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
