District of Columbia: government, population and official figures

District of Columbia is a federal district of the United States, number 49 of 51 by population. The District of Columbia had an estimated 693,645 residents on 1 July 2025, 0.2% of the population of the 50 states and DC; 3rd smallest of 51. In the year to 1 July 2025 the population grew by 0.34%, 19th slowest-growing of 51.

Who runs District of Columbia?

The mayor is Muriel Bowser. Mayor's office. Phone: 1-202-727-2643. Address: 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington , DC 20004.

In depth

• Economy, jobs and prices in District of Columbia: The economy of the District of Columbia (gross domestic product) was worth $193.0 billion in 2025 at current prices, 0.6% of the US total of $30.86 trillion; 16th smallest of 51. In current dollars it was up 3.5% on 2024.
• Health in District of Columbia: Life expectancy at birth in the District of Columbia was 76.6 years in 2022, 20th shortest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 77.5 years), according to NCHS state life tables.
• Education in District of Columbia: 76.4% of public high school students in the District of Columbia graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); the lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).
• Poverty and living standards in District of Columbia: The Census Bureau estimates that 16.4% of people in the District of Columbia lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 110,233 people; 3rd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).

Official bodies in District of Columbia

• District of Columbia (Washington, DC)
• Department of Human Services
• Consumer Protection
• Department of Corrections
• Local governments
• Office of the State Superintendent for Education
• Board of Elections
• Homeland Security & Emergency Management Agency
• Department of Health
• Motor Vehicles
• Office of the Attorney General

Largest cities in District of Columbia

1. Washington 693,645 (2025)

How federal districts are governed in the United States

States (50). Governor and state legislature directly elected. Hold all powers not given to the federal government (10th Amendment); create and control local governments.

Every tier of government in the United States

Other federal districts of the United States

• California 39,355,309
• Texas 31,709,821
• Florida 23,462,518
• New York 20,002,427
• Pennsylvania 13,059,432
• Illinois 12,719,141
• Ohio 11,900,510
• Georgia 11,302,748
• North Carolina 11,197,968
• Michigan 10,127,884
• New Jersey 9,548,215
• Virginia 8,880,107
• Washington 8,001,020
• Arizona 7,623,818
• Tennessee 7,315,076
• Massachusetts 7,154,084
• Indiana 6,973,333
• Missouri 6,270,541
• Maryland 6,265,347
• Colorado 6,012,561
• Wisconsin 5,972,787
• Minnesota 5,830,405
• South Carolina 5,570,274
• Alabama 5,193,088
• Louisiana 4,618,189
• Kentucky 4,606,864
• Oregon 4,273,586
• Oklahoma 4,123,288
• Connecticut 3,688,496
• Utah 3,538,904
• Nevada 3,282,188
• Iowa 3,238,387
• Arkansas 3,114,791
• Kansas 2,977,220
• Mississippi 2,954,160
• New Mexico 2,125,498
• Idaho 2,029,733
• Nebraska 2,018,006
• West Virginia 1,766,147
• Hawaii 1,432,820
• New Hampshire 1,415,342
• Maine 1,414,874
• Montana 1,144,694
• Rhode Island 1,114,521
• Delaware 1,059,952
• South Dakota 935,094
• North Dakota 799,358
• Alaska 737,270
• Vermont 644,663
• Wyoming 588,753

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Sources

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