Several Southern states were in the top 10 for population growth in 2022, while the number of residents in Northeast and Midwestern states continues to dwindle.
The South was the fastest-growing region between 2021 and 2022 by 1.1%, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Thursday. Six of the top 10 states with the fastest-growing populations were from the South, with Texas and Florida at No. 1 and 2 respectively.
US INCOMES FELL SLIGHTLY IN 2021, NEW CENSUS DATA SHOW
The overall U.S. population grew by 1,256,003, or 0.4% — a return to pre-pandemic growth, according to the census. The total population of the United States sits at around 333,287,557.
“There was a sizable uptick in population growth last year compared to the prior year’s historically low increase,” said Kristie Wilder, a demographer in the Population Division at the Census Bureau. “A rebound in net international migration, coupled with the largest year-over-year increase in total births since 2007, is behind this increase.”
The rise in population among Southern states is largely due to domestic and international migration, which was responsible for 1,282,675 residents.
Texas and Florida’s growth in population is about 300,000 residents more than the other top 10 states, with Texas seeing 470,708 new residents and Florida with 416,754.
Florida was the largest state to grow by percentage at 1.9%, followed by Idaho at 1.8%, South Carolina at 1.7%, and Texas at 1.6%.
“While Florida has often been among the largest-gaining states, this was the first time since 1957 that Florida has been the state with the largest percent increase in population,” Wilder said.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia saw positive net international migration, with California, Florida, and Texas seeing the largest gains.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
On the other side, the Northeast and Midwest lost residents in 2022. New York, Illinois, and Louisiana saw the biggest percentage decline in 2022. No states shrunk by more than 1 percentage point.
The Census Bureau expects to release estimates of the 2022 population for counties, towns, and cities next year, as well as estimates based on sex, race, and Hispanic origin, per the organization.
