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Writer's pictureAslam Abdullah

Utah: A Demographic and Electoral Profile

Updated: Sep 17



Utah's estimated population as of 2023 is 3.42 million, constituting 1.01% of the total U.S. population. Although Utah ranks 30th in terms of total population, the state's population growth of 23.88% from 2010 to 2023 was the highest population growth experienced by any state in the U.S. during that period.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Utah has the largest average family size and the highest birth rate of any state in the U.S. This is likely a significant contributing factor to Utah's median age, which is the youngest of any state. Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico are among the Four Corners states. Utah is also considered the happiest of the lower 48 contiguous states, second only to Hawaii.

Utah became a state in January 1896, the last 19th-century addition to the U.S. map. Utahans voted for Democrat Franklin Roosevelt four times (1932 through 1944) and for his successor, Harry S. Truman, in 1948. Aside from that period, the state has only voted for Democrats twice, the last time being in 1964 when Lyndon Johnson won a landslide victory over Barry Goldwater. 2012 Mitt Romney defeated Barack Obama by 72.8% to 24.8%. This was the most significant margin of victory in any of the 50 states since Ronald Reagan beat Walter Mondale here by 74.5% to 24.7% in 1984.

While Donald Trump won in 2016, he failed to receive the most votes, winning 45.5% to 27.5% over Hillary Clinton. Trump enjoyed less support than prior Republicans with the state's large Mormon population. Mormon conservative Evan McMullin provided these voters with an alternative. McMullin received over 21.5% of the vote, the best 3rd party performance in any state since Ross Perot in 1992. While Joe Biden lost to Trump by 20% in 2020, his 37.7% support was the highest for a Democratic nominee since 1964.

According to a 2022 study from the U.S. Census Bureau, this state's local governments consist of 29 counties, 254 cities, towns, and villages, and 308 special districts.

The median age across the population of Utah is approximately 30.3 years. When examining the ratio of females to males among the residents of Utah, females are 49.7%, and males are 50.3%.

Regarding religious preferences among the current state residents, 73% are affiliated with a Christian-based faith, 4% are affiliated with non-Christian-based faiths, and 18% are not affiliated with any religion in particular.

Additionally, it's worth noting that Salt Lake City, Utah, is the world headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). However, almost half of Utah's counties have seen significant declines in Mormon membership in recent years. About 60.68% of Utahans are members of the church, which has a substantial influence on Utah's culture and life.

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Utah was:

  • White: 83.7%

  • Two or more races: 5.64%

  • Other race: 5.2%

  • Asian: 2.34%

  • Black or African American: 1.19%

  • Native American: 1.03%

  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.9%

  • Muslims are under 40,000,

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