District of Columbia Population, Economy, Jobs & Key Trends | Data Lab Region: District of Columbia Coverage: 1790 - 2024 Report ID: RH-57107537EAB18E4B URL: https://greenblog.co.kr/en/data-report/district-of-columbia-population-economy-jobs-key-trends-data-lab/ === Full report === The District of Columbia is both a federal capital and a local city. Population rises for years, falls sharply around the pandemic period and then begins to recover, while household income and home value keep moving higher. Federal institutions, professional employment, Metrorail, the National Mall and the regional housing market all shape how those statistics should be read. Population is recovering after a major disruption District population grows for years and then falls sharply around the pandemic period. The latest observations move upward again and reverse part of that decline. In a compact urban jurisdiction, housing costs, remote work, regional commuting and household moves between D.C., Maryland and Virginia can show up quickly in population patterns. Income and housing both rise, but affordability remains separate Median household income and median home value both maintain long upward paths. Because they do not move at the same speed, higher income should not be treated as proof of improved housing affordability. D.C.'s housing market is shaped by supply constraints, development density, Metrorail access and the broader Maryland-Virginia metropolitan market. The labor market shows long-run improvement with a pandemic interruption Unemployment falls after the early high, rises modestly during the pandemic period and then resumes its decline. Federal and professional employment is important, but hospitality, retail, education and health also shape local labor conditions. Recent population recovery overlaps with lower unemployment, but the two trends should not be treated as directly causal without separate evidence. Federal-capital and local-city functions overlap The National Mall, Smithsonian and federal institutions create national administrative, visitor and cultural functions, while Howard University, Rock Creek Park and Anacostia Park are part of everyday local urban life. The Home Rule framework gives the District an elected local government while Congress retains constitutional authority. Recent building-energy and climate laws add another layer to Washington's role as both capital and urban-policy jurisdiction. Sources US_EIA · Total primary energy productionUS_EIA · Total energy consumptionUS_CENSUS_DATA_API · PopulationUS_CENSUS_DATA_API · Median household incomeUS_CENSUS_DATA_API · Median home valueUS_CENSUS_DATA_API · Unemployment rate FAQ What is the most important recent population change in the District? Population falls sharply after the pre-pandemic peak and then begins to recover in the latest observations. More releases are needed to judge how complete that recovery becomes. Does higher household income mean housing became more affordable? Not necessarily. Median home value also rises persistently, so income and housing need to be evaluated together. What makes D.C. institutionally different from a state? It is the federal seat of government with an elected local Mayor and Council, while Congress retains constitutional authority over the District. Its regional transit and federal institutions also make metropolitan context especially important. District of Columbia change is defined by post-pandemic population decline and recovery, sustained growth in income and home value, and a much lower long-run unemployment profile. Federal-capital functions, Home Rule, regional transit, civic institutions and building-and-climate policy create a uniquely layered urban structure. === Metrics === Total primary energy production 1985 3327 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1986 3047 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1987 2226 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1988 2378 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1989 2511 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1990 1283 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1991 1344 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1992 1411 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1993 1945 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1994 1848 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1995 1850 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1996 1922 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1997 1377 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1998 1221 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1999 1258 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2000 1353 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2001 865 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2002 879 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2003 924 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2004 941 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2005 44 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2006 42 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2007 46 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2008 52 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2009 35 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2010 62 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2011 155 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2012 126 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2013 145 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2014 158 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2015 632 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2016 922 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2017 1015 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2018 1197 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2019 1435 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2020 1443 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2021 1523 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2022 1701 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2023 1825 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2024 1907 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1985 158697 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1986 167001 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1987 167535 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1988 169107 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1989 173198 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1990 180636 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1991 186181 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1992 187410 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1993 194596 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1994 189663 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1995 191627 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1996 183930 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1997 180824 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1998 182578 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1999 185034 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2000 194839 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2001 190410 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2002 191595 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2003 188466 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2004 196183 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2005 196028 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2006 181712 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2007 189393 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2008 178021 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2009 180615 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2010 184241 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2011 174692 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2012 163794 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2013 166316 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2014 170057 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2015 169442 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2016 163726 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2017 155197 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2018 162007 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2019 157329 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2020 132166 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2021 139880 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2022 141152 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2023 135280 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2024 138469 Billion Btu Population 2011 593955 persons Population 2012 605759 persons Population 2013 619371 persons Population 2014 633736 persons Population 2015 647484 persons Population 2016 659009 persons Population 2017 672391 persons Population 2018 684498 persons Population 2019 692683 persons Population 2020 701974 persons Population 2021 683154 persons Population 2022 670587 persons Population 2023 672079 persons Population 2024 681294 persons Median household income 2011 61835 US dollars Median household income 2012 64267 US dollars Median household income 2013 65830 US dollars Median household income 2014 69235 US dollars Median household income 2015 70848 US dollars Median household income 2016 72935 US dollars Median household income 2017 77649 US dollars Median household income 2018 82604 US dollars Median household income 2019 86420 US dollars Median household income 2020 90842 US dollars Median household income 2021 93547 US dollars Median household income 2022 101722 US dollars Median household income 2023 106287 US dollars Median household income 2024 109870 US dollars Median home value 2011 442600 US dollars Median home value 2012 443000 US dollars Median home value 2013 445200 US dollars Median home value 2014 454500 US dollars Median home value 2015 475800 US dollars Median home value 2016 506100 US dollars Median home value 2017 537400 US dollars Median home value 2018 568400 US dollars Median home value 2019 601500 US dollars Median home value 2020 618100 US dollars Median home value 2021 635900 US dollars Median home value 2022 705000 US dollars Median home value 2023 724600 US dollars Median home value 2024 737100 US dollars Unemployment rate 2011 10.016207746226 percent Unemployment rate 2012 10.506046457675 percent Unemployment rate 2013 11.009935878432 percent Unemployment rate 2014 10.56612888174 percent Unemployment rate 2015 9.5847184082478 percent Unemployment rate 2016 8.7343500606734 percent Unemployment rate 2017 8.0412874697928 percent Unemployment rate 2018 7.3696517774929 percent Unemployment rate 2019 6.9081953769162 percent Unemployment rate 2020 7.1196262500061 percent Unemployment rate 2021 7.0797097848233 percent Unemployment rate 2022 7.107543592297 percent Unemployment rate 2023 6.4830621566228 percent Unemployment rate 2024 6.3475572294121 percent === Timeline === 1790 1790 - Residence Act establishes the basis for the federal district — Congress enacted the Residence Act, authorizing a permanent federal seat of government along the Potomac River and creating the legal foundation for what became the District of Columbia. 1791 1791 - L'Enfant plans the federal city — Pierre Charles L'Enfant designed the federal city around major public buildings, broad civic spaces and a system of diagonal avenues. 1846 1846 - Smithsonian Institution is established — Congress established the Smithsonian Institution from James Smithson's bequest with a mission centered on the increase and diffusion of knowledge. 1862 1862 - District of Columbia Emancipation Act ends slavery in the capital — Federal law ended slavery in the District of Columbia, creating a major legal and social turning point in the nation's capital. 1961 1961 - Twenty-Third Amendment gives the District presidential electors — Ratification of the Twenty-Third Amendment allowed the District of Columbia to appoint presidential and vice-presidential electors. 1973 1973 - District of Columbia Home Rule Act is enacted — The Home Rule Act established the modern system of locally elected government centered on the Mayor and Council of the District of Columbia. 1976 1976 - Metrorail begins service — The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority opened the first Metrorail service, creating a major new backbone for regional public transportation. 1986 1986 - Total primary energy production: 3047 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 167001 Billion Btu 1987 1987 - Total primary energy production: 2226 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 167535 Billion Btu 1988 1988 - Total primary energy production: 2378 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 169107 Billion Btu 1989 1989 - Total primary energy production: 2511 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 173198 Billion Btu 1990 1990 - Total primary energy production: 1283 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 180636 Billion Btu 1991 1991 - Total primary energy production: 1344 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 186181 Billion Btu 1992 1992 - Total primary energy production: 1411 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 187410 Billion Btu 1993 1993 - Total primary energy production: 1945 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 194596 Billion Btu 1994 1994 - Total primary energy production: 1848 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 189663 Billion Btu 1995 1995 - Total primary energy production: 1850 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 191627 Billion Btu 1996 1996 - Total primary energy production: 1922 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 183930 Billion Btu 1997 1997 - Total primary energy production: 1377 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 180824 Billion Btu 1998 1998 - Total primary energy production: 1221 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 182578 Billion Btu 1999 1999 - Total primary energy production: 1258 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 185034 Billion Btu 2000 2000 - Total primary energy production: 1353 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 194839 Billion Btu 2001 2001 - Total primary energy production: 865 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 190410 Billion Btu 2002 2002 - Total primary energy production: 879 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 191595 Billion Btu 2003 2003 - Total primary energy production: 924 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 188466 Billion Btu 2004 2004 - Total primary energy production: 941 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 196183 Billion Btu 2005 2005 - Total primary energy production: 44 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 196028 Billion Btu 2006 2006 - Total primary energy production: 42 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 181712 Billion Btu 2007 2007 - Total primary energy production: 46 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 189393 Billion Btu 2008 2008 - Total primary energy production: 52 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 178021 Billion Btu 2009 2009 - Total primary energy production: 35 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 180615 Billion Btu 2010 2010 - Total primary energy production: 62 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 184241 Billion Btu 2011 2011 - Total primary energy production: 155 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 174692 Billion Btu 2012 2012 - Total primary energy production: 126 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 163794 Billion Btu - Population: 605759 persons - Median household income: 64267 US dollars - Median home value: 443000 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 10.506046457675 percent 2013 2013 - Total primary energy production: 145 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 166316 Billion Btu - Population: 619371 persons - Median household income: 65830 US dollars - Median home value: 445200 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 11.009935878432 percent 2014 2014 - Total primary energy production: 158 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 170057 Billion Btu - Population: 633736 persons - Median household income: 69235 US dollars - Median home value: 454500 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 10.56612888174 percent 2015 2015 - Total primary energy production: 632 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 169442 Billion Btu - Population: 647484 persons - Median household income: 70848 US dollars - Median home value: 475800 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 9.5847184082478 percent 2016 2016 - Total primary energy production: 922 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 163726 Billion Btu - Population: 659009 persons - Median household income: 72935 US dollars - Median home value: 506100 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 8.7343500606734 percent 2017 2017 - Total primary energy production: 1015 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 155197 Billion Btu - Population: 672391 persons - Median household income: 77649 US dollars - Median home value: 537400 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 8.0412874697928 percent 2018 2018 - Total primary energy production: 1197 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 162007 Billion Btu - Population: 684498 persons - Median household income: 82604 US dollars - Median home value: 568400 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 7.3696517774929 percent - District enacts the CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Act — The District enacted the CleanEnergy DC Omnibus framework covering renewable energy, building energy performance, efficiency and transportation electrification. 2019 2019 - Total primary energy production: 1435 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 157329 Billion Btu - Population: 692683 persons - Median household income: 86420 US dollars - Median home value: 601500 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 6.9081953769162 percent 2020 2020 - Total primary energy production: 1443 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 132166 Billion Btu - Population: 701974 persons - Median household income: 90842 US dollars - Median home value: 618100 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 7.1196262500061 percent 2021 2021 - Total primary energy production: 1523 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 139880 Billion Btu - Population: 683154 persons - Median household income: 93547 US dollars - Median home value: 635900 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 7.0797097848233 percent 2022 2022 - Total primary energy production: 1701 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 141152 Billion Btu - Population: 670587 persons - Median household income: 101722 US dollars - Median home value: 705000 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 7.107543592297 percent - District enacts the Climate Commitment Amendment Act — The District enacted the Climate Commitment law, placing long-term greenhouse-gas reduction and carbon-neutrality goals into statute and strengthening related government, building and transportation policy. 2023 2023 - Total primary energy production: 1825 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 135280 Billion Btu - Population: 672079 persons - Median household income: 106287 US dollars - Median home value: 724600 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 6.4830621566228 percent 2024 2024 - Total primary energy production: 1907 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 138469 Billion Btu - Population: 681294 persons - Median household income: 109870 US dollars - Median home value: 737100 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 6.3475572294121 percent === Regional places === - civic_landscape: National Mall and Memorial Parks — The National Mall is Washington, D.C.'s defining civic landscape, linking major federal institutions, memorials, public gatherings and visitor activity. - Nature & parks: Rock Creek Park — Rock Creek Park is a major urban natural area in Washington, D.C., combining forest, stream, recreation and historic-resource protection. - Nature & parks: Anacostia Park — Anacostia Park is a riverfront urban park in eastern Washington that connects recreation, trails and the broader story of the Anacostia River. - museum_research: Smithsonian Institution — The Smithsonian Institution operates museums, research and education facilities centered largely around the National Mall and is a defining cultural and scientific institution in Washington. - Education: Howard University — Howard University is a major HBCU in Washington and an important center for education, research, medicine and civil-rights history. - research_nature: U.S. National Arboretum — The U.S. National Arboretum combines plant research, conservation of genetic resources and public gardens and is a major federal research and education site in Washington. === Sources === - US_EIA TEPRB https://api.eia.gov/v2/seds/data/ - US_EIA TETCB https://api.eia.gov/v2/seds/data/ - US_CENSUS_DATA_API B01003_001E https://api.census.gov/data/2024/acs/acs5 - US_CENSUS_DATA_API B19013_001E https://api.census.gov/data/2024/acs/acs5 - US_CENSUS_DATA_API B25077_001E https://api.census.gov/data/2024/acs/acs5 - US_CENSUS_DATA_API B23025_003E+B23025_005E https://api.census.gov/data/2024/acs/acs5