Population growth in the United States slowed considerably between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. The country’s population increased by only 1.8 million people, or 0.5%, during this period. This marks the slowest growth since the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
Christine Hartley, assistant division chief for Estimates and Projections at the Census Bureau, attributed this slowdown mainly to a sharp decline in net international migration. “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,” Hartley said. “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 impact was seen across all four census regions and nearly every state except Montana and West Virginia, which did not experience slower growth or an accelerated decline.
The Midwest was notable as all its states gained population during this time frame. After declines earlier in the decade, it posted solid gains: 259,938 people in 2023; 386,231 in 2024; and 244,385 in 2025. Slight increases in natural change (births minus deaths) contributed to these results.
Marc Perry, senior demographer at the Census Bureau, highlighted another shift: “From July 2024 through June 2025, the Midwest also saw positive net domestic migration for the first time this decade,” he said. “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 reversed previous trends of losing residents through domestic migration.
South Carolina led all states with a population increase of about 80,000 people (1.5%), driven mostly by net domestic migration gains of over 66,000 residents. Idaho (1.4%) and North Carolina (1.3%) followed closely behind for percentage growth rates due to similar factors. Texas grew by about 1.2%, fueled by both natural change and international migration despite slower gains from abroad than before.
Utah’s growth rate reached about one percent—mainly due to natural change—as its international migration slowed compared to last year.
Overall national trends show that between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025:
– Net international migration fell sharply from the previous year’s total of nearly three million to just over one million.
– If current patterns persist into next year (July 2025–July 2026), net international migration could drop further by nearly one million.
– Natural change added about half a million people—similar to last year but well below levels seen before recent years.
All four major U.S regions experienced population increases but at reduced rates compared with previous years.
– The South’s growth dipped below one percent for only the second time since at least early this decade.
– The Northeast had its largest slowdown: dropping from an annual rate of eight-tenths of a percent last year to two-tenths this year.
Most states saw their populations rise during this period; only California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont and West Virginia lost residents.
Thirty-three states plus Washington D.C. had more births than deaths—a slight increase over last year but much higher than during pandemic lows.
Net international migration decreased everywhere but remained positive overall; Florida led with almost 179 thousand new arrivals from abroad but saw a steep drop-off domestically compared with prior years.
Alabama surpassed Florida for net domestic arrivals during this period.
Puerto Rico continued its long-term trend of population loss—down nearly eighteen thousand people (0.6%). Deaths on the island outnumbered births by almost two-to-one; negative net migration replaced last year’s brief gain.
The latest figures incorporate improved data methods using additional administrative sources at subnational levels as well as updates to short-term projections.
These annual estimates are based on ongoing analysis of birth records, death certificates and both domestic/international movement since completion of each decennial census—the most recent being conducted nationwide in April 2020.
A more detailed breakdown covering metropolitan areas will be released later this spring under embargo conditions; future releases will continue revising past estimates based on updated methodologies.
