Selma, AL Demographics

A map of Selma's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Black	14,074	14,757	82.5%	82.1%
White	2,527	2,573	14.8%	14.3%
Asian	199	107	1.2%	0.6%
Multiracial	132	354	0.8%	2.0%
Hispanic	63	134	0.4%	0.7%
Native American/Other	62	46	0.4%	0.3%

Selma, Alabama has an estimated population of 17,057, a decrease from the 17,971 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 82.5% Black, 14.8% White, 1.2% Asian, 0.8% Multiracial, 0.4% Hispanic, and 0.4% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Selma, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Selma has become slightly less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably 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 Selma, that probability was 30.5% in 2020 and 29.7% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Selma is ranked the 39th 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). Selma was ranked the 35th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Selma's White Population

2,527 residents of Selma, or 14.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Selma is significantly lower than in Alabama overall, where 63.4% of the population is White. Selma ranks 557th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Selma's White population has declined by an estimated 1.8%. White residents' share of Selma's population has increased from 14.3% to 14.8%.

Selma is more White than neighboring Selmont-West Selmont (2% White), and White Hall (0% White). Selma is less White than neighboring Valley Grande (67.6% White), Orrville (35.4% White), and Benton (81.3% White).

Selma's Black Population

14,074 residents of Selma, or 82.5% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Selma is significantly higher than in Alabama overall, where 25.6% of the population is Black. Selma ranks 32nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Selma's Black population has declined by an estimated 4.6%. Black residents' share of Selma's population has remained roughly unchanged at 82.5%.

Selma is more Black than neighboring Selmont-West Selmont (80.1% Black), Valley Grande (26.2% Black), Orrville (59.5% Black), and Benton (0% Black). Selma is less Black than neighboring White Hall (99.8% Black).

Selma's Asian Population

199 residents of Selma, or 1.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Selma is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 1.4% of the population is Asian. Selma ranks 183rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Selma's Asian population has grown by an estimated 86.0%. Asian residents' share of Selma's population has increased from 0.6% to 1.2%.

Selma is more Asian than neighboring Selmont-West Selmont (0% Asian), Valley Grande (0% Asian), Orrville (0% Asian), Benton (0% Asian), and White Hall (0% Asian).

Selma's Hispanic Population

63 residents of Selma, or 0.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Selma is lower than in Alabama overall, where 5.6% of the population is Hispanic. Selma ranks 509th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Selma's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 53.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Selma's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Selma is more Hispanic than neighboring Selmont-West Selmont (0% Hispanic), Orrville (0% Hispanic), Benton (0% Hispanic), and White Hall (0.2% Hispanic). Selma is less Hispanic than neighboring Valley Grande (5.5% Hispanic).

Selma's Native American/Other Population

62 residents of Selma, 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 Selma is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Selma ranks 466th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Selma's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 34.8%. Native American/Other residents' share of Selma's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Selma is more Native American/Other than neighboring Selmont-West Selmont (0% Native American/Other), Valley Grande (0% Native American/Other), Orrville (0% Native American/Other), Benton (0% Native American/Other), and White Hall (0% Native American/Other).

Selma's Multiracial Population

132 residents of Selma, or 0.8% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Selma is slightly lower than in Alabama overall, where 3.3% of the population is Multiracial. Selma ranks 503rd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Selma's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 62.7%. Multiracial residents' share of Selma's population has decreased from 2.0% to 0.8%.

Selma is more Multiracial than neighboring Valley Grande (0.7% Multiracial), and White Hall (0% Multiracial). Selma is less Multiracial than neighboring Selmont-West Selmont (17.9% Multiracial), Orrville (5.1% Multiracial), and Benton (18.8% 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.