Tennessee is thefifteenth most populous state in the United States with a population of 7,051,339 as of 2022, and has thetwentieth-highest population density.^[1] The2020 United States census reported its population to be 6,916,897.

The2020 United States census reported Tennessee's population at 6,910,840, an increase of 564,735 since the2010 United States census, or 8.90%.^[3] Between 2010 and 2019, the state received a natural increase of 124,385 (584,236 births minus 459,851 deaths), and an increase from net migration of 244,537 people into the state.Immigration from outside the U.S. resulted in a net increase of 66,412, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 178,125.^[4]

According to the 2010 census, 6.4% of Tennessee's population were under age 5, 23.6% under 18, and 13.4% 65 or older.^[5] In recent years, Tennessee has been a top source of domestic migration, receiving an influx of people relocating fromCalifornia,Illinois,New York,New Jersey, andNew England due to the low cost of living, booming healthcare and automotive industries, and politically conservative governance and culture.^[6][7]Metropolitan Nashville is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country due in part to these factors.^[8] In 2010, about 4.4% of Tennessee's population was foreign-born, an increase of about 118.5% since 2000. Of the foreign-born population, approximately 31.0% were naturalized citizens and 69.0% non-citizens. The foreign-born population consisted of approximately 49.9% fromLatin America, 27.1% fromAsia, 11.9% fromEurope, 7.7% fromAfrica, 2.7% fromNorthern America, and 0.6% fromOceania.^[9]

Tennessee'scenter of population is inMurfreesboro inRutherford County.^[10]

In 2010, 4.6% of the total population was ofHispanic or Latino origin (they may be of any race), up from 2.2% in 2000. Between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population in Tennessee grew by 134.2%, the third-highest rate of any state.^[14] That same yearNon-Hispanic whites were 75.6% of the population, compared to 63.7% of the population nationwide.^[15]

In 2010, the five most common self-reported ethnic groups in the state were:American (26.5%),English (8.2%),Irish (6.6%),German (5.5%), andScotch-Irish (2.7%).^[16] Most Tennesseans who self-identify as havingAmerican ancestry are ofEnglish andScotch-Irish ancestry. An estimated 21–24% of Tennesseans are of predominantlyEnglish ancestry.^[17][18] In the 1980 census 1,435,147 Tennesseans claimed "English" or "mostly English" ancestry out of a state population of 3,221,354 making them 45% of the state at the time.^[19]

On June 19, 2010, theTennessee Commission of Indian Affairs granted state recognition to six Native American tribes, which was later repealed by the state's Attorney General because the action by the commission was illegal. The tribes were as follows:^[20]

• TheCherokee Wolf Clan in western Tennessee, with members inCarroll County,Benton,Decatur,Henderson,Henry,Weakley,Gibson andMadison counties.
• The Chikamaka Band, based historically on the SouthCumberland Plateau, said to have members in Franklin, Grundy, Marion, Sequatchie, Warren and Coffee counties.
• Central Band of Cherokee, also known as the Cherokee ofLawrence County.
• United EasternLenape Nation ofWinfield.
• The Tanasi Council, said to have members in Shelby, Dyer, Gibson, Humphreys and Perry counties; and
• RemnantYuchi Nation, with members in Sullivan, Carter, Greene, Hawkins, Unicoi, Johnson and Washington counties.

Most immigrants in Tennessee were born inMexico.^[21] Springfield and Shelbyville have a significant Mexican population in the state.^[22]

Notes

• Births in table do not add up, because Hispanics are counted both by their ethnicity and by their race, giving a higher overall number.
• Since 2016, data for births ofWhite Hispanic origin are not collected, but included in oneHispanic group; persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

Tennessee has always been, and remains, predominantlyChristian. About 81% of the population identifies as Christian, withProtestants making up 73% of the population. Of the Protestants in the state,Evangelical Protestants compose 52% of the population,Mainline Protestants 13%, andHistorically Black Protestants 8%.Roman Catholics make up 8%,^[35]Latter-day Saints 1%, andOrthodox Christians less than 1%.^[34] The largest churches by number of adherents are theSouthern Baptist Convention, theUnited Methodist Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and theChurches of Christ.^[36]Muslims andJews each make up about 1% of the population, and adherents of other religions make up about 3% of the population. About 14% of Tennesseans arenon-religious, with 11% identifying as "Nothing in particular", 3% asagnostics, and 1% asatheists.^[34]

Tennessee is included in most definitions of theBible Belt, and is ranked asone of the nation's most religious states.^[37] It is home to several Protestant denominations, including theNational Baptist Convention (headquartered in Nashville); theChurch of God in Christ and theCumberland Presbyterian Church (both headquartered in Memphis); and theChurch of God and TheChurch of God of Prophecy (both headquartered inCleveland). TheFree Will Baptist denomination is headquartered inAntioch; its main Bible college is in Nashville. TheSouthern Baptist Convention maintains its general headquarters in Nashville. Nashville has publishing houses of several denominations.^{[citation needed]}

• Demographics of the United States by state
• Demographics of Tennessee

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