateTotal population443,7288,008,27818,976,457Population density7,587.9/mi226,403/mi2402/mi2Median household income (1999)$55,039$38,293$43,393Per capita income$23,905$22,402$23,389Bachelor's degree or higher27%27%24%Foreign born21%36%20%White78%44%62%Black10%27%16%Hispanic (any race)12%27%14%Asian6%10%6%
There were 156,341 households, out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.31.
The population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household was $55,039, and the median income for a family was $64,333. Males had a median income of $50,081 versus $35,914 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,905. About 7.9% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
Since the 2000 census, a rather large Russian community has been growing in Staten Island, particularly in the South Beach and Great Kills area. The vast majority of the borough's African American and Hispanic residents live north of the Staten Island Expressway, or Interstate 278.
2009 American Community Survey
+ Staten Island Population by year Year Inhabitants 1900 67,021 1910 85,969 1920 116,531 1930 158,346 1940 174,441 1950 191,555 1960 221,991 1970 295,443 1980 352,029 1990 378,977 2000 443,728 2010 468,730 2020 495,747 According to the 2009 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, Staten Island had a population 491,730, of which 48.7% were males and 51.3% were females. Approximately 6.0% of the population was under five years of age, and 76.9% of the populace was over eighteen years of age. One-eighth (12.5%) of the population was over sixty-five years of age. The median age was 38.4 years.
In terms of race, 98.1% of the population was of one race and 1.9% was of two or more races. The borough's population was 75.7% White (65.8% non-Hispanic White alone), 10.2% Black or African American (9.6% non-Hispanic Black or African American alone), 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 7.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 4.6% from Some other race, and 1.9% from Two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race made up 15.9% of the population.
Whites were the racial majority in Staten Island. Of the borough's 491,000 people, over 382,000 were white, which was over three-quarters (75.7%) of the population. Over 323,000 non-Hispanic whites reside in the borough, and they make up 65.8% of the population. The Caucasian population was largely Italian and Irish. Sizable communities of Germans, Russians, Albanians and Poles were present. There were over 175,000 Italian Americans living in Staten Island, and they make up over one-third (35.7%) of the population. Roughly 65,000 Irish Americans live in the borough, and they make up over one-eighth (13.2%) of the population. People of German, Russian, and Polish descent make up 5.7, 3.8, and 3.4% of the population, respectively.
Compared to other New York City boroughs, Blacks were a relatively small percentage of Staten Island's residents. Only one out of every ten residents was Black compared to one out of every four residents in New York City overall. Of the borough's 50,000 Black residents, 47,000 were non-Hispanic, which was just under ten percent of the population. In addition, over 7,200 people identified themselves as "Sub-Saharan African" in the survey, which was equal to 1.5% of Staten Island's total population.
American Indians were a very small minority in Staten Island. Of the borough's 491,000 inhabitants, just over 900 were Native American. Overall, indigenous peoples make up only 0.2% of the population. People of mixed white and Native American ancestry & mixed black and Native American ancestry collectively outnumber people who were Native American alone. Over 630 people were of mixed Caucasian and Native American heritage, and over 410 people were of mixed African American and Native American heritage.
Asians were a smaller minority group compared to blacks and Hispanics, but they were visible and growing. Over 36,600 Asians call Staten Island home, and they represent 7.4% of the borough's population. Chinese Americans and Indian Americans were the two main Asian ethnic groups. Over 12,100 Chinese Americans and 10,000 Indian Americans live in the conurbation. People of Chinese and Indian descent make up 2.5 and 2.0% of the population, respectively. Over 7,700 Filipinos reside here, making up 1.6% of the population. Staten Island was also home to the nations highest percentages of Sri Lankans. The "Little Sri Lanka" in the Tompkinsville neighborhood of Staten Island was one of the largest Sri Lankan communities outside of the country of Sri Lanka itself.
Hispanics and Latinos were the largest minority group in Staten Island, and they're the second largest group after non-Hispanic whites. Over 78,000 Hispanics and Latinos live in the borough, and they make up 15.9% of the population. Puerto Ricans were the most numerous of the Hispanic subgroups; the borough's 35,600 Puerto Ricans make up 7.2% of its population. In addition, the borough's 15,300 Mexicans make up 3.1% of its population; over 1,200 Cubans form just 0.3% of Staten Island's population. In addition, over 26,100 people were of other Hispanic and Latino ethnicities, such as Dominican, Salvadoran, Ecuadorian, etc.
Approximately 80.0% of the population was native and 20.0% was foreign-born. About 78.2% of the population was born in the United States, and 1.8% was born in Puerto Rico, U.S. Island areas, or abroad to American parents. The 98,000 foreign-born make up one-fifth of the population. Approximately 34.7% of the foreign-born population was born in Europe, 29.4% was born in Asia, 27.6% was born in Latin America, 7.8% was born in Africa, 0.4% was born in other parts of North America, and 0.1% was born in Oceania.
Approximately 71.4% of the population over five years of age spoke English only at home, so 28.6% of the population spoke non-English languages. In addition, 10.1% of the population spoke Spanish, and 12.1% spoke other Indo-European languages. Lastly, 4.6% of the populace spoke an Asian language.
2010 census According to the 2010 Census, 64.0% of the population was non-Hispanic White, 9.5% non-Hispanic Black or African American, 0.0% non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native, 7.4% non-Hispanic Asian, 0.2% from some other race (non-Hispanic) and 2.6% of two or more races (non-Hispanic). 17.3% of Staten Island's population was of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.
Major racial groups Italian Americans Staten Island has a higher percentage of Italian Americans than any other county in the United States, though it is 27th largest compared to other Italian American communities.
About 25% of Staten Island's residents have Italian origin, down meaningfully from 33% back in 2010.Shifting demographics on Staten Island: Here are the fastest growing ethnic groups Staten Island Advance, January 2, 2025 The South Shore of Staten Island has the highest proportion of Italians. Nearly 70% of the South Shore reports Italian ancestry.New York’s Red Borough City Journal, Winter 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2025 Several neighborhoods in the southernmost portion of the island are over 90% Italian.