Sharkey County, Mississippi Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Sharkey County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 3,848. It is the 81st most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sharkey County is 36.6 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sharkey County is $35,741. This is 35% lower than the state median of $54,915. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 54% lower. The poverty rate stands at 31.9%. This is 67% higher than the state poverty rate of 19.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 10.5%. This is 74% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $108,000. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $161,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 62.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 69.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sharkey County is Black or African American, making up 73.7% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 25.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (25.6%) is well below the state average of 55.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (73.7% vs 36.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.6%.

Education

15.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 36% lower than the state rate of 24.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 81.0%.