Iowa Population, Economy, Jobs & Key Trends | Data Lab Region: Iowa Coverage: 1838 - 2026 Report ID: RH-8340BFFBFBDA25DC URL: https://greenblog.co.kr/en/data-report/iowa-population-economy-jobs-key-trends-data-lab/ === Full report === Iowa's most striking long-run shift is the expansion of its energy-production base. Population, household income and home value rise more steadily, while unemployment trends lower after an early high. Read alongside agriculture, research universities, prairie conservation and major weather disasters, the data shows several very different kinds of regional change moving at once. Energy production is Iowa's biggest structural shift Primary energy production spends the early part of the series within a relatively narrow range and then expands rapidly. The later series establishes a much higher production base, and recent observations recover beyond the pandemic-era decline. Total energy consumption also rises over the long run, but much more gradually. The difference in pace shows that Iowa's energy story cannot be reduced to stronger local demand alone. Moderate population growth sits beside faster housing appreciation Population rises in every observation, but the pace is relatively gradual. Median home value increases more strongly in the later period, so statewide demographic growth alone does not explain the housing pattern. Des Moines, Ames and Iowa City have different job, education and housing systems from many rural communities. The statewide average is useful for direction, but local affordability and growth pressure can vary considerably. Income rises while unemployment moves lower Median household income rises throughout the series and gains momentum later. Unemployment follows the opposite long-run direction after an early high, with only a modest pandemic-era interruption before declining again. Agriculture, manufacturing, education, health care and services all contribute to Iowa's labor structure. That mix makes statewide employment trends more useful when paired with industry and local context. Universities, conservation and disaster history broaden the regional picture Iowa State University and the University of Iowa provide different research, education, health and public-service functions. Effigy Mounds and Neal Smith refuge add Indigenous history, prairie restoration and ecological conservation to a state often viewed primarily through agriculture. The Great Flood and the derecho demonstrate the exposure of rivers, power systems, transportation and agriculture to major weather shocks. Those environmental and infrastructure pressures are an important part of Iowa's regional history alongside economic indicators. 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 rateState Historical Society of Iowa · Iowa Territory is establishedIowa Legislature · Iowa becomes a stateIowa Legislature · Iowa adopts its current state constitutionIowa State University · Iowa Agricultural College is establishedIowa Department of Natural Resources · Backbone becomes Iowa's first state parkState of Iowa · Iowa adopts the Alternative Energy Production LawNational Weather Service · The Great Flood causes statewide disruptionNational Weather Service · A major derecho crosses Iowawww.legis.iowa.gov · Annual State Budget Analysis FAQ Which Iowa indicator changes most dramatically over the long run? Primary energy production. The shift between the early and later production ranges is much larger than the change visible in the other core indicators. Can home values rise faster than population? Yes. Housing values also respond to supply, financing conditions, construction costs, local demand and movement between communities, so statewide population alone does not determine housing change. What matters for understanding Iowa beyond agriculture? The research roles of Ames and Iowa City, state-government functions in Des Moines, prairie and Mississippi River Valley conservation, and resilience to floods and severe wind are all important parts of the regional picture. Iowa combines a major expansion in energy production with moderate population growth, persistent increases in income and home value, and a lower long-run unemployment profile. Land-grant research, agriculture and manufacturing, prairie conservation and recurring flood and wind hazards give those trends a distinctly Iowa regional context. === Metrics === Total primary energy production 1985 103984 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1986 142011 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1987 147630 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1988 158302 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1989 128630 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1990 121971 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1991 135837 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1992 134641 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1993 138529 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1994 150450 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1995 145390 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1996 154452 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1997 148246 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1998 141308 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 1999 143558 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2000 146321 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2001 136622 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2002 149090 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2003 164786 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2004 212553 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2005 245341 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2006 303354 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2007 365898 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2008 436961 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2009 543494 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2010 600941 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2011 650111 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2012 632378 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2013 660735 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2014 665426 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2015 710147 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2016 728409 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2017 761002 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2018 789399 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2019 806716 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2020 739808 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2021 749384 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2022 776558 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2023 784651 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2024 825517 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1985 875272 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1986 878360 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1987 886824 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1988 960660 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1989 918981 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1990 941873 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1991 978008 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1992 968775 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1993 1033373 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1994 1062480 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1995 1100958 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1996 1142304 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1997 1129820 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1998 1141438 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 1999 1188691 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2000 1186019 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2001 1157637 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2002 1183045 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2003 1179269 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2004 1232893 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2005 1259846 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2006 1281045 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2007 1354377 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2008 1412115 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2009 1398438 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2010 1442010 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2011 1441420 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2012 1358083 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2013 1430536 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2014 1444176 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2015 1404968 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2016 1413797 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2017 1450929 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2018 1521108 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2019 1503248 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2020 1349865 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2021 1385997 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2022 1428619 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2023 1403266 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2024 1398574 Billion Btu Population 2011 3032266 persons Population 2012 3047646 persons Population 2013 3062553 persons Population 2014 3078116 persons Population 2015 3093526 persons Population 2016 3106589 persons Population 2017 3118102 persons Population 2018 3132499 persons Population 2019 3139508 persons Population 2020 3150011 persons Population 2021 3179090 persons Population 2022 3188836 persons Population 2023 3195937 persons Population 2024 3210507 persons Median household income 2011 50451 US dollars Median household income 2012 51129 US dollars Median household income 2013 51843 US dollars Median household income 2014 52716 US dollars Median household income 2015 53183 US dollars Median household income 2016 54570 US dollars Median household income 2017 56570 US dollars Median household income 2018 58580 US dollars Median household income 2019 60523 US dollars Median household income 2020 61836 US dollars Median household income 2021 65429 US dollars Median household income 2022 70571 US dollars Median household income 2023 73147 US dollars Median household income 2024 75059 US dollars Median home value 2011 121300 US dollars Median home value 2012 123000 US dollars Median home value 2013 124300 US dollars Median home value 2014 126300 US dollars Median home value 2015 129200 US dollars Median home value 2016 132800 US dollars Median home value 2017 137200 US dollars Median home value 2018 142300 US dollars Median home value 2019 147800 US dollars Median home value 2020 153900 US dollars Median home value 2021 160700 US dollars Median home value 2022 181600 US dollars Median home value 2023 195900 US dollars Median home value 2024 208000 US dollars Unemployment rate 2011 5.5058793777702 percent Unemployment rate 2012 5.5594670004433 percent Unemployment rate 2013 5.7594831860083 percent Unemployment rate 2014 5.4127777246405 percent Unemployment rate 2015 4.9379397007694 percent Unemployment rate 2016 4.528751548151 percent Unemployment rate 2017 4.1359448109228 percent Unemployment rate 2018 3.8941969801104 percent Unemployment rate 2019 3.7324147392595 percent Unemployment rate 2020 3.9193638203215 percent Unemployment rate 2021 3.9070466758681 percent Unemployment rate 2022 3.8232900683104 percent Unemployment rate 2023 3.6315264107786 percent Unemployment rate 2024 3.5796008691795 percent === Timeline === 1838 1838 - Iowa Territory is established — The federal government formally established Iowa Territory, creating a separate territorial administration west of the Mississippi River. 1846 1846 - Iowa becomes a state — Iowa entered the Union as a state, replacing territorial administration with a formal state-government system. 1857 1857 - Iowa adopts its current state constitution — Iowa adopted a new state constitution that remains the original constitutional framework of state government. 1858 1858 - Iowa Agricultural College is established — Iowa established the Agricultural College and Model Farm, creating the institution that became Iowa State University and a major base for agricultural, engineering and scientific education. 1920 1920 - Backbone becomes Iowa's first state park — Backbone State Park was dedicated as Iowa's first state park, marking an early milestone in statewide conservation and outdoor recreation. 1983 1983 - Iowa adopts the Alternative Energy Production Law — Iowa adopted the Alternative Energy Production Law, creating a renewable-generation requirement for regulated utilities and adding a durable renewable-energy policy framework. 1986 1986 - Total primary energy production: 142011 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 878360 Billion Btu 1987 1987 - Total primary energy production: 147630 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 886824 Billion Btu 1988 1988 - Total primary energy production: 158302 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 960660 Billion Btu 1989 1989 - Total primary energy production: 128630 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 918981 Billion Btu 1990 1990 - Total primary energy production: 121971 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 941873 Billion Btu 1991 1991 - Total primary energy production: 135837 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 978008 Billion Btu 1992 1992 - Total primary energy production: 134641 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 968775 Billion Btu 1993 1993 - Total primary energy production: 138529 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1033373 Billion Btu - The Great Flood causes statewide disruption — Prolonged rainfall and river flooding caused widespread disruption across Iowa, affecting housing, transportation and public services in places including Des Moines and Ames. 1994 1994 - Total primary energy production: 150450 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1062480 Billion Btu 1995 1995 - Total primary energy production: 145390 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1100958 Billion Btu 1996 1996 - Total primary energy production: 154452 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1142304 Billion Btu 1997 1997 - Total primary energy production: 148246 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1129820 Billion Btu 1998 1998 - Total primary energy production: 141308 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1141438 Billion Btu 1999 1999 - Total primary energy production: 143558 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1188691 Billion Btu 2000 2000 - Total primary energy production: 146321 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1186019 Billion Btu 2001 2001 - Total primary energy production: 136622 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1157637 Billion Btu 2002 2002 - Total primary energy production: 149090 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1183045 Billion Btu 2003 2003 - Total primary energy production: 164786 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1179269 Billion Btu 2004 2004 - Total primary energy production: 212553 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1232893 Billion Btu 2005 2005 - Total primary energy production: 245341 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1259846 Billion Btu 2006 2006 - Total primary energy production: 303354 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1281045 Billion Btu 2007 2007 - Total primary energy production: 365898 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1354377 Billion Btu 2008 2008 - Total primary energy production: 436961 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1412115 Billion Btu 2009 2009 - Total primary energy production: 543494 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1398438 Billion Btu 2010 2010 - Total primary energy production: 600941 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1442010 Billion Btu 2011 2011 - Total primary energy production: 650111 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1441420 Billion Btu 2012 2012 - Total primary energy production: 632378 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1358083 Billion Btu - Population: 3047646 persons - Median household income: 51129 US dollars - Median home value: 123000 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 5.5594670004433 percent 2013 2013 - Total primary energy production: 660735 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1430536 Billion Btu - Population: 3062553 persons - Median household income: 51843 US dollars - Median home value: 124300 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 5.7594831860083 percent 2014 2014 - Total primary energy production: 665426 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1444176 Billion Btu - Population: 3078116 persons - Median household income: 52716 US dollars - Median home value: 126300 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 5.4127777246405 percent 2015 2015 - Total primary energy production: 710147 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1404968 Billion Btu - Population: 3093526 persons - Median household income: 53183 US dollars - Median home value: 129200 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 4.9379397007694 percent 2016 2016 - Total primary energy production: 728409 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1413797 Billion Btu - Population: 3106589 persons - Median household income: 54570 US dollars - Median home value: 132800 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 4.528751548151 percent 2017 2017 - Total primary energy production: 761002 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1450929 Billion Btu - Population: 3118102 persons - Median household income: 56570 US dollars - Median home value: 137200 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 4.1359448109228 percent 2018 2018 - Total primary energy production: 789399 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1521108 Billion Btu - Population: 3132499 persons - Median household income: 58580 US dollars - Median home value: 142300 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 3.8941969801104 percent 2019 2019 - Total primary energy production: 806716 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1503248 Billion Btu - Population: 3139508 persons - Median household income: 60523 US dollars - Median home value: 147800 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 3.7324147392595 percent 2020 2020 - Total primary energy production: 739808 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1349865 Billion Btu - Population: 3150011 persons - Median household income: 61836 US dollars - Median home value: 153900 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 3.9193638203215 percent - A major derecho crosses Iowa — A powerful derecho crossed Iowa and caused widespread wind, power, building and tree damage across central and eastern parts of the state. 2021 2021 - Total primary energy production: 749384 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1385997 Billion Btu - Population: 3179090 persons - Median household income: 65429 US dollars - Median home value: 160700 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 3.9070466758681 percent 2022 2022 - Total primary energy production: 776558 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1428619 Billion Btu - Population: 3188836 persons - Median household income: 70571 US dollars - Median home value: 181600 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 3.8232900683104 percent 2023 2023 - Total primary energy production: 784651 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1403266 Billion Btu - Population: 3195937 persons - Median household income: 73147 US dollars - Median home value: 195900 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 3.6315264107786 percent 2024 2024 - Total primary energy production: 825517 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 1398574 Billion Btu - Population: 3210507 persons - Median household income: 75059 US dollars - Median home value: 208000 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 3.5796008691795 percent 2026 2026 - Annual State Budget Analysis — This is a directly relevant official development for Iowa: “Annual State Budget Analysis”. Its implications are limited to what the official source establishes. === Regional places === - Government: Iowa State Capitol — The Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines is the center of state government and a defining civic landmark for Iowa's legislative and executive functions. - Education: Iowa State University — Iowa State University in Ames is a major land-grant research university and an anchor for agriculture, engineering, science, extension and regional innovation. - Education: University of Iowa — The University of Iowa in Iowa City is a major public research university with important education, research, health-care, arts and public-service functions. - Nature & parks: Backbone State Park — Backbone State Park is Iowa's first state park and protects a distinctive Maquoketa River ridge landscape with forest, trails and public recreation. - Landmark: Effigy Mounds National Monument — Effigy Mounds National Monument protects an American Indian mound landscape in the Upper Mississippi River Valley and connects Indigenous history with Iowa's natural setting. - Nature & parks: Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge — Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge restores and protects tallgrass prairie, oak savanna and sedge meadow and is a major conservation and environmental-education site in Iowa. === 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 - State Historical Society of Iowa REGIONAL_EVENT https://history.iowa.gov/learn/k-12-education/professional-learning/iowa-history-course/unit-2-iowa-territory - Iowa Legislature REGIONAL_EVENT https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/statutory/constitution/constConventions?year=1846 - Iowa Legislature REGIONAL_EVENT https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/statutory/constitution - Iowa State University REGIONAL_EVENT https://historicexhibits.lib.iastate.edu/150/template/history.html - Iowa Department of Natural Resources REGIONAL_EVENT https://www.iowadnr.gov/places-go/state-parks/all-parks/backbone-state-park - State of Iowa REGIONAL_EVENT https://publications.iowa.gov/31438/1/IEP_Appendices_full.pdf - National Weather Service REGIONAL_EVENT https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood-states-ia - National Weather Service REGIONAL_EVENT https://www.weather.gov/dmx/2020derecho - www.legis.iowa.gov REGIONAL_EVENT https://www.legis.iowa.gov/publications/fiscal/budgetAnalysis