Overview
94,161
Total Population
30.8
Median age
51.79%
Female population %
93.1:100
Gender ratio (M:F)
20-24 years
Largest age group
53.6
Total dependency ratio
White
Largest racial group
62,623
Hispanic population
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Age
Reading's population is young compared to the rest of the country:
- The median age in Reading is 30.8, compared to 38.8 nationwide, according to the American Community Survey 2017 - 2021 5 Year estimates.
- Reading's population under 18 was 29.20%, compared to the 22.51% nationwide.
- Reading's elderly or the senior population (over 65 age) was 10.50% as compared to 16.04% nationwide.
- Of the total population in Reading, 24.37% were under the age of 15, 24.29% aged 15 to 29, 40.84% aged 30 to 64, 9.28% aged 65 to 84, and 1.22% were 85 years of age and older.

Read more about Reading, PA population by age ➔
Gender
There are 3,363 more females than males in Reading:
- The female percentage in the USA is 50.50% while the male percentage is 49.50%, compared to 51.79% females and 48.21% males in Reading, PA.
- The Reading, PA gender ratio is 93.1:100 i.e. 93.1 men to 100 women (0.931).
- For male population, the largest age group is 20-24 years with a population of 4,269.
- For the female population, the largest age group is 5-9 years with a population of 4,225.

Read more about Reading, PA population by gender ➔
Race / Ethnicity
Reading's population has become increasingly diverse:
- Racial distribution of Reading population: 43.02% are White, 12.65% are Black or African American, 0.82% are American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.21% are Asian, 0.01% are Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 25.10% are some other race and 17.19% are multiracial.
- Reading's racial breakdown clearly shows that there is no majority of any race in the city.
- By ethnicity, 62,623 is Hispanic or Latino (of any race), and 31,538 (33.49% of the total population) is Non-Hispanic.
- The largest racial group in Reading is White with a population of 40,51 (43.02% of the total population).

Read more about Reading, PA population by race ➔
Year by year
Reading's population has already reached its peak and is showing a trend of decline:
- The peak population was 94,972 in the year 2020
- From 2000 to 2010, Reading's population increased by 7,031 (8.68%), as compared to the national growth of 9.63%.
- From 2010 to 2020, Reading's population increased by 6,927 (7.87%), according to Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program. For the same period, the rate of growth for the United States was 7.17%.
- Between the year 2000 and 2022, Reading's population was lowest in year 2004 at 80,400.

Read more about Reading, PA population by year ➔
References
- U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021 5-Year Estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Population Estimates Program (PEP)