Population growth in the United States slowed to 0.5% between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to new Vintage 2025 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. The increase of 1.8 million people marks the slowest growth since the early COVID-19 pandemic period in 2021, when the rate was 0.2%. This follows a notable uptick in growth in 2024, when the country added 3.2 million people for a growth rate of 1.0%.
Christine Hartley, assistant division chief for Estimates and Projections at the Census Bureau, said: “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. 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.”
All four census regions and every state except Montana and West Virginia experienced either slower growth or an accelerated decline.
The Midwest was unique among regions as all its states gained population during this period. After previous declines and modest gains earlier in the decade, Midwest states posted solid increases over three consecutive years: nearly 260,000 in 2023; over 386,000 in 2024; and more than 244,000 in 2025. Slight increases in natural change contributed to this trend.
Marc Perry, senior demographer at the Census Bureau stated: “From July 2024 through June 2025, the Midwest also saw positive net domestic migration for the first time this decade. 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.” Ohio and Michigan showed particular improvement with positive net domestic migration numbers compared to significant losses just four years prior.
South Carolina led all states with a population increase of about 80,000 people (a rise of 1.5%), mainly due to strong net domestic migration gains—though this percentage was down slightly from last year’s figure. Idaho (1.4%) and North Carolina (1.3%) also grew primarily because of increased domestic migration.
Texas grew by about 1.2%, driven by both natural change and international migration despite lower levels of international arrivals than before; Utah’s growth (1%) came mostly from natural change as well.
Net international migration nationwide fell sharply by nearly half—from approximately https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/random-samplings/2026/01/new-population-estimates-show-historic-decline-in-net-international-migration.html“>2.7 million last year to about https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/random-samplings/2026/01/new-population-estimates-show-historic-decline-in-net-international-migration.html“>1.3 million between July 2024 and June 30 of the following year—a drop of almost https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/random-samplings/2026/01/new-population-estimates-show-historic-decline-in-net-international-migration.html“>54%. If these trends continue as projected by Census Bureau analysts, net international migration could fall further by next summer.
Natural change—the difference between births and deaths—was roughly https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/random-samplings/2026/01/new-population-estimates-show-historic-decline-in-net-international-migration.html“>519,000 during this period nationwide; this level has remained steady since last year but remains well below rates seen before recent years.
Every region saw slower population growth compared to recent periods: The South’s rate dropped below one percent for only the second time since at least 2021; Northeast had its largest slowdown with an annual increase falling from 0.8% to 0.2%.
Five states lost population: California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont and West Virginia.
Thirty-three states plus Washington D.C., reported more births than deaths—an improvement over previous years but still below figures typical before recent demographic shifts began earlier this decade.
Florida led all states for net international migration (about https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/random-samplings/2026/01/new-population-estimates-show-historic-decline-in-net-international-migration.html“>179 thousand), followed by Texas (167 thousand), California (109 thousand), and New York (96 thousand). However Florida’s net domestic migration fell sharply compared with prior years; Alabama surpassed Florida on that measure during this period.
Puerto Rico continued its long-term trend of declining population—down nearly eighteen thousand residents—with negative natural change driving most losses as deaths outpaced births nearly two-to-one; it also reversed course on net migration after posting gains previously.
Recent improvements were made to estimation methods using additional administrative data sources at subnational levels; details are available on the Census Bureau’s Random Samplings blog.
The Population Estimates Program produces annual updates based on current data related to births, deaths and movement within or into/outside U.S., covering national totals as well as those for individual states—including voting-age populations—and Puerto Rico.
A forthcoming release scheduled for March will provide updated statistics on metropolitan areas across America along with county-level data; embargoed access will be provided ahead of public release according to schedule listed on official Census Bureau channels.
With each new set of annual estimates released by Census Bureau staffers like Hartley and Perry above—all historical figures are revised back through latest decennial census cycle so users should compare data only within same vintage sets.
