Santa Barbara County Demographics

A map of Santa Barbara County's Population by Race

Santa Barbara County, California had a population of 448,229 in 2020. It was 41.2% White, 1.4% Black, 5.7% Asian, 47.0% Hispanic, 1.0% Native American/Other, and 3.7% Multiracial. This map presents the population of Santa Barbara County, with one dot drawn for each person counted in the 2020 Census, color-coded by race.

Santa Barbara County is the 20th most populous county of the 58 counties in California.

Santa Barbara County's White Population

184,746 residents of Santa Barbara County identify as White, or 41.2%. This makes the White share of the population of Santa Barbara County slightly larger than the White share of the population of California (34.7% White). Of the 58 counties in California, Santa Barbara County is ranked #35 in terms of White residents as a share of the population.

Santa Barbara County is more White than neighboring Kern County (30.8% White), Kings County (29.1% White), and Los Angeles County (25.6% White). Santa Barbara County is less White than neighboring Ventura County (42.8% White), and San Luis Obispo County (65% White).

Santa Barbara County's Black Population

6,467 residents of Santa Barbara County identify as Black, or 1.4%. This makes the Black share of the population of Santa Barbara County roughly similar to the Black share of the population of California (5.4% Black). Of the 58 counties in California, Santa Barbara County is ranked #37 in terms of Black residents as a share of the population.

Santa Barbara County is less Black than neighboring Ventura County (1.6% Black), San Luis Obispo County (1.5% Black), Kern County (5.1% Black), Kings County (5.4% Black), and Los Angeles County (7.6% Black).

Santa Barbara County's Asian Population

25,378 residents of Santa Barbara County identify as Asian, or 5.7%. This makes the Asian share of the population of Santa Barbara County slightly less than the Asian share of the population of California (15.1% Asian). Of the 58 counties in California, Santa Barbara County is ranked #26 in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population.

Santa Barbara County is more Asian than neighboring San Luis Obispo County (3.5% Asian), Kern County (4.9% Asian), and Kings County (3.6% Asian). Santa Barbara County is less Asian than neighboring Ventura County (7.5% Asian), and Los Angeles County (14.7% Asian).

Santa Barbara County's Hispanic Population

210,584 residents of Santa Barbara County identify as Hispanic, or 47.0%. This makes the Hispanic share of the population of Santa Barbara County slightly larger than the Hispanic share of the population of California (39.4% Hispanic). Of the 58 counties in California, Santa Barbara County is ranked #15 in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population.

Santa Barbara County is more Hispanic than neighboring Ventura County (43.3% Hispanic), and San Luis Obispo County (24% Hispanic). Santa Barbara County is less Hispanic than neighboring Kern County (54.9% Hispanic), Kings County (56.8% Hispanic), and Los Angeles County (48% Hispanic).

Santa Barbara County's Native American/Other Population

4,651 residents of Santa Barbara County identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other, or 1.0%. This makes the Native American/Other share of the population of Santa Barbara County roughly similar to the Native American/Other share of the population of California (1.3% Native American/Other). Of the 58 counties in California, Santa Barbara County is ranked #53 in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population.

Santa Barbara County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Ventura County (0.9% Native American/Other). Santa Barbara County is less Native American/Other than neighboring San Luis Obispo County (1.1% Native American/Other), Kern County (1.2% Native American/Other), and Kings County (1.8% Native American/Other).

Santa Barbara County's Multiracial Population

16,403 residents of Santa Barbara County identify as Multiracial, or 3.7%. This makes the Multiracial share of the population of Santa Barbara County roughly similar to the Multiracial share of the population of California (4.1% Multiracial). Of the 58 counties in California, Santa Barbara County is ranked #44 in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population.

Santa Barbara County is more Multiracial than neighboring Kern County (3.1% Multiracial), Kings County (3.3% Multiracial), and Los Angeles County (3.1% Multiracial). Santa Barbara County is less Multiracial than neighboring Ventura County (3.9% Multiracial), and San Luis Obispo County (4.8% Multiracial).

Source: 2020 Census State Redistricting Data and Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.