Bessemer, AL Demographics

A map of Bessemer's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Black	16,925	18,107	66.6%	69.6%
White	5,198	4,877	20.5%	18.7%
Hispanic	2,640	2,305	10.4%	8.9%
Multiracial	543	540	2.1%	2.1%
Native American/Other	89	122	0.4%	0.5%
Asian	5	68	0.0%	0.3%

Bessemer, Alabama has an estimated population of 25,400, a slight decrease from the 26,019 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 66.6% Black, 20.5% White, 10.4% Hispanic, 2.1% Multiracial, 0.4% Native American/Other, and 0.0% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Bessemer, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Bessemer has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is less diverse than Alabama overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Bessemer, that probability was 47.2% in 2020 and 50.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Bessemer is ranked the 24th most populous place in Alabama, out of 594 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Bessemer was ranked the 23rd most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Bessemer's White Population

5,198 residents of Bessemer, or 20.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Bessemer is significantly lower than in Alabama overall, where 63.4% of the population is White. Bessemer ranks 549th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bessemer's White population has grown by an estimated 6.6%. White residents' share of Bessemer's population has increased from 18.7% to 20.5%.

Bessemer is more White than neighboring Lipscomb (10.5% White), Brighton (1.7% White), and Midfield (4.8% White). Bessemer is less White than neighboring Hueytown (42.9% White), and McCalla (40.2% White).

Bessemer's Black Population

16,925 residents of Bessemer, or 66.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Bessemer is significantly higher than in Alabama overall, where 25.6% of the population is Black. Bessemer ranks 51st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bessemer's Black population has declined by an estimated 6.5%. Black residents' share of Bessemer's population has decreased from 69.6% to 66.6%.

Bessemer is more Black than neighboring Lipscomb (62.4% Black), Hueytown (42% Black), Brighton (66.5% Black), and McCalla (54.2% Black). Bessemer is less Black than neighboring Midfield (84% Black).

Bessemer's Asian Population

5 residents of Bessemer, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Bessemer is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 1.4% of the population is Asian. Bessemer ranks 317th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bessemer's Asian population has declined by an estimated 92.6%. Asian residents' share of Bessemer's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Bessemer is less Asian than neighboring Hueytown (0.6% Asian), and McCalla (2.5% Asian).

Bessemer's Hispanic Population

2,640 residents of Bessemer, or 10.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Bessemer is slightly higher than in Alabama overall, where 5.6% of the population is Hispanic. Bessemer ranks 55th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bessemer's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 14.5%. Hispanic residents' share of Bessemer's population has increased from 8.9% to 10.4%.

Bessemer is more Hispanic than neighboring Hueytown (9.6% Hispanic), McCalla (2.2% Hispanic), and Midfield (7.6% Hispanic). Bessemer is less Hispanic than neighboring Lipscomb (26.2% Hispanic), and Brighton (28.1% Hispanic).

Bessemer's Native American/Other Population

89 residents of Bessemer, or 0.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Bessemer is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Bessemer ranks 371st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bessemer's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 27.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Bessemer's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Bessemer is more Native American/Other than neighboring Lipscomb (0% Native American/Other), McCalla (0% Native American/Other), and Midfield (0.2% Native American/Other). Bessemer is less Native American/Other than neighboring Hueytown (0.8% Native American/Other), and Brighton (0.5% Native American/Other).

Bessemer's Multiracial Population

543 residents of Bessemer, or 2.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Bessemer is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 3.3% of the population is Multiracial. Bessemer ranks 493rd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Bessemer's Multiracial population has remained roughly the same. Multiracial residents' share of Bessemer's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.1%.

Bessemer is more Multiracial than neighboring Lipscomb (0.9% Multiracial), and McCalla (0.9% Multiracial). Bessemer is less Multiracial than neighboring Hueytown (4% Multiracial), Brighton (3.4% Multiracial), and Midfield (3.3% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.