- Texas 473,453
- Florida 365,205
- North Carolina 139,526
- Georgia 116,077
- South Carolina 90,600
- Tennessee 77,513
- Arizona 65,660
- Virginia 65,660
- Colorado 36,571
- Utah 36,498
Top 10 states with the fastest population growth rate
- South Carolina 1.7%
- Florida 1.6%
- Texas 1.6%
- Idaho 1.3%
- North Carolina 1.3%
- Delaware 1.2%
- District of Columbia 1.2%
- Tennessee 1.1%
- Utah 1.1%
- 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.
FAQs
Continuing a decades-long trend, the South was home to the fastest-growing 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.
What state in the US has the fastest growing population? ›
Table 2
| Top 10 States by Numeric Growth: 2022 to 2023 |
|---|
| Rank | Geographic Area | Numeric Growth |
|---|
| 1 | Texas | 473,453 |
| 2 | Florida | 365,205 |
| 3 | North Carolina | 139,526 |
7 more rowsDec 19, 2023
During the post-Covid period, US population growth has been the fastest in Idaho, Utah, Montana, Texas, Florida, and New Jersey, see map below.
Which US state has the highest population? ›
The U.S. state with the largest population is California, which has some 39,000,000 residents. Second is Texas, with more than 30,000,000. Several states have less than 1,000,000 people, and Wyoming holds the title of the least-populated state, with fewer than 600,000.
In which part of the United States is the population growing most quickly? ›
Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Texas, and Arizona saw the fastest population growth in percentage terms of any American state between 1 July, 2000, and 1 July, 2023, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Which US state has the fastest growing economy? ›
Strongest State Economies in 2023
| Rank | State | Real GDP Growth 2023 YoY |
|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | +5.9% |
| 2 | Texas | +5.7% |
| 3 | Wyoming | +5.4% |
| 4 | Alaska | +5.3% |
7 more rowsApr 11, 2024
Counties in the South were the fastest-growing in the entire country, with approximately 67 percent of the counties in the region experiencing population gains in 2023 up from 59 percent in 2022.
What is the flattest state in the US? ›
By any measure, Florida takes the prize for the flattest state in the nation because the highest point in the state is only 345 feet above sea level. Then Illinois, North Dakota, Louisiana, Minnesota and Delaware follow. Kansas merely ranks seventh in flatness.
What is the smallest U.S. state? ›
Rhode Island is the smallest state in size in the United States. It covers an area of 1,214 square miles. Its distances North to South are 48 miles and East to West 37 miles. Rhode Island was the last of the original thirteen colonies to become a state.
What state is losing the most population? ›
Three-quarters of the overall population decline in New York state has been accounted for by New York City in 2023. On March 14, The New York Times reported that New York City lost almost 6% of its population, or 550,000 residents between 2020 and 2023.
Eight of the fastest growing cities were in Texas alone. San Antonio, Texas, meanwhile, had the largest numeric growth in 2023, its population surging by 22,000. It was followed by Fort Worth, Texas, which had a gain of 21,365, and Charlotte, N.C., which added 15,607.
What are the 10 fastest growing counties in the United States? ›
Among counties with a population of 20,000 or more, the 10 fastest-growing were in the South—six in Texas (Kaufman, 7.6%; Rockwall, 6.5%; Liberty, 5.7%; Chambers, 5.0%; Comal, 5.0%; Ellis, 4.9%); two in Georgia (Jackson, 5.5%; Dawson, 5.1%); and one each in South Carolina (Jasper, 4.9%) and Virginia (New Kent, 4.7%).
What is the fastest growing state in 2024? ›
Florida is at the top of the chart, leading the pack with an impressive 1.91% population growth, which speaks to the continuing allure of southern climates and opportunities. Idaho and South Carolina follow closely behind, recording a population increase of 1.82% and 1.72% respectively.
What state has the fastest declining population? ›
The story of New York, the country's fastest shrinking state as of the latest Census release, is similar in this regard. New York lost 0.5% of its population between July 2022 and June 2023 and the previous Census had recorded a decreasing population in the state since 2016.
What city has the fastest growing population in the US? ›
Fort Worth, Texas, had the largest numeric population gain in 2022, with an increase of 19,170 people. Phoenix, Arizona (19,053); San Antonio, Texas (18,889); Seattle, Washington (17,749); and Charlotte, North Carolina (15,217), rounded out the top five cities by numeric growth.
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.
What state are people moving to? ›
We're seeing more people move to the Southern Appalachian region, which includes states like North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. People are also continuing to move to select Florida cities and long-standing retirement favorites such as Boise, Portland (ME), and Phoenix.
