Population growth in the United States slowed to 0.5% between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to new estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The nation added only 1.8 million people during this period, marking the slowest increase since the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This deceleration follows a notable uptick in growth from the previous year when the population grew by 3.2 million people or 1.0%, which was the fastest rate since 2006.
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.”
The reduction in growth was seen across all four census regions and every state except Montana and West Virginia, where either slower growth or accelerated decline occurred.
The Midwest was unique as all states in that region gained population over this period. After experiencing declines earlier in the decade, Midwest states saw positive natural change (births minus deaths) contribute to their gains.
Marc Perry, senior demographer at the Census Bureau, noted: “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.”
States such as Ohio and Michigan showed improvement; Ohio recorded a net domestic migration of nearly 12,000 compared to a loss of more than 32,000 four years ago.
South Carolina experienced significant population growth fueled by an increase of over 66,000 through net domestic migration—resulting in a total rise of almost 80,000 residents or a gain of about 1.5%. Idaho and North Carolina followed with increases driven mainly by domestic migration as well.
Texas continued its rapid growth at about 1.2%, supported by both natural change and international migration despite slowing gains from abroad. Utah’s population grew mainly due to natural change rather than international arrivals.
Overall national trends show that between July 2024 and June 2025:
– Net international migration fell sharply by nearly half compared to last year.
– Natural change (births minus deaths) remained stable at around half a million but was much lower than figures seen before recent years.
– All four major regions had slower population increases than previously observed.
– The South’s annual growth dropped below one percent for only the second time since at least early pandemic years.
– The Northeast saw its smallest gain among regions.
– Five states lost population: California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont and West Virginia.
– Thirty-three states plus Washington D.C. reported more births than deaths—a slight increase from last year but higher than during pandemic lows.
– Florida led states for highest levels of net international migration but experienced a sharp drop in domestic inflow compared to previous years; Alabama surpassed Florida on this measure for this period.
Puerto Rico’s population declined again—by about eighteen thousand—continuing an ongoing trend since mid-2000s primarily due to more deaths than births and negative net migration reversing last year’s temporary uptick.
The Census Bureau attributes part of these findings to methodological improvements that use additional administrative data sources for better accuracy at subnational levels.
The Population Estimates Program calculates annual changes using current data on births, deaths and movement into or out of areas since each decennial census (the last being conducted in https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/about.html). This latest release covers totals for all states plus D.C., Puerto Rico and includes breakdowns such as voting-age populations.
Further data—including statistics on metropolitan areas—are scheduled for release later this spring with embargoes set prior to public access according to https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/about/schedule.html.
With each update cycle all historical estimates are revised back to reflect new methodologies; users are advised that comparisons should be made within matching vintages only as older versions are archived separately via FTP sites.
