Demographics of Queens

The demographics of Queens, the second-most populous borough in New York City, are highly diverse. No racial or ethnic group holds a majority in the borough.

Coterminous with Queens County since 1899, the borough of Queens is the second-largest in population (behind Brooklyn), with approximately 2.3 million residents in 2013, approximately 48% of them foreign-born; Queens County is also the second most populous county in New York State, behind neighboring Kings County, which is coterminous with the borough of Brooklyn. Queens is the fourth-most densely populated county among New York City's boroughs, as well as in the United States; and if each New York City borough were an independent city, Queens would also be the nation's fourth most populous city, after Los Angeles, Chicago, and Brooklyn. Some say Queens is the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world.

Since 2021, the population of Queens was estimated by the Census Bureau to have decreased 0.9% to 2,287,390 as of 2021, representing 27.3% of New York City's population, and 11.7% of New York State's population. In the 2020 census data from New York City Department of City Planning, there were a total population of 2,405,464 residents. Within the Queens total population, there were 549,358 White residents making up 22.8%, 381,375 Black residents making up 15.9%, 656,583 Asian residents making up 27.3%, and 667,861 Hispanic residents making up 27.8% of all residents. Hispanic and Asian populations for the first time in Queens history now are at almost equal populations and together make up the vast majority of the immigrant populations, as well as a slight majority of the total population. The Black population is now in the lowest ranking single-race group while the White population is now second lowest . Queens ranks as most culturally and racially diverse borough in all of New York City, followed by Brooklyn, Manhattan, The Bronx, and Staten Island, respectively.

Since 2010, the population of Queens was estimated by the Census Bureau to have increased 2.9% to 2,296,175 as of 2013, representing 27.3% of New York City's population, and 11.7% of New York State's population.

According to 2012 census estimates, 27.2% of the population was White, 20.9% Black or African American, 24.8% Asian, 12.9% from some other race, and 2.7% of two or more races. 27.9% of Queens's population was of Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race).

According to the 2010 Census, 39.7% of the population was White, 19.1% Black or African American, 22.9% Asian, 13.7% from some other race, and 4.5% of two or more races. 27.5% of Queens's population was of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin (they may be of any race).

According to the 2009 American Community Survey, whites made up 46.1% of Queens' population, of which 30.2% were non-Hispanic whites. Blacks made up 18.8% of Queens' population, of which 17.6% were non-Hispanic blacks. Native Americans represented 0.5% of the population. Asians represented 22.0% of the population. Multiracial individuals comprised 2.4% of the population. Hispanics or Latinos made up 26.9% of Queens' population.

In 2005, the median income among black households in Queens was close to $52,000 a year, surpassing that of whites. As of 2006, no other county in the country with a population over 65,000 can make that claim.