Brooklyn, New York (NASA, International Space Station Science, 04/28/07)
Census data: Brooklyn’s population booms by 9.4 percent
But growth is not universal: Brooklyn’s Black population saw declines of 9 percent, while the Asian population shot up 42.5 percent
New data from the 2020 census showed that Brooklyn’s population jumped by 230,000 residents over the last decade. The borough now has 2.74 million residents—roughly the same as Chicago, the nation’s third largest city. The New York City population overall swelled to a record-high 8.8 million.
The borough’s 9.4 percent population growth rate far outpaced neighboring boroughs, and dramatically surpassed a 2019 estimate that the Brooklyn population had only grown by 2.2 percent since 2010.
In a statement, Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough president and the Democratic nominee for mayor, attributed the boom to community development: “Brooklyn’s robust population growth over the last decade… is a reflection of how hard we have worked to make this borough a safer place to raise healthy children and families, and a more attractive place to work, learn, and play.”
The census numbers also revealed significant demographic changes. Brooklyn’s Black population, which currently accounts for 32.9 percent of all residents, fell by nearly 9 percent, from 799,066 to 729,696—approximately the same number of residents by which the non-Hispanic white population grew.
This is comes as a surprise as many of the national headlines focused on the news that multiracial populations grew in almost every county of the U.S.
The non-Hispanic white population jumped 8.4 percent, from 893,306 to 968,427, now accounting for 43.6 percent of the total population.
The Hispanic population increased slightly, rising 4 percent, and the Asian population grew substantially, from 262,276 to 373,680—a 42.5 percent leap, comprising 13.7 percent of all residents.
The Covid-19 pandemic made the 2020 census uniquely challenging to complete. In-person surveys were suspended, and for the first time, online responses were accepted. Adams concluded his statement with a nod to the volunteers who made it possible:
“I want to again thank everyone who participated in last year’s Census count, including the hard-working volunteers on our #MakeBrooklynCount committee. Our Mission in the decade to come must be to uplift Brooklyn’s welcoming brand, while advancing real affordability that will support families and small businesses who have made that brand possible.”
