Demographics

Main article: Demographics of New York City

Historical populations
Year	Pop.	%±
1698	4,937	—
1712	5,840	18.3%
1723	7,248	24.1%
1737	10,664	47.1%
1746	11,717	9.9%
1756	13,046	11.3%
1771	21,863	67.6%
1790	33,131	51.5%
1800	60,515	82.7%
1810	96,373	59.3%
1820	123,706	28.4%
1830	202,589	63.8%
1840	312,710	54.4%
1850	515,547	64.9%
1860	813,669	57.8%
1870	942,292	15.8%
1880	1,206,299	28.0%
1890	1,515,301	25.6%
1900	3,437,202	126.8%
1910	4,766,883	38.7%
1920	5,620,048	17.9%
1930	6,930,446	23.3%
1940	7,454,995	7.6%
1950	7,891,957	5.9%
1960	7,781,984	−1.4%
1970	7,894,862	1.5%
1980	7,071,639	−10.4%
1990	7,322,564	3.5%
2000	8,008,288	9.4%
2007*	8,274,527	3.3%
Beginning 1900, figures are for consolidated city of five boroughs. Sources: 1698–1771,[123] 1790–1990,[124] *2007 est[125]

New York is the most populous city in the United States, with an estimated 2007 population of 8,274,527 (up from 7.3 million in 1990).^[75] This amounts to about 40% of New York State's population and a similar percentage of the metropolitan regional population. Over the last decade the city's population has been increasing and demographers estimate New York's population will reach between 9.2 and 9.5 million by 2030.^[126]

New York's two key demographic features are its population density and cultural diversity. The city's population density of 26,403 people per square mile (10,194/km²) makes it the most densely populated American municipality with a population above 100,000.^[127] Manhattan's population density is 66,940 people per square mile (25,846/km²), highest of any county in the United States.^[128][129]

New York City is exceptionally diverse. Throughout its history the city has been a major point of entry for immigrants; the term melting pot was first coined to describe densely populated immigrant neighborhoods on the Lower East Side. Today, 36,7% of the city's population is foreign-born and another 3.9% were born in Puerto Rico, U.S. Island areas, or born abroad to American parents. [1] Among American cities, this proportion is exceeded only by Los Angeles and Miami.^[129] While the immigrant communities in those cities are dominated by a few nationalities, in New York no single country or region of origin dominates. The ten largest countries of origin for modern immigration are the Dominican Republic, China, Jamaica, Guyana, Mexico, Ecuador, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, and Russia.^[130] About 170 languages are spoken in the city.^[8]

The New York metropolitan area is home to the largest Jewish community outside Israel; Tel Aviv proper (non-metro/within municipal limits) has a smaller population than the Jewish population of New York City proper, making New York the largest Jewish community in the world. About 12% of New Yorkers are Jewish or of Jewish descent and roots.^[131] It is also home to nearly a quarter of the nation's Indian Americans,^[132] and the largest African American community of any city in the United States.

The five largest ethnic groups as of the 2005 census estimates are: Puerto Ricans, Italians, West Indians, Dominicans and Chinese.^[133] The Puerto Rican population of New York City is the largest outside of Puerto Rico.^[134] Italians emigrated to the city in large numbers in the early twentieth century. The Irish, the sixth largest ethnic group, also have a notable presence; one in 50 New Yorkers of European origin carry a distinctive genetic signature on their Y chromosomes inherited from Niall of the Nine Hostages, an Irish high king of the fifth century A.D.^[135]

At the 2005-2007 American Community Survey Estimates, the city's population was 45.3% White (35.1% non-Hispanic White alone), 26.2% Black or African American (23.7% non-Hispanic Black or African American alone), 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 12.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 17.7% from some other race and 1.9% from two or more races. 27.4% of the total population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. [2]

New York City has a high degree of income disparity. In 2005 the median household income in the wealthiest census tract was $188,697, while in the poorest it was $9,320.^[136] The disparity is driven by wage growth in high income brackets, while wages have stagnated for middle and lower income brackets. In 2006 the average weekly wage in Manhattan was $1,453, the highest and fastest growing among the largest counties in the United States.^[137] The borough is also experiencing a baby boom that is unique among American cities. Since 2000, the number of children under age 5 living in Manhattan grew by more than 32%.^[138]

Home ownership in New York City is about 33%, much lower than the national average of 69%.^{[citation needed]} Rental vacancy is usually between 3% and 4.5%, well below the 5% threshold defined to be a housing emergency and used to justify the continuation of rent control and rent stabilization. About 33% of rental units are rent-stabilized. Finding housing, particularly affordable housing, in New York City can be more than challenging.^[139]