Rhode Island by the Numbers:
Key Statistical Data and Facts
Key Details
- Rhode Island has a population of 1,093,734 residents, with women comprising 51% of the residents.
- 62.3% of housing units in Rhode Island are owner-occupied, with a median value of $292,600.
- Most residents (83.1%) are white, while 17.1% identify as Hispanic or Latino.
- Approximately 89.1% of Rhode Islanders aged 25 and above are high school graduates or higher, while 35.3% hold bachelor's degrees or higher.
- As of 2021, 566,100 persons comprise the state's civilian workforce.
- Between 2017 and 2021, the median household income was $74,489, while 9% earned more than $200,000 annually.
- Approximately 45.65% are married, and 12,258 (1.34%) individuals are separated/divorced.
- In 2021, Rhode Island had a life expectancy of 78.2 years.
Rhode Island Population Demographics
Rhode Island is the seventh least populated US state. As of 2022, it has an estimated population of 1,093,734 residents. Between 2020 and 2022, the population dipped by -0.3%. Of this number, 4.9% are persons under five, 19.1% are below 18, and 18.1% are persons aged 65 years and over. Additionally, women make up 51% of the residents in the state, while men comprise 49%.
Rhode Island Housing
Rhode Island Racial Demographics
Rhode Island consists of people from different racial backgrounds and ethnicities, including Whites, Blacks or African Americans, Asians, and Latinos. Whites alone (83.1%) represent the majority of residents in the state, followed by Hispanics or Latinos (17.1%) and Blacks or African Americans (8.8%). Asians comprise 3.7% of residents in the state, while American Indians and Alaska Natives constitute 1.2%. Rhode Islanders with two or more racial heritage make up 3.0% of the population.
| Race | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White alone | 83.1% |
| Black or African American alone | 8.8% |
| American Indians and Alaska Natives alone | 1.2% |
| Asian alone | 3.7% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders alone | 0.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.1% |
| White alone (not Hispanic or Latino) | 70.4% |
| Two or More Races | 3.0% |
Elections in Rhode Island
Rhode Island is considered a solidly blue state. As of 2023, Democrats have won all but four presidential elections since 1928, except for 1952, 1956, 1972, and 1984. In 2023, the Democratic Party controlled the offices of the governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and both chambers of the state legislature. Notwithstanding, the Republican Party has remained competitive in governorship elections and won one in 2006.
Daniel McKee, the 76th governor of Rhode Island, was sworn in on March 2, 2021, after Gina Raimondo resigned to become US Secretary of Commerce. In 2022, he was re-elected to a full term after defeating Republican candidate Ashley Kalus in the general election. As with most states in the US, the Governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality, and his tenure is limited to two consecutive terms.
As of 2023, Democrat Dominick J. Ruggerio serves as the president of the Senate, while Hanna M. Gallo occupies the office of President pro tempore. The majority leader for the Democratic Party is Ryan W. Pearson, while the minority leader for the Republican Party is Jessica de la Cruz.
2020 Presidential Election
Democrat nominee Joseph R. Biden won the 2020 presidential election in Rhode Island by 307,486 votes (59.4%). The candidate for the Republican Party, Donald J. Trump, received 199,922 votes (38.6%), while third-party candidates received the remaining 2% votes.
Joe Biden
Donald Trump
Rhode Island Voting Statistics
Rhode Island has approximately 718,071 active status registered voters as of May 2023. Approximately 290,770 are registered as Democrats, 99,595 as Republicans, and 327,706 are unaffiliated.
General Election Voter Turnout
| Year | Voter Turnout | Turnout Percentage (Voting Age Population) |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 381,267 | 48% |
| 2016 | 469,589 | 60% |
| 2014 | 328,233 | 44% |
| 2012 | 450,030 | 62% |
| 2010 | 345,878 | 49% |
| 2008 | 475,428 | 68% |
How Educated is Rhode Island
Per estimates by the US Census Bureau, 89.1% of residents aged 25 and above are high school graduates or higher, while 35.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Approximately 20.81% of Rhode Islanders have attained a college certificate (198,622 locals), while 12.69% have a graduate degree (111,599 people). Additionally, 7.65% of the state’s population holds an associate degree (67,300), while 4.24% never went to high school (37,287).
Rhode Island Employment Rate
According to data from the Rhode Island Department of Labor, the state ended 2022 with a 3.2% unemployment rate. This is below three-tenths of a percentage point from the rate that was initially reported for December 2022. The report further indicates that the most significant increase in the unemployment rate occurred in August, where the rate was revised upward by six-tenths (+0.6) of a percentage point.
Additionally, the US Bureau of Labour statistics shows that Rhode Island’s civilian workforce consists of 566,100 persons as of March 2023. Of this figure, 548,800 residents were employed, while 17,300 were unemployed.
When viewing the employment ratio of each industry in the state, the Education and Health Services sector provides the majority of jobs (approximately 104,600). In addition, the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities sector provides up to 77,100 jobs, followed by the Professional and Business Services sector, with 69,700 jobs, and the government sector, with 65,000 jobs.
Other major industries in Rhode Island include Leisure and Hospitality (57,700 jobs), Manufacturing (39,900 jobs), Financial Activities (35,300 jobs), and Construction (23,500 jobs).
Average Income in Rhode Island
Between 2017 and 2021, Rhode Island recorded a median household income of $74,489, an average household income of $97,908, and a per capita income of $39,603. According to the US Census Bureau, 9% of the state's households are high-income households, earning more than $200,000 annually. Residents aged 45 to 64 earn more than those in other age groups, recording a median wage of $91,477. Those between the ages of 25 and 44 make up to $78,332 annually, while those older than 65 earn $50,765. Residents younger than 25 earn less and record a median income of $36,658 per year.
Families in Rhode Island
Rhode Island Marriage Rates
According to the National Centre for Health (NCH) statistics, Rhode Island has a marriage rate of 5.8 marriages per 1,000 as of 2021. This figure is higher than the 4.5 recorded in 2020 but lower than the 6.1 recorded in 2019. Indeed, the state’s marriage rate has steadily decreased between 1990 and 2021. In 1990, the state recorded a marriage rate of 8.1 marriages per 1000. This figure is significantly higher than those recorded in subsequent years.
As of 2021, 45.65% of the total population in Rhode Island are married (418,972 people), while 37.56% have never been married (which represents a total of 344,786 people).
Rhode Island Divorce Rates
In Rhode Island, there is a divorce rate of 2.7 divorces per 1,000 as of 2021. For over three decades (1990-2021), the state has experienced an alternate decrease and increase in divorce rates. In 1990, Rhode Island's divorce rate decreased from 3.7 to 3.6 in 1995 and 2.7 in 1999. However, by the next decade, the rate increased to 2.9 in 2000, 3.2 in 2001 and 2002. As of 2021, the total number of separated and divorced residents is 12,258 (1.34%) and 101,039 (11.01%), respectively.
Life Expectancy in Rhode Island
Based on the NCH statistics, the life expectancy of Rhode Islanders is 78.2 years, decreasing from 79.5 years in 2019 to 79.8 years in 2018. The NCH further notes that the fertility rate of women between the ages of 15 and 44 is 48.3 births per 1,000 women, while the teen birth rate (15-19 age category) is 7.8 births per 1,000 females. Additionally, the state has an infant mortality rate of 4.0 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Rhode Island, followed by cancer, COVID-19, accidents, Alzheimer’s disease, and stroke. Other leading causes of death include chronic lower respiratory diseases, diabetes, chronic liver disease, and kidney disease. It is important to note that the state has a drug overdose death rate of 41.7 per 100,000 and a firearm injury death rate of 5.6 per 100,000. As of 2021, the state recorded a homicide mortality rate of 3.6 per 100,000 residents.
Rhode Island Crime Rates
According to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data of the FBI, there were 2,012 violent crime incidents recorded in Rhode Island as of 2021. The state recorded 33 homicides, 438 rape incidents, 278 robberies, and 1,263 aggravated assaults. In the same year, the FBI reported 13,670 property crime incidents in the state. A breakdown of this number reveals 95 Parsons, 1,542 burglaries, 10,398 larceny thefts, and 1,635 motor vehicle theft incidents.
Rhode Island Incarceration Rate
Rhode Island Bankruptcy Rate
Data from the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) Data reveals that bankruptcy filings in Rhode Island have consistently decreased since 2011 (when 4,931 cases were filed). Since then, there has been a decline in bankruptcy cases to 4,108 in 2012, 3,528 in 2013, 2,929 in 2014, 2,569 in 2015, 2,276 in 2016, 2,271 in 2017, 2,165 in 2018, and 2,036 in 2019. The filings decreased significantly from 1,413 in 2020 to 992 in 2021. As of 2022, 793 bankruptcy cases were filed in Rhode Island across Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13. In the same year, the state recorded 29 total business bankruptcy filings and a 9% decrease in total filings relative to its population.
Weird Laws in Rhode Island
Like most states in the US, Rhode Island has a couple of weird laws that are still on the books but are not rigorously enforced. Here is a list of some of these laws:
Stealing a chicken could attract jail time for five years.
It is against the law to ride a horse over a public highway for racing or to test the horse's speed.
Forcing children or employees to work on Sundays is illegal.
It is an offense to throw pickle juice on a trolley.