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Oklahoma

Oklahoma by the Numbers:
Key Statistical Data and Facts

Key Details

  • Oklahoma is the 28th-most populous state in the US, with 4,019,800 residents. 
  • As of July 1, 2022, there are 1,776,666 housing units in Oklahoma. 
  • According to the 2021 American Community Survey of the US Census Bureau, 50.96% of residents are married, and 12.98% are divorced. 
  • Approximately 88.7% of residents aged 25 hold a high school degree or higher, and 24.52% have a college certificate. 
  • Elected in 2018, Kevin Stitt is the 28th governor of Oklahoma. 
  • As of April 2023, Oklahoma’s unemployment rate is 2.9%. 
  • The median household income in Oklahoma was $56,956 between 2017 and 2021. 
  • In 2020, Donald Trump won Oklahoma by 65.37%, while Joe Biden received 32.29%. 
  • The life expectancy at birth in Oklahoma as of 2020 was 74 years old, and its fertility rate was 61.5 births per 1,000. 

Oklahoma Population Demographics

Bordered by Texas, Oklahoma is located in the South Central region of the US. According to the US Census Bureau, the state is home to 4,019,800 residents as of 2022 and ranks the 28th-most populous of the 50 states in the country. Residents under 18 comprise 24.1% of the state’s population, while those five or younger constitute 6.2%. A further breakdown of Oklahoma's age-group demographic shows that residents aged 65 years and over represent 16.2% of the state’s population. As of 2022, Oklahoma had a near-even gender split with 50.2% females and 49.8% males. 

Oklahoma Housing

1,776,666 housing units
There are 1,776,666 housing units in Oklahoma as of July 1, 2022. Each household has an average of 2.56 persons, and approximately 84% of Oklahomans lived in the same house over a year ago.
$150,800
Between 2017 and 2021, owner-occupied housing units make up 66.1%, with a median value set at $150,800.
$1,313
The median monthly owner costs with a mortgage is $1,313, while those without a mortgage is set at $432.
$862
Depending on the county and type of housing unit, Oklahomans pay about $862 monthly for rent.

Oklahoma Racial Demographics

63.8%
7.8%
2.5%
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%

Oklahoma’s racial composition consists of Whites, Blacks or African Americans, Asians, American Indians, Latinos, and other races. Non-Hispanic Whites alone constitute the majority of ethnic groups in the state, accounting for 63.8% of the population. Black or African Americans represent 7.8%, Asians 2.5%, Latinos 11.7%, and American Indians and Alaska Natives make up 9.7%. Additionally, 6.6% of the state’s population has an ethnic heritage of two or more races.

  • White only
  • Black or African-American alone
  • Asian alone
RacePercentage
Black or African American  7.8% 
White alone (not Hispanic or Latino) 63.8% 
Asian alone 2.5% 
American Indians and Alaskan Natives alone 9.7% 
Two or more races 6.6% 

Elections in Oklahoma

Oklahoma is considered a Republican state. As of 2023, Oklahoma has a Republican trifecta, meaning that the Republican Party controls the governor's office and both state legislative chambers. The Republican Party also exercises control over the offices of secretary of state and attorney general.  

Kevin Stitt is the 28th and incumbent governor in Oklahoma. First elected in 2018, Stitt was reelected to a term ending in 2027 after defeating Democrat Joy Hofmeister in the 2022 gubernatorial election. 

Since 2019, Republicans Matt Pinnell and Greg Treat have occupied the position of Senate President and President pro tempore in Oklahoma. The majority leader for the Republican Party is Greg McCortney, while the minority leader for the Democratic Party is Kay Floyd. 

2020 Presidential Election 

During the 2020 presidential election, Republican candidate Donald Trump won in Oklahoma by 65.37% (1,020,280). The Democratic Candidate, Joe Biden, received 32.29% (503,890) of the votes, while third-party candidates received 2.34%. 

Donald Trump

65.37% of votes

Donald Trump

32.29% of votes

Oklahoma Voting Statistics

As of January 15, 2023, there are 2,225,086 registered voters in Oklahoma. A breakdown of this figure shows that Republicans make up 51.9% of registered voters, while Democrats constitute 29.5% of the voting population. Libertarians constitute about 0.9% of registered voters, and Independents account for nearly 17.7%. 

Voters Turnout

There were 2,295,906 registered voters in Oklahoma in the 2022 general elections, with a voter turnout of 50.35%. This figure is significantly lower than that of the 2020 elections, which had 69.34% voter turnout. 

General Election

YearVoter TurnoutTurnout Percentage (Voting Age Population)
2022 1,153,284  50.35% 
2020 1,560,699  69.34% 
2018 1,186,385 56.15% 
2016 1,452,992 68.11% 

How Educated is Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, approximately 88.7% of residents aged 25 hold a high school degree or higher. 26.8% of residents within this age group have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Overall, 24.52% of the state’s population have attained a college certificate (810,500 persons), while 7.85% hold an associate degree (234,427). The US Census Bureau further estimates that 3.58% of the state’s population never attended high school (106,838). 

Oklahoma has over 40 colleges and universities, consisting of public and private institutions. The University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is the largest college in the state, recording 28,042 enrolled students for the academic year 2021-2022. Oklahoma State University-Main Campus is ranked second with 24,577 students, followed by Tulsa Community College with 14,428 students, and the University of Central Oklahoma with 13,250 students. 

Oklahoma Employment Rate

As of April 2023, Oklahoma’s unemployment rate was 2.9%, according to data released by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. The report further reveals that non-farm payroll employment adds 600 jobs in the same month.

According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, Oklahoma has a civilian workforce of approximately 1,909,600 persons as of April 2023. Of this number, 1,855,200 individuals were employed, and 54,400 were unemployed. The government sector was the leading employer in providing 352,700 jobs, closely followed by the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities sector with 321,900 jobs. Other major sectors are Education and Health Services (247,300 jobs), Professional and Business Services (203,800 jobs), Leisure and Hospitality (182,700 jobs), and Manufacturing (136,200). 

Average Income in Oklahoma

Oklahoma recorded a median household income of $56,956 between 2017 and 2021. During this period, the state’s average household income was $78,040, while its per capita income was $30,976.  

The US Census Bureau estimates that 5.1% of households in Oklahoma are high-income households that earn about $200,000 annually. Householders between the ages of 25 and 44 make up to $63,274, while those aged 46 to 64 earn $66,678. In contrast, Oklahomans under 25 years and those aged 65 and older earn less than other age groups, making $33,672 and $46,258, respectively. 

In Oklahoma, the annual income of families with one earner is $51,435, while that of families with two earners is set at $66,786. Families with three earners make up to $71,397, while those with four have a yearly income of $83,157. 

Families in Oklahoma

Oklahoma Marriage Rates

2021
6.1 per 1000 person
1990
10.6 per 1000 person

Based on the 2021 American Community Survey, 933,291 residents in Oklahoma have never been married (representing 29.64% of the total population), while 1,604,891 are wedded (50.96%).

As of 2021, Oklahoma has a marriage rate of 6.1 marriages per 1,000 residents, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. This figure is higher than the 5.9 marriages per 1000 recorded in 2020 and lower than the 6.3 recorded in 2019. For over three decades (between 1990 and 2021), there has been a steady rise and fall in the marriage rate in Oklahoma. From 10.6 in 1990, the rate of marriages in the state decreased to 6.8 in 1999, rose to 7.3 in 2007, and decreased again to 7.1 in 2014.

Oklahoma Divorce Rates

According to the US Census Bureau, in 2020, 408,647 residents (or 12.98%) were divorced, while 62,551 (1.99%) of residents were separated. Oklahoma's divorce rate of 3.8 divorces per 1,000 persons as of 2021 was higher than the 3.5 recorded in 2020 but lower than the 3.9 recorded in 2019. The state has experienced a rise and fall in divorce rates across three decades. Oklahoma’s divorce rate decreased from 7.7 in 1990 to 5.2 in 2007 and then increased to 5.3 in 2008. After that, the state experienced a decline from 5.2 in 2011 to 4.4 in 2015 and 3.8 in 2018.

Life Expectancy in Oklahoma

Based on the National Center for Health Statistics, Oklahoma has a life expectancy of 74.1 years at birth as of 2020. The fertility rate of women aged 15 to 44 is 61.5 births per 1,000 women, while that of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 is 24.1 births per 1,000 females. Additionally, the state has an infant mortality rate of 5.7 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. 

In Oklahoma, heart disease is the leading cause of death, followed by cancer, COVID-19, accidents, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. Other major causes of death in the state include stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, suicide, and chronic liver disease.  

In 2020, Oklahoma had a drug overdose death rate of 24.4 per 100,000 and a firearm injury death rate of 21.2 per 100,000. In the third quarter of 2022, the state recorded a COVID-19 death rate of 35.7 per 100,000. 

Oklahoma Crime Rates

In 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recorded incidents of violent crimes and property offenses in Oklahoma. According to the report, the state recorded 15,442 violent crime incidents in 2021. A further breakdown of this figure reveals 267 homicides, 2,287 rape incidents, 1,790 robberies, and 11,098 aggravated assaults. In the same year, the FBI reported that Oklahoma recorded 102,839 property crime incidents, including 838 Parsons, 20,733 burglaries,  65,881 larceny-thefts, and 15,387 motor vehicle theft incidents. 

Oklahoma Incarceration Rate

559 per 100,000 persons
According to the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), Oklahoma has an incarceration rate of 559 per 100,000 persons.
10,670
As of 2020, the state’s jail population was 10,670, with 2,237 parolees and 23,027 probatees.
22,462
In the same year, the NIC reported that the number of prisoners under the jurisdiction of Oklahoma correctional authorities was 22,462, located in 24 state prisons and held in the custody of private prisons or local jails.

Oklahoma Bankruptcy Rate

2022
19,279 bankruptcy cases

Data released by the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) reveals that Oklahoma has experienced a steady rise and fall in the rate of bankruptcy filings since 2000, when 19,279 cases were filed. The filings increased to 39,431 in 2005 but decreased to 7,145 in 2006 before rising again to 14,209 in 2009.  

Oklahoma also recorded a decline in bankruptcy cases from 13,119 in 2011 to 9,555 in 2014 and 9,065 in 2015. Although the number of filings increased to 9,552 in 2019, it decreased to 7,484 in 2020 and 5,932 in 2021. As of 2022, Oklahoma recorded 5,143 bankruptcy cases filed annually across Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13.

Weird Laws in Oklahoma

Oklahoma has a few odd laws that have yet to be overturned or removed from the statute books. Here are some of the weird laws in the state:

  • It is against the law to walk backward in downtown Oklahoma City while eating a hamburger.
  • A person may be fined or jailed for making ugly faces at dogs.
  • It is illegal to read a comic book while operating a motor vehicle.
  • Promoting a “horse-tripping event” is a crime in Oklahoma.
  • In Tulsa, it is illegal to open a soda bottle without the supervision of a licensed engineer
  • It is against the law to have the hind legs of farm animals in one’s boots.
  • Molesting an automobile is illegal in Clinton.
  • A person must honk his horn when passing another vehicle in Yukon.
  • Women are prohibited from doing their hair without being licensed by the state.
  • Up until 2006, it was illegal to have tattoos or wear boots to bed.

Cities in Oklahoma

Table of contents

Cities in Oklahoma

Popular names in Oklahoma