The Colorado Population, 5.3 million People Strong

Colorado is noted for its diverse geography and population. In July 2014 the total Colorado population of the state’s 64 counties was 5,353,471, up from 4,338,801 in 2000 and 5,050,289 in 2010.

Colorado has 7 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA). As expected, the Colorado-Lakewood-Aurora MSA is the largest with slightly more than half the state’s population. There are 4,688,482 people living in the 7 MSAs, or 87.6% of the state’s population

Denver 2,753,338 51.4%
Colorado Springs 711,364 13.3%
Fort Collins 323,863 6.0%
Boulder 313,708 5.9%
Greeley 276,079 5.2%
Pueblo 161,782 3.0%
Grand Junction 148,348 2.8%

In 2014 the state had 11 counties with populations greater than 100,000. Combined their population was 4,371,483, or 84.2% of the total Colorado population.

County Population
El Paso 665,070
Denver 664,220
Arapahoe 618,341
Jefferson 558,532
Adams 480,317
Larimer 323,863
Douglas 314,592
Boulder 313,708
Weld 276,079
Pueblo 161,782

There are 27 counties with a population between 10,000 and 62,000 people. These 27 counties have a combined population of 710,198. Broomfield is the largest county in this group with 61,826 people and
Yuma is the smallest with 10,132.

Colorado has 26 counties with a population less than 10,000 people. The combined population of these counties is 118,421. Of this group, 3 counties (Hinsdale, San Juan, and Mineral) have populations less than 1,000.

The populations for each of the state’s 64 counties is listed in the table below.

County Population % Total
El Paso 665,070 12.42%
Denver 664,220 12.41%
Arapahoe 618,341 11.55%
Jefferson 558,532 10.43%
Adams 480,317 8.97%
Larimer 323,863 6.05%
Douglas 314,592 5.88%
Boulder 313,708 5.86%
Weld 276,079 5.16%
Pueblo 161,782 3.02%
Mesa 148,348 2.77%
Broomfield 61,826 1.15%
Garfield 57,548 1.07%
La Plata 54,014 1.01%
Eagle 52,831 0.99%
Fremont 46,294 0.86%
Montrose 40,904 0.76%
Delta 30,027 0.56%
Summit 29,399 0.55%
Morgan 28,254 0.53%
Montezuma 25,812 0.48%
Elbert 24,144 0.45%
Routt 23,896 0.45%
Teller 23,394 0.44%
Logan 22,088 0.41%
Chaffee 18,454 0.34%
Otero 18,380 0.34%
Pitkin 17,645 0.33%
Park 16,383 0.31%
Alamosa 15,870 0.30%
Gunnison 15,660 0.29%
Grand 14,505 0.27%
Las Animas 14,060 0.26%
Moffat 12,870 0.24%
Archuleta 12,249 0.23%
Prowers 11,985 0.22%
Rio Grande 11,574 0.22%
Yuma 10,132 0.19%
Clear Creek 9,153 0.17%
Conejos 8,229 0.15%
San Miguel 7,823 0.15%
Kit Carson 7,818 0.15%
Lake 7,349 0.14%
Rio Blanco 6,607 0.12%
Huerfano 6,428 0.12%
Saguache 6,206 0.12%
Gilpin 5,830 0.11%
Crowley 5,551 0.10%
Bent 5,539 0.10%
Lincoln 5,508 0.10%
Washington 4,769 0.09%
Ouray 4,587 0.09%
Phillips 4,380 0.08%
Custer 4,373 0.08%
Baca 3,624 0.07%
Costilla 3,556 0.07%
Sedgwick 2,331 0.04%
Dolores 1,933 0.04%
Cheyenne 1,870 0.03%
Jackson 1,388 0.03%
Kiowa 1,385 0.03%
Hinsdale 769 0.01%
San Juan 718 0.01%
Mineral 697 0.01%
Colorado 5,353,471 100.00%

Colorado Population – 5.4 Million in 2015

The Colorado population increases and decreases are a result of the natural rate of change (births minus deaths) and the change in net migration (people moving into the state minus people moving out of the state).

Over the past two decades the natural change (red bars) varied from a low of 29,168 in 1995 to a peak of 41,124 in 2007.

Changes resulting from net migration (blue bars) are closely tied to the strength of the economy. For example, there were five years, from 1986 to 1990, when net migration was negative. More people moved out of state than moved into the state to escape a regional recession. During the past two recessions, net migration declined, but did not turn negative because it was difficult for people to move. Net migration remained positive.

The Colorado population increased by about 86,000 in 2014 and will increase by about 89,000 in 2015.

Net migration will increase by 56,000 in 2015, the highest level of change since 2001. In 2015 the state’s population will increase by 1.7% to 5.4 million.

change in popuoation