As of the census of 2000, there were 2,061,162 people, 768,440 households, and 511,781 families residing in the county. The population density was 3,356 people per square mile (1,296/km²). There were 826,145 housing units at an average density of 1,345 per square mile (519/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 51.70% White, 42.16% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 1.70% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.55% from other races, and 2.49% from two or more races. 3.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
8.5% were of German, 8.0% Polish and 5.7% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 89.3% spoke English, 3.2% Spanish and 2.4% Arabic as their first language.
Three native American grouping had over 1000 people in Wayne County in 2000, including 1,015 Iroquois, including at least in theory members of all six tribes, and Chippewa or Ojibwa numbering 2,041. The Cherokee were the most numerous group of Native Americans here in Wayne County, as in most of the United States, with 4,127.
There were eight groups of Asians who were identified as having over 1000 in Wayne County. Asian Indians numbered 15,856. Chinese came in second at 5879. After that comes the Filipinos, numbering 5480. There were 2478 Koreans. Bangladeshis numbered 2238. Next came Japanese numbering 2025. Hmongs numbered 1927. Pakistanis numbered 1887 and Vietnamese 1684.
There were 768,440 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.70% were married couples living together, 20.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.00% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,776, and the median income for a family was $48,805. Males had a median income of $42,392 versus $29,027 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,058. About 12.70% of families and 16.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.00% of those under age 18 and 11.30% of those age 65 or over.