In the Nebraska license plate system, Otoe County is represented by the prefix 11 (it had the eleventh-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).
1860 - 4,211 1870 - 12,345 1880 - 15,727 1890 - 25,403 1900 - 22,288 1910 - 19,323 1920 - 19,494 1930 - 19,901 1940 - 18,994 1950 - 17,056 1960 - 16,503 1970 - 15,576 1980 - 15,183 1990 - 14,252 2000 - 15,396
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,396 people, 6,060 households, and 4,229 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 6,567 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.42% White, 0.29% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. 2.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,060 households out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 18.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,302, and the median income for a family was $45,295. Males had a median income of $30,682 versus $21,520 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,752. About 5.90% of families and 8.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.30% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.