States in South and West Growing the Fastest

The top five fastest-growing states between July 1, 2017, and July 1, 2018, were all in the South and West, according to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates released today.

Nevada and Idaho topped the list with a growth of about 2.1 percent each in the last year alone. They were followed by Utah (1.9 percent), Arizona (1.7 percent), Florida and Washington (1.5 percent each).

The population growth in these states far outpaced the 0.6 percent growth of the United States. The total population of the U.S. reached 327,167,434 in July 2018.

The nation’s capital reached a milestone. Washington, D.C.’s, population hit 702,455 in July 2018, topping 700,000 for the first time since 1975.

Population declined in nine states and Puerto Rico. The nine states were: New York (down 48,510), Illinois (45,116), West Virginia (11,216), Louisiana (10,840), Hawaii (3,712), Mississippi (3,133), Alaska (2,348), Connecticut (1,215) and Wyoming (1,197).

New estimates show that Puerto Rico’s population has continued to decline, with an estimated loss of 129,848 (3.9 percent) last year. Its total population declined from 3,726,157 in 2010 to 3,195,153 in 2018.

“Puerto Rico has seen a steady decline in population over the last decade,” Johnson said. “Hurricane Maria in September of 2017 further impacted that loss both before the storm and the recovery period.”

The decrease in Puerto Rico’s population is due primarily to out-migration exceeding in-migration. The Commonwealth has also been experiencing natural decrease (more deaths than births) in recent years.

• Texas had the largest numeric growth, adding 379,128 people. The state grew both from more births than deaths and from net gain in movers from within and outside the United States.
• Florida had the highest level of net domestic migration at 132,602.
• The voting age population age 18 and over grew by 0.9 percent to 253,768,092.
• The U.S. population continues to grow both from natural increase and international migration.