Population growth is greatest in these US states (2024)

  1. Texas 473,453
  2. Florida 365,205
  3. North Carolina 139,526
  4. Georgia 116,077
  5. South Carolina 90,600
  6. Tennessee 77,513
  7. Arizona 65,660
  8. Virginia 65,660
  9. Colorado 36,571
  10. Utah 36,498

Top 10 states with the fastest population growth rate

  1. South Carolina 1.7%
  2. Florida 1.6%
  3. Texas 1.6%
  4. Idaho 1.3%
  5. North Carolina 1.3%
  6. Delaware 1.2%
  7. District of Columbia 1.2%
  8. Tennessee 1.1%
  9. Utah 1.1%
  10. Georgia 1.1%

Dixie delight: South steals the spotlight with population growth

Despite being the most populous region in the country presently, the South saw 87% of the growth between July 2022 and July 2023. According to the Census Bureau, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the only region that continued to have population growth.

With over 1.4 million new residents over the past year, the region's population now exceeds 130 million, a rise of 1.1%. Through internal migration, roughly 700,000 individuals moved from one region to another in the South. Over 500,000 individuals relocated to the South via foreign migration.

As reported by The Hill, population gains of 1% or more were observed in Texas, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

Population booms across US, but plummets in Big Apple

Because fewer people died and immigration levels dropped to what they were before the pandemic, the population grew nationally in the previous year. The Census Bureau reports population growth in all but eight states this year.

New York was the most severely affected, losing around 102,000 inhabitants.

Moreover, the following seven states have had a decrease in population this year, as reported by the Census Bureau:

  • California
  • Illinois
  • Louisiana
  • Pennsylvania
  • Oregon
  • Hawaii
  • West Virginia

Although almost all states experienced growth this year, Texas witnessed the most annual rise in population, adding over 473,400 new residents. Adding more than 365,200 residents, Florida was not far behind. In fact, the fastest-growing states were South Carolina and Florida, with growth of 1.7% and 1.6%, respectively.

More states saw population growth in 2023 than there have been since the pandemic's beginning. At the state level, there was a population rise in 42 states and the District of Columbia. In 2022, 31 states and the District of Columbia isaw growth, and in 2021 34 states did.

The growing number of states seeing a population increase is a result of decreased net domestic outmigration for some states and overall national patterns of deaths and net foreign migration going back to pre-COVID levels.

California and New York: Exodus or evolving demographics?

It is well known that California lost two federal seats in the 2020 Census due to population decline. Like most states, its population was rounded up as part of the new count.

While California's high cost of living is one explanation for this, changes in immigration in the U.S. have also played a big role in the state's ongoing population loss. This is because more immigrants are choosing to live in a wider range of U.S. cities, including smaller ones, just like domestic migrants do.

This is also true for New York, which, according to the most recent Census, is the state that is fastest shrinking in the country.

New York lost 0.5% of its residents between July 2022 and June 2023. Since 2016, the last Census showed that the state's population had been going down. Since 2016, New York's population dropped by only 0.1%. That number rose to 0.4% in 2019 and 0.5% in 2023.

This story was produced by Way.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.

Population growth is greatest in these US states (2024)

FAQs

Population growth is greatest in these US states? ›

Population increases in South Carolina (1.71%), Florida (1.64%), and Texas (1.58%) topped the ranks, growing about four-times faster than the national median in 2023. However, population growth slowed at least slightly in these and most other states with booming populations compared with their performance in 2022.

Which US states have the highest population growth rate? ›

Population increases in South Carolina (1.71%), Florida (1.64%), and Texas (1.58%) topped the ranks, growing about four-times faster than the national median in 2023. However, population growth slowed at least slightly in these and most other states with booming populations compared with their performance in 2022.

Where is the U.S. population growing the most? ›

During the post-Covid period, US population growth has been the fastest in Idaho, Utah, Montana, Texas, Florida, and New Jersey, see map below.

What state in the U.S. has the highest population? ›

The U.S. state with the largest population is California, which has some 39,000,000 residents.

Where is population growth the highest? ›

Population growth rate
RankCountry%
1South Sudan4.65
2Niger3.66
3Angola3.33
4Benin3.29
115 more rows

What area of the U.S. is the fastest growing? ›

Fastest-Growing Places in the U.S. in 2024-2025
  • Fort Myers, FL.
  • Killeen, TX.
  • Port St. Lucie, FL.
  • Daytona Beach, FL.
  • Tallahassee, FL.
  • Ocala, FL.
  • Baton Rouge, LA.

Which state has the highest growth rate? ›

Indian states by GDP Growth

In the year 2022-23, Chandigarh (10.76%) the highest GSDP growth rate followed by Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland and Tripura. The bottom five states, in reverse order, are Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, Puduch*erry, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.

Which city is booming in the USA? ›

Cities like Celina, Texas, have emerged as the fastest-growing areas, boasting a population increase of 26.6% from July 2022 to July 2023. The city's growth rate is more than 53 times the national average of 0.5%, suggesting a shift toward smaller, less well-known cities.

What are the top 5 states losing population? ›

According to a December release by the Census Bureau, California, Illinois and New York—along with West Virginia, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Hawaii and Oregon — lost population in 2023 compared to 2022. Throughout the new Census first released in 2020, all three states have shown continuously sinking population numbers.

Is Florida the fastest growing state? ›

Here's why. In 2022, Florida was the fastest-growing state in the country for the first time since the 1950s. And 2023 wasn't much different. The Sunshine State and South Carolina nearly tied to take the title last year.

What is the best state to live in? ›

According to the survey, health care and education were ranked highest, and had the most weight in determining the best states to live. Utah once again topped the list, followed by New Hampshire, Nebraska, Minnesota and Idaho rounding out the top five.

What state has the least crime? ›

The safest state in the U.S., according to the U.S. News methodology, is New Hampshire. With a violent crime rate of 126 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,011 per 100,000, New Hampshire enjoys a high rate of public safety. At number two is Maine, followed by Idaho at number three.

What are the top 5 states in the US? ›

  • Utah. #1 in Best States Overall. ...
  • New Hampshire. #2 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Nebraska. #3 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Minnesota. #4 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Idaho. #5 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Iowa. #6 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Vermont. #7 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Washington. #8 in Best States Overall.

What state population is growing the fastest? ›

In fact, the fastest-growing states were South Carolina and Florida, with growth of 1.7% and 1.6%, respectively. More states saw population growth in 2023 than there have been since the pandemic's beginning. At the state level, there was a population rise in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

When was the population growth the greatest? ›

Global population growth peaked in the 1960s at over 2% per year. Since then, rates have more than halved, falling to less than 1%.

Which U.S. state has the fastest growing economy? ›

Strongest State Economies in 2023
RankStateReal GDP Growth 2023 YoY
1North Dakota+5.9%
2Texas+5.7%
3Wyoming+5.4%
4Alaska+5.3%
7 more rows
Apr 11, 2024

What cities in the U.S. have the fastest growing population? ›

Change in population, 2022 to 2023

The bar chart shows the U.S. cities with the greatest percentage changes in population from 2022 to 2023. Atlanta, Fort Worth, Texas, and Raleigh, N.C., experienced the most growth, while New Orleans, St. Louis, and Philadelphia saw the largest declines. Raleigh, N.C.

Which state has the lowest population growth rate? ›

Thus, Kerala has the lowest growth rate of population, according to the Census of India - 2011. -> UGC NET June 2024 Examination Schedule has been released. The exam will be held on 18th June 2024 in OMR (Pen and Paper) mode.

What is the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population? ›

The age group 85 and older is now the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. The health of older Americans is improving. Still, many are disabled and suffer from chronic conditions.

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