USUNITED STATES
Factbook

DRAFT · October 2026
A Factbook library volume

UNITED STATES · STATES · DRAFT

Delaware

DE

United States national overview in the World Factbook ↗

DRAFT · Dated statistical and subject baseline. Figures retain their individual reference years.

Introduction

Background ⓘ

Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States Constitution. Its three counties had previously been associated with Pennsylvania.

Geography

Total area ⓘ

2,488.78 square miles (6,445.91 square kilometres) (2025)

Land area ⓘ

1,948.545 square miles (5,046.708 square kilometres) (2025)

Water area ⓘ

540.235 square miles (1,399.202 square kilometres) (2025)

Boundaries ⓘ

Delaware shares boundaries with Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.

People

Resident population ⓘ

1,059,952 people (2025)

Resident population estimate, 2020 ⓘ

991,890 people (2020)

Population change, 2020–2025 ⓘ

6.86% (2025)

Government

Capital ⓘ

Dover

Constitution ratification ⓘ

December 7, 1787

Economy

Median household income ⓘ

92,520 2025 USD ± 3,776 (90% confidence) (2025)

Per capita income ⓘ

47,996 2025 USD ± 1,334 (90% confidence) (2025)

People below poverty level ⓘ

98,483 people ± 11,350 (90% confidence) (2025)

Population with poverty status determined ⓘ

1,035,838 people ± 1,410 (90% confidence) (2025)

Poverty rate ⓘ

9.5% (2025)

Housing

Housing units ⓘ

483,497 housing units ± 237 (90% confidence) (2025)

National Park Service places

Places associated with this state or territory in the NPS directory.

Further reading

Source records
  1. Background

    U.S. Census Bureau, Guide to 2010 State and Local Census Geography: Delaware ↗

    Reference period: Not supplied by source.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31.

  2. Total area

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 National States Gazetteer ↗

    Reference period: 2025. 2025 Gazetteer geography. Land and water area in square miles, published to three decimal places. Total is calculated as land plus water; territory boundaries are statistical geography.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:11:28.1089007Z.

    Original source value: 2,488.78 square miles.

  3. Land area

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 National States Gazetteer ↗

    Reference period: 2025. 2025 Gazetteer geography. Land and water area in square miles, published to three decimal places. Total is calculated as land plus water; territory boundaries are statistical geography.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:11:28.1089007Z.

    Original source value: 1,948.545 square miles.

  4. Water area

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 National States Gazetteer ↗

    Reference period: 2025. 2025 Gazetteer geography. Land and water area in square miles, published to three decimal places. Total is calculated as land plus water; territory boundaries are statistical geography.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:11:28.1089007Z.

    Original source value: 540.235 square miles.

  5. Boundaries

    U.S. Census Bureau, Guide to 2010 State and Local Census Geography: Delaware ↗

    Reference period: Not supplied by source. Census Bureau bordering-state list; includes water boundaries and point contacts, where listed. The District of Columbia is a federal district.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31.

  6. Resident population

    U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025 ↗

    Reference period: 2025-07-01. July 1 resident population estimate; Vintage 2025. Includes all ages. Earlier vintages are revised by this release.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:09:32.917713Z.

    Original source value: 1,059,952 people.

  7. Resident population estimate, 2020

    U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025 ↗

    Reference period: 2020-07-01. July 1, 2020 resident population estimate from the same Vintage 2025 series; not the April 1 decennial census count.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:09:32.917713Z.

    Original source value: 991,890 people.

  8. Population change, 2020–2025

    U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025 ↗

    Reference period: 2020-07-01/2025-07-01. Calculated percentage change between July 1 population estimates in the same Vintage 2025 series.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:09:32.917713Z.

    Original source value: 6.86%.

  9. Capital

    U.S. Census Bureau, Guide to 2010 State and Local Census Geography: Delaware ↗

    Reference period: Not supplied by source.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31.

  10. Constitution ratification

    U.S. Census Bureau, Guide to 2010 State and Local Census Geography: Delaware ↗

    Reference period: Not supplied by source. Date the state ratified the United States Constitution.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31.

  11. Median household income

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B19013 ↗

    Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. Median household income in the past 12 months, in 2025 inflation-adjusted dollars. Universe: households. Sampling estimate; margin of error uses a 90% confidence level.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:11.8995582Z.

    Original source value: 92,520 2025 USD ± 3,776 (90% confidence).

  12. Per capita income

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B19301 ↗

    Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. Per capita income in the past 12 months, in 2025 inflation-adjusted dollars. Universe: total population. Sampling estimate; margin of error uses a 90% confidence level.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:16.6293232Z.

    Original source value: 47,996 2025 USD ± 1,334 (90% confidence).

  13. People below poverty level

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B17001 ↗

    Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. People whose income in the past 12 months was below the poverty level. Universe: population for whom poverty status is determined. Sampling estimate; margin of error uses a 90% confidence level.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:16.8869346Z.

    Original source value: 98,483 people ± 11,350 (90% confidence).

  14. Population with poverty status determined

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B17001 ↗

    Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. Denominator for the poverty count. Excludes people for whom poverty status is not determined. Sampling estimate; margin of error uses a 90% confidence level.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:16.8869346Z.

    Original source value: 1,035,838 people ± 1,410 (90% confidence).

  15. Poverty rate

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B17001 ↗

    Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. Calculated as B17001_E002 / B17001_E001 × 100. Population for whom poverty status is determined. Rounded to one decimal. Source counts and their 90% margins of error are retained as separate facts; a margin of error for this derived rate has not been calculated.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:16.8869346Z.

    Original source value: 9.5%.

  16. Housing units

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B25001 ↗

    Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. Total housing units, occupied and vacant. ACS estimate; not the annual Population Estimates Program housing-unit series. Sampling estimate; margin of error uses a 90% confidence level.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:17.0506096Z.

    Original source value: 483,497 housing units ± 237 (90% confidence).

Comparison
Source information
Draft edition