Population growth in the United States has slowed, with an increase of 1.8 million people, or 0.5%, between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to new Vintage 2025 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the slowest growth rate since the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
Christine Hartley, assistant division chief for Estimates and Projections at the Census Bureau, stated: “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 accelerated decline during this period.
The Midwest was unique as all its states gained population between July 2024 and July 2025. The region saw positive net domestic migration for the first time this decade after years of losses; net domestic migration reached about 16,000 during this period. Marc Perry, senior demographer at the Census Bureau, said: “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 both shifted from negative to positive net domestic migration.
South Carolina led all states with a population increase of about 79,958 people (a rise of 1.5%), mainly driven by domestic migration gains. Idaho (1.4%) and North Carolina (1.3%) also had significant increases linked to similar factors. Texas grew by about 1.2%, supported by both natural change and international migration despite a decrease in gains from abroad.
Utah’s population rose by roughly one percent due mostly to natural change rather than international arrivals.
Overall U.S. population reached approximately 341.8 million on July 1, 2025—a much smaller increase than during the previous year when it grew by three million people or one percent.
Net international migration fell sharply—by nearly half—to around 1.3 million people between mid-2024 and mid-2025 compared with over two-and-a-half million previously; projections indicate further declines may continue into next year.
Natural change—births minus deaths—was nearly unchanged at around half a million but remains lower than figures seen before recent years.
Every U.S region saw some level of growth but at slower rates than before; notably, Southern states’ annual growth dipped below one percent for only the second time since early this decade while Northeastern states saw their smallest gain since then as well.
Five states—California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont and West Virginia—lost residents over this timeframe while thirty-three states plus Washington D.C reported more births than deaths.
Florida recorded high levels of international arrivals but saw its ranking drop for attracting new residents domestically; Alabama surpassed Florida’s net domestic migration total during this period.
Puerto Rico’s population continued its long-term decline primarily because deaths outnumbered births nearly two-to-one; there was also a reversal from positive to negative net migration compared with last year.
Recent changes to how international movement is measured now use more detailed administrative data sources along with updated projection methods for greater accuracy nationwide.
The Population Estimates Program produces annual updates based on birth records, death certificates and movement trends since each decennial census across all fifty states plus D.C., Puerto Rico and other jurisdictions.
A further release covering metropolitan areas will follow later this year under embargo according to schedules published by the Census Bureau.
Each new set of estimates revises previous numbers back to the last census using current methods so comparisons should be made within single vintages only; earlier versions are archived online.
