Introduction
Honolulu County vs. Hawaii
Honolulu County:
2022 Population = 995,638
2022 Percent of State = 69.13%
Hawaii:
2022 Population = 1,440,196
2022 Percent of U.S. = 0.43%
Attracting and retaining people to live, work, raise a family, and retire underlies the economic vitality of any region. Population growth is both a cause--and a consequence--of economic growth. Patterns of population growth and change reflect differences among regions to attract and retain people both as producers and consumers in their economy.
The following graphs offer a broad overview of trends in the pattern of population growth and change of Honolulu County with comparisons to Hawaii and the nation at large. This analysis features alternative approaches toward discussing, diagnosing and comparing Honolulu County vs. Hawaii's population growth over 1969-2022. The data used are those compiled by the Regional Income and Product Divisions of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce.
Page 2 of 13
Population, 1969-2022
Population, 1969-2022
Figure 1.
Figure 1 tracks Honolulu County's annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, Honolulu County's population rose from 603,438 in 1969 to 995,638 in 2022, for a net gain of 392,200, or 64.99%.
NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities.
Page 3 of 13
Population, 1969-2022
Population, 1969-2022
Figure 2.
Figure 2 tracks Hawaii's annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, Hawaii's population rose from 743,000 in 1969 to 1,440,196 in 2022, for a net gain of 697,196, or 93.84%.
NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities.
Page 4 of 13
Population Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Population Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Figure 3.
Figure 3 shows Honolulu County's population growth in a broader context by offering direct comparisons across time with Hawaii, the United States. The growth indices shown here express each region's population in 1969 as a base figure of 100, and the populations in later years as a percentage of the 1969 base figure. This method allows for more direct comparison of differences in population growth between regions that may differ vastly in size.
Honolulu County's overall population growth was 64.99% over 1969-2022 trailed Hawaii's increase of 93.84%, and fell below the United States' increase of 65.57%.
Page 5 of 13
Population as a Percent of the Hawaii Total: 1969-2022
Population as a Percent of the Hawaii Total: 1969-2022
Figure 4.
Another interesting and insightful way of comparing the population growth of Honolulu County is to trace its individual percentage contributions to Hawaii's statewide population over time, as shown in Figure 4. A rising share means a region's population grew faster, or declined less, than Hawaii's population, while a declining share shows it grew more slowly.
In 1969, Honolulu County's population comprised 81.22% of Hawaii's population, while in 2022 it equated to 69.13% thereby yielding a -12.08% share-shift.
   
 
Population Share-Shift
2022 vs. 1969
 
Share-
Shift*
 
2022
vs.
1969
-12.08%
=
69.13%
-
81.22%
 
   
Page 6 of 13
Honolulu County Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Honolulu County Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Figure 5.
Figure 5 shows the short-run pattern of Honolulu County's population growth by tracking the year-to-year percent change over 1970-2022. The average annual percent change for the entire 53-year period is also traced on this chart to provide a benchmark for gauging periods of relative high--and relative low--growth against the backdrop of the long-term average.
On average, Honolulu County's population grew at an annual rate of 0.95% over 1970-2022. The county recorded its highest growth in 1972 (5.02%) and posted its lowest growth in 1999 (-0.90%). In 2022, Honolulu County's population declined by -0.90%
Page 7 of 13
Honolulu County Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Honolulu County Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Figure 6.
Over the past five decades some counties have experienced extreme swings in growth, and often such swings have tended to coincide with the decades themselves. Figure 6 again depicts the annual percent change in Honolulu County's population since 1970, but this time they are overlayed with average growth rates for the decade of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020-2022.
During the 1970s, Honolulu County's annual population growth rate averaged 2.25%. It averaged 0.99% throughout the 1980s, 0.56% during the 1990s, 0.71% during the 2000s, 0.78% throughout the 2010s, -0.76% thus far this decade (2020-2022).
Page 8 of 13
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Figure 7.
Figure 7 compares the decade average growth rates for Honolulu County noted in the previous graph with the corresponding decade averages for Hawaii and the nation. As the chart reveals, Honolulu County's average annual population growth trailed Hawaii's average during the 1970s (2.25% vs. 2.49%), amounted to less than Hawaii's average during the 1980s (0.99% vs. 1.43%), recorded under Hawaii's average in the 1990s (0.56% vs. 1.01%), amounted to less than Hawaii's average during the 2000s (0.71% vs. 1.07%), amounted to less than Hawaii's average in the 2010s (0.78% vs. 0.79%), and amounted to less than Hawaii's average over the 3 year period of the current decade, 2020-2022 (-0.76% vs. -0.39%).
Finally, relative to nationwide population growth trends, Honolulu County recorded above the nation in the 1970s (2.25% vs. 1.10%), outpaced the nation throughout the 1980s (0.99% vs. 0.95%), lagged the nation in the 1990s (0.56% vs. 1.23%), trailed the nation in the 2000s (0.71% vs. 0.95%), registered above the nation in the 2010s (0.78% vs. 0.74%), and trailed the nation over 2020-2022 (-0.76% vs. 0.31%).
   
 
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change
 
 
 
0.95
2.25
0.99
0.56
0.71
0.78
-0.76
-0.90
 
1.26
2.49
1.43
1.01
1.07
0.79
-0.39
-0.48
 
0.96
1.10
0.95
1.23
0.95
0.74
0.31
0.38
 
   
Page 9 of 13

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
Honolulu County:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
603,438
100.0
N
81.22
1970
 
623,756
103.4
3.37
81.76
1971
 
633,043
104.9
1.49
79.97
1972
 
664,830
110.2
5.02
81.26
1973
 
683,772
113.3
2.85
81.22
1974
 
698,033
115.7
2.09
81.34
1975
 
707,866
117.3
1.41
80.89
1976
 
716,911
118.8
1.28
80.34
1977
 
734,962
121.8
2.52
80.26
1978
 
740,505
122.7
0.75
79.73
1979
 
753,428
124.9
1.75
79.30
1980
 
763,820
126.6
1.38
78.93
1981
 
767,573
127.2
0.49
78.47
1982
 
776,075
128.6
1.11
78.09
1983
 
789,097
130.8
1.68
77.92
1984
 
797,791
132.2
1.10
77.61
1985
 
804,294
133.3
0.82
77.36
1986
 
810,444
134.3
0.76
77.06
1987
 
818,447
135.6
0.99
76.64
1988
 
824,072
136.6
0.69
76.32
1989
 
831,337
137.8
0.88
75.95
1990
 
838,534
139.0
0.87
75.31
1991
 
850,510
140.9
1.43
74.82
1992
 
863,959
143.2
1.58
74.57
1993
 
870,348
144.2
0.74
74.21
1994
 
878,591
145.6
0.95
73.98
1995
 
881,399
146.1
0.32
73.64
1996
 
883,443
146.4
0.23
73.39
1997
 
886,711
146.9
0.37
73.18
1998
 
886,909
147.0
0.02
72.98
1999
 
878,906
145.6
-0.90
72.62
2000
 
876,629
145.3
-0.26
72.24
2001
 
882,755
146.3
0.70
72.01
2002
 
890,473
147.6
0.87
71.83
2003
 
894,311
148.2
0.43
71.48
2004
 
907,997
150.5
1.53
71.30
2005
 
918,181
152.2
1.12
71.03
2006
 
926,954
153.6
0.96
70.77
2007
 
925,335
153.3
-0.17
70.33
2008
 
933,680
154.7
0.90
70.08
2009
 
943,177
156.3
1.02
70.04
2010
 
957,482
158.7
1.52
70.14
2011
 
973,408
161.3
1.66
70.29
2012
 
989,064
163.9
1.61
70.39
2013
 
1,002,219
166.1
1.33
70.42
2014
 
1,008,682
167.2
0.64
70.33
2015
 
1,017,472
168.6
0.87
70.34
2016
 
1,023,837
169.7
0.63
70.27
2017
 
1,022,650
169.5
-0.12
70.12
2018
 
1,021,634
169.3
-0.10
69.97
2019
 
1,018,784
168.8
-0.28
69.92
2020
 
1,012,305
167.8
-0.64
69.76
2021
 
1,004,673
166.5
-0.75
69.42
2022
 
995,638
165.0
-0.90
69.13
Source: Calculations by the Hawaii Regional Economic Analysis Project (HI-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN
 
   
Page 10 of 13

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
Hawaii:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
743,000
100.0
N
0.37
1970
 
762,920
102.7
2.68
0.37
1971
 
791,580
106.5
3.76
0.38
1972
 
818,104
110.1
3.35
0.39
1973
 
841,851
113.3
2.90
0.40
1974
 
858,121
115.5
1.93
0.40
1975
 
875,052
117.8
1.97
0.41
1976
 
892,335
120.1
1.98
0.41
1977
 
915,749
123.3
2.62
0.42
1978
 
928,816
125.0
1.43
0.42
1979
 
950,050
127.9
2.29
0.42
1980
 
967,710
130.2
1.86
0.43
1981
 
978,195
131.7
1.08
0.43
1982
 
993,780
133.8
1.59
0.43
1983
 
1,012,717
136.3
1.91
0.43
1984
 
1,027,922
138.3
1.50
0.44
1985
 
1,039,698
139.9
1.15
0.44
1986
 
1,051,762
141.6
1.16
0.44
1987
 
1,067,917
143.7
1.54
0.44
1988
 
1,079,827
145.3
1.12
0.44
1989
 
1,094,588
147.3
1.37
0.44
1990
 
1,113,491
149.9
1.73
0.45
1991
 
1,136,754
153.0
2.09
0.45
1992
 
1,158,613
155.9
1.92
0.45
1993
 
1,172,838
157.9
1.23
0.45
1994
 
1,187,536
159.8
1.25
0.45
1995
 
1,196,854
161.1
0.78
0.45
1996
 
1,203,755
162.0
0.58
0.45
1997
 
1,211,640
163.1
0.66
0.44
1998
 
1,215,233
163.6
0.30
0.44
1999
 
1,210,300
162.9
-0.41
0.43
2000
 
1,213,519
163.3
0.27
0.43
2001
 
1,225,948
165.0
1.02
0.43
2002
 
1,239,613
166.8
1.11
0.43
2003
 
1,251,154
168.4
0.93
0.43
2004
 
1,273,569
171.4
1.79
0.43
2005
 
1,292,729
174.0
1.50
0.44
2006
 
1,309,731
176.3
1.32
0.44
2007
 
1,315,675
177.1
0.45
0.44
2008
 
1,332,213
179.3
1.26
0.44
2009
 
1,346,717
181.3
1.09
0.44
2010
 
1,365,064
183.7
1.36
0.44
2011
 
1,384,943
186.4
1.46
0.44
2012
 
1,405,024
189.1
1.45
0.45
2013
 
1,423,171
191.5
1.29
0.45
2014
 
1,434,212
193.0
0.78
0.45
2015
 
1,446,479
194.7
0.86
0.45
2016
 
1,457,008
196.1
0.73
0.45
2017
 
1,458,361
196.3
0.09
0.45
2018
 
1,460,183
196.5
0.12
0.44
2019
 
1,457,034
196.1
-0.22
0.44
2020
 
1,451,043
195.3
-0.41
0.44
2021
 
1,447,154
194.8
-0.27
0.44
2022
 
1,440,196
193.8
-0.48
0.43
Source: Calculations by the Hawaii Regional Economic Analysis Project (HI-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN
 
   
Page 11 of 13

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
United States:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
201,298,000
100.0
N
1970
 
203,798,722
101.2
1.24
1971
 
206,817,509
102.7
1.48
1972
 
209,274,882
104.0
1.19
1973
 
211,349,205
105.0
0.99
1974
 
213,333,635
106.0
0.94
1975
 
215,456,585
107.0
1.00
1976
 
217,553,859
108.1
0.97
1977
 
219,760,875
109.2
1.01
1978
 
222,098,244
110.3
1.06
1979
 
224,568,579
111.6
1.11
1980
 
227,224,719
112.9
1.18
1981
 
229,465,744
114.0
0.99
1982
 
231,664,432
115.1
0.96
1983
 
233,792,014
116.1
0.92
1984
 
235,824,907
117.2
0.87
1985
 
237,923,734
118.2
0.89
1986
 
240,132,831
119.3
0.93
1987
 
242,288,936
120.4
0.90
1988
 
244,499,004
121.5
0.91
1989
 
246,819,222
122.6
0.95
1990
 
249,622,814
124.0
1.14
1991
 
252,980,941
125.7
1.35
1992
 
256,514,224
127.4
1.40
1993
 
259,918,588
129.1
1.33
1994
 
263,125,821
130.7
1.23
1995
 
266,278,393
132.3
1.20
1996
 
269,394,284
133.8
1.17
1997
 
272,646,925
135.4
1.21
1998
 
275,854,104
137.0
1.18
1999
 
279,040,168
138.6
1.15
2000
 
282,162,411
140.2
1.12
2001
 
284,968,955
141.6
0.99
2002
 
287,625,193
142.9
0.93
2003
 
290,107,933
144.1
0.86
2004
 
292,805,298
145.5
0.93
2005
 
295,516,599
146.8
0.93
2006
 
298,379,912
148.2
0.97
2007
 
301,231,207
149.6
0.96
2008
 
304,093,966
151.1
0.95
2009
 
306,771,529
152.4
0.88
2010
 
309,378,433
153.7
0.85
2011
 
311,841,632
154.9
0.80
2012
 
314,344,331
156.2
0.80
2013
 
316,735,375
157.3
0.76
2014
 
319,270,047
158.6
0.80
2015
 
321,829,327
159.9
0.80
2016
 
324,367,742
161.1
0.79
2017
 
326,623,063
162.3
0.70
2018
 
328,542,157
163.2
0.59
2019
 
330,233,102
164.1
0.51
2020
 
331,511,512
164.7
0.39
2021
 
332,031,554
164.9
0.16
2022
 
333,287,557
165.6
0.38
Source: Calculations by the Hawaii Regional Economic Analysis Project (HI-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PN
 
   
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