It's not only humans who suffer in extreme weather
Immigration has driven US population growth to its fastest pace in 23 years, surpassing 340 million residents, according to the United States Census Bureau. Recent migration levels, averaging 2.4 million annually from 2021 to 2023, have outpaced even the peak Ellis Island years of the early 20th century. This historic surge underscores the significant role of immigration in shaping the nation's demographics.
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Immigration in 2024 drove US population growth to its highest rate in 23 years, with the nation surpassing 340 million residents, according to the US Census Bureau.
The 0.98% growth rate in 2024, driven by immigration, starkly contrasts with the record low of 0.2% seen in 2021 during pandemic-related travel restrictions.
Net international migration refers to the difference between the number of people entering and leaving the US. In 2024, it accounted for 84% of the 3.3 million growth, adding 2.8 million people.
A new counting method includes individuals admitted for humanitarian reasons, significantly refining population estimates and reflecting immigration’s critical demographic impact.
There were 519,000 more births than deaths in 2024, a significant rise from the figure of 146,000 in 2021, but still below the higher levels seen in previous decades.
In 16 states, immigration helped combat population losses as a result of people moving away or there being more deaths than births, highlighting its role in stabilizing populations.
Southern states like Texas and Florida led the growth, adding 1.8 million new residents.
Texas gained 562,941 residents and Florida 467,347, solidifying the South's status as the fastest-growing region in 2024.
California and New York reversed population declines seen earlier in the decade, growing by 232,570 and 129,881 residents, respectively, due to immigration.
While migration from coastal states to Sunbelt states continued, the trend eased in 2024 compared to peak pandemic years.
Humanitarian parole, a decades-old policy, contributed significantly to 2024's immigration figures, including over 5.8 million admissions since 2021.
The US population center moved sharply southward, reflecting the impact of migration trends and shifting settlement patterns.
Net international migration added 406,737 people to the Midwest, helping offset losses from people moving away and leading to a small population increase.
The Northeast saw a 0.76% increase in population, driven primarily by international migration, with New York leading regional growth.
The number of children in the US dropped from 73.3 million in 2023 to 73.1 million in 2024, reflecting broader demographic shifts.
The revised Census Bureau counting methods now include overlooked groups, like humanitarian migrants, making migration data more accurate.
Migration Policy Institute data highlights how asylum seekers and border crossings have reshaped US immigration patterns throughout the 2020s.
While natural increase, the difference between births and deaths, is recovering, immigration now has a much greater impact on US population growth.
Natural increase was recorded in 33 states, with Texas, California, and New York seeing the highest gains in births over deaths.
But 17 states saw more deaths than births, with Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Florida experiencing the most significant natural decreases.
Mississippi, Vermont, and West Virginia saw slight declines in population, primarily due to natural decreases and domestic migration losses.
Puerto Rico's population declined by just 0.02% in 2024, a marked improvement from sharper declines in previous years.
While Puerto Rico saw positive net migration of 15,204, it couldn't offset the natural decrease caused by more deaths than births.
Despite losing over 239,000 residents to domestic migration, California's net population grew in 2024 due to immigration gains.
The voting-age population rose to nearly 267 million, representing 78.5% of the US population.
Between 2023 and 2024, 47 states and Washington, D.C., saw population growth, with nine states (Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington) gaining over 100,000 residents.
The District of Columbia grew by 2.2%, marking the fastest growth among all states and equivalents since 2011.
Despite these gains, the future remains uncertain, as Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan faces challenges and shifting opinions.
Sources: (United States Census Bureau)
See also: US immigration history—What led us here?
Immigration fuels record-high US population growth
Immigration drives US population growth to highest rate in 23 years
LIFESTYLE Immigrants
Immigration has driven US population growth to its fastest pace in 23 years, surpassing 340 million residents, according to the United States Census Bureau. Recent migration levels, averaging 2.4 million annually from 2021 to 2023, have outpaced even the peak Ellis Island years of the early 20th century. This historic surge underscores the significant role of immigration in shaping the nation's demographics.
Intrigued? Click on for more on the record-high US population growth.