Population growth in the United States slowed between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. The nation’s population increased by 1.8 million people, or 0.5%, during this period, marking the slowest rate of growth since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Christine Hartley, assistant division chief for Estimates and Projections at the Census Bureau, “The slowdown in U.S. population growth is largely due to a historic decline in net international migration, which dropped from 2.7 million to 1.3 million in the period from July 2024 through June 2025.” She added, “With births and deaths remaining relatively stable compared to the prior year, the sharp decline in net international migration is the main reason for the slower growth rate we see today.”
The slowdown was observed across all four census regions and nearly every state except Montana and West Virginia. The Midwest stood out as every state in that region gained population during this time frame. This continued a trend of recovery after previous declines earlier in the decade.
Marc Perry, senior demographer at the Census Bureau noted a shift: “From July 2024 through June 2025, the Midwest also saw positive net domestic migration for the first time this decade.” He continued: “And while the net domestic migration was a relatively modest 16,000, this is still a notable turnaround from the substantial domestic migration losses in 2021 and 2022 of -175,000 or greater.”
States like Ohio and Michigan showed improvements in domestic migration numbers compared to recent years.
South Carolina experienced significant growth driven by an increase in net domestic migration. Its population grew by nearly 80,000 people (a rise of about 1.5%), though this was down slightly from its previous annual increase. Idaho and North Carolina also saw notable gains due to similar factors.
Texas grew quickly as well because of both natural change (births minus deaths) and international migration; however, it too faced slower gains from international arrivals than before. Utah’s growth came mainly from natural change rather than immigration.
Net international migration nationally fell sharply—down more than half compared with last year—and if current trends continue it may drop further by July 2026.
Natural change contributed approximately half a million people to overall U.S. population growth between mid-2024 and mid-2025—a figure similar to last year but lower than levels seen before recent years.
All four regions—the South, Northeast, Midwest, and West—experienced some degree of population increase over this period but at reduced rates compared with previous years.
Five states—California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont and West Virginia—lost residents during this period.
Thirty-three states plus Washington D.C. had more births than deaths between mid-2024 and mid-2025; this is up slightly from last year but higher than numbers recorded earlier in this decade when fewer states saw positive natural change.
Levels of net international migration declined everywhere but remained positive overall; Florida led all states followed by Texas and California for highest numbers of new arrivals from abroad over these twelve months.
Net domestic migration patterns shifted as well: thirty-one states posted positive figures on this measure—a small uptick compared with last year—with Alabama surpassing Florida among top destinations for internal movers within America during these months.
Puerto Rico’s population declined again as deaths continued to outnumber births—a pattern seen since at least 2020—and net outmigration resumed after briefly reversing last year.
Recent changes made by Census Bureau analysts have improved how they estimate monthly national totals using new administrative data sources at local levels along with updates to their short-term forecasting methods.
Annual estimates released include updated counts not only for total populations but also breakdowns by age group including those eligible to vote across all fifty states plus D.C., Puerto Rico included as well; additional regional detail will be available later following embargoed releases scheduled for March covering smaller geographic areas such as counties or municipalities.
Each annual update revises past years’ data back through results reported following completion of decennial censuses; comparisons should be made only within matching sets due methodological adjustments over time.
