Introduction
Population growth in the United States varies widely from state to state, with some states experiencing tremendous growth and others remaining relatively stagnant. Over the past decade, the US population has grown at an average rate of 0.7% per year – but this figure hides a great deal of variation between states. For example, Nevada has seen a population increase of over 15% in the same time period, while Ohio and Wyoming have each only seen their populations grow by around 2.%. The difference is largely driven by economic factors such as job opportunities and cost of living; Nevada’s strong economy and booming tourism industry have made it an attractive destination for people looking to relocate. In addition, birth rates also play a role in population growth: Texas’ high birth rate has led to its population growth outpacing much of the rest of the country over the last decade. These trends are likely to continue into the future as people continue making decisions about where to settle based on economic factors, though other factors such as climate change could also come into play if they impact certain areas more than others.
| # | State | Population Growth (2022) | Percentage Change (vs. 2020) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | 15.05% | -18.21% |
| 2 | Idaho | 14.34% | -17.11% |
| 3 | Texas | 13.36% | -15.97% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 13.31% | -15.76% |
| 5 | Nevada | 12.68% | -15.47% |
| 6 | Colorado | 12.57% | -15.07% |
| 7 | Washington | 12.41% | -15% |
| 8 | Florida | 12.39% | -15.14% |
| 9 | Arizona | 10.4% | -12.61% |
| 10 | South Carolina | 9.45% | -11.68% |
| 11 | Oregon | 9.41% | -11.23% |
| 12 | Georgia | 9.38% | -11.51% |
| 13 | Delaware | 9.12% | -10.59% |
| 14 | Montana | 8.59% | -10.52% |
| 15 | North Carolina | 8.51% | -10.42% |
| 16 | South Dakota | 8.04% | -9.66% |
| 17 | Tennessee | 8.04% | -9.66% |
| 18 | Virginia | 7.2% | -8.86% |
| 19 | Minnesota | 6.96% | -8.42% |
| 20 | Nebraska | 6.8% | -8.11% |
| 21 | Massachusetts | 6.77% | -8.51% |
| 22 | Maryland | 6.45% | -7.86% |
| 23 | Hawaii | 6.44% | -8% |
| 24 | California | 5.71% | -6.39% |
| 25 | New Jersey | 5.29% | -7.19% |
| 26 | Oklahoma | 5.2% | -5.45% |
| 27 | Alabama | 4.82% | -5.49% |
| 28 | Iowa | 4.47% | -4.89% |
| 29 | Indiana | 4.41% | -6.17% |
| 30 | New Hampshire | 4.39% | -4.57% |
| 31 | Rhode Island | 4.05% | -5.81% |
| 32 | New York | 4.04% | -3.81% |
| 33 | Kentucky | 3.67% | -3.42% |
| 34 | Wisconsin | 3.48% | -3.33% |
| 35 | Arkansas | 3.15% | -4.55% |
| 36 | Alaska | 3.14% | -4.85% |
| 37 | Kansas | 2.87% | -4.33% |
| 38 | New Mexico | 2.74% | -2.14% |
| 39 | Missouri | 2.68% | -4.29% |
| 40 | Vermont | 2.68% | -4.29% |
| 41 | Louisiana | 2.66% | -1.48% |
| 42 | Maine | 2.48% | -4.62% |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | 2.3% | -4.17% |
| 44 | Wyoming | 2.28% | -0.87% |
| 45 | Ohio | 2.22% | -3.48% |
| 46 | Michigan | 1.91% | -4.5% |
| 47 | Connecticut | 0.88% | -2.22% |
| 48 | Illinois | -0.14% | 40% |
| 49 | Mississippi | -0.2% | -0% |
| 50 | West Virginia | -3.33% | 4.06% |
Population Growth by State
Alabama
4.82%
↓ 5.49%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#27
100.65 per mi²
↑ 1.15%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#27
5,097,641
↑ 1.15%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#24
Alaska
3.14%
↓ 4.85%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#36
1.3 per mi²
↑ 1.56%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#50
740,339
↑ 1.05%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#48
Arizona
10.4%
↓ 12.61%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#9
64.96 per mi²
↑ 1.47%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#32
7,379,346
↑ 1.42%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#14
Arkansas
3.15%
↓ 4.55%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#35
58.43 per mi²
↑ 0.41%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#35
3,040,207
↑ 0.47%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#33
California
5.71%
↓ 6.39%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#24
258.21 per mi²
↑ 2.57%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#11
40,223,504
↑ 2.51%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#1
Colorado
12.57%
↓ 15.07%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#6
57.86 per mi²
↑ 3.17%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#37
5,997,070
↑ 3.18%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#20
Connecticut
0.88%
↓ 2.22%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#47
746.7 per mi²
↑ 0.29%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#4
3,615,499
↑ 0.27%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#29
Delaware
9.12%
↓ 10.59%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#13
522.09 per mi²
↑ 1.39%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#6
1,017,551
↑ 1.41%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#45
Florida
12.39%
↓ 15.14%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#8
416.96 per mi²
↑ 2.7%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#8
22,359,251
↑ 2.65%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#3
Georgia
9.38%
↓ 11.51%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#12
191.59 per mi²
↑ 2.39%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#17
11,019,186
↑ 2.03%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#8
Hawaii
6.44%
↓ 8%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#23
231.01 per mi²
↑ 2.92%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#12
1,483,762
↑ 2.93%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#40
Idaho
14.34%
↓ 17.11%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#2
23.24 per mi²
↑ 1.04%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#44
1,920,562
↑ 1.03%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#38
Illinois
-0.14%
↑ 40%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#48
230.68 per mi²
↑ 1.06%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#13
12,807,072
↑ 1.07%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#6
Indiana
4.41%
↓ 6.17%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#29
191.93 per mi²
↑ 1.03%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#16
6,876,047
↑ 1.03%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#17
Iowa
4.47%
↓ 4.89%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#28
57.89 per mi²
↑ 1.26%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#36
3,233,572
↑ 1.27%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#31
Kansas
2.87%
↓ 4.33%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#37
36.24 per mi²
↑ 0.98%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#41
2,963,308
↑ 0.98%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#34
Kentucky
3.67%
↓ 3.42%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#33
115.38 per mi²
↑ 1.04%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#24
4,555,777
↑ 1.03%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#26
Louisiana
2.66%
↓ 1.48%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#41
108.67 per mi²
↑ 1.55%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#26
4,695,071
↑ 1.54%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#25
Maine
2.48%
↓ 4.62%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#42
44.5 per mi²
↑ 0.02%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#39
1,372,559
↑ 0.02%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#42
Maryland
6.45%
↓ 7.86%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#22
648.84 per mi²
↑ 2.2%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#5
6,298,325
↑ 2.16%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#18
Massachusetts
6.77%
↓ 8.51%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#21
919.82 per mi²
↑ 2.73%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#3
7,174,604
↑ 2.72%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#15
Michigan
1.91%
↓ 4.5%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#46
179.26 per mi²
↑ 0.96%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#18
10,135,438
↑ 0.84%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#10
Minnesota
6.96%
↓ 8.42%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#19
73.18 per mi²
↑ 2.09%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#30
5,827,265
↑ 2.1%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#22
Mississippi
-0.2%
- 0%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#49
63.07 per mi²
↑ 0.32%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#33
2,959,473
↑ 0.32%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#35
Missouri
2.68%
↓ 4.29%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#39
90.26 per mi²
↑ 0.6%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#28
6,204,710
↑ 0.59%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#19
Montana
8.59%
↓ 10.52%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#14
7.64 per mi²
↑ 0.66%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#48
1,112,668
↑ 0.76%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#43
Nebraska
6.8%
↓ 8.11%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#20
26.06 per mi²
↑ 1.96%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#43
2,002,052
↑ 1.95%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#37
Nevada
12.68%
↓ 15.47%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#5
29.38 per mi²
↑ 2.66%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#42
3,225,832
↑ 2.6%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#32
New Hampshire
4.39%
↓ 4.57%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#30
155.91 per mi²
↑ 0.5%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#21
1,395,847
↑ 0.49%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#41
New Jersey
5.29%
↓ 7.19%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#25
1,283.4 per mi²
↑ 1.85%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#1
9,438,124
↑ 1.85%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#11
New Mexico
2.74%
↓ 2.14%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#38
17.6 per mi²
↑ 0.92%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#45
2,135,024
↑ 0.9%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#36
New York
4.04%
↓ 3.81%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#32
433.9 per mi²
↑ 3.08%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#7
20,448,194
↑ 3.09%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#4
North Carolina
8.51%
↓ 10.42%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#15
220.3 per mi²
↑ 1.52%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#15
10,710,558
↑ 1.51%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#9
North Dakota
13.31%
↓ 15.76%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#4
11.75 per mi²
↑ 4.63%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#47
811,044
↑ 4.66%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#47
Ohio
2.22%
↓ 3.48%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#45
290.7 per mi²
↑ 0.83%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#10
11,878,330
↑ 0.83%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#7
Oklahoma
5.2%
↓ 5.45%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#26
58.63 per mi²
↑ 0.88%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#34
4,021,753
↑ 0.88%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#28
Oregon
9.41%
↓ 11.23%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#11
45.41 per mi²
↑ 2.67%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#38
4,359,110
↑ 2.66%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#27
Pennsylvania
2.3%
↓ 4.17%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#43
292.62 per mi²
↑ 0.99%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#9
13,092,796
↑ 0.99%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#5
Rhode Island
4.05%
↓ 5.81%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#31
1,074.3 per mi²
↑ 1.38%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#2
1,110,822
↑ 1.39%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#44
South Carolina
9.45%
↓ 11.68%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#10
175.19 per mi²
↑ 1.47%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#19
5,266,343
↑ 1.46%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#23
South Dakota
8.04%
↓ 9.66%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#16
11.98 per mi²
↑ 1.44%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#46
908,414
↑ 1.46%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#46
Tennessee
8.04%
↓ 9.66%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#17
171.71 per mi²
↑ 1.5%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#20
7,080,262
↑ 1.51%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#16
Texas
13.36%
↓ 15.97%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#3
116.16 per mi²
↑ 2.78%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#23
30,345,487
↑ 2.77%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#2
Utah
15.05%
↓ 18.21%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#1
41.67 per mi²
↑ 2.84%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#40
3,423,935
↑ 2.58%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#30
Vermont
2.68%
↓ 4.29%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#40
70.34 per mi²
↑ 0.43%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#31
648,279
↑ 0.42%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#49
Virginia
7.2%
↓ 8.86%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#18
223.36 per mi²
↑ 2.04%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#14
8,820,504
↑ 2.06%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#12
Washington
12.41%
↓ 15%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#7
120.37 per mi²
↑ 3.37%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#22
7,999,503
↑ 3.37%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#13
West Virginia
-3.33%
↑ 4.06%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#50
73.88 per mi²
↓ 0.38%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#29
1,775,932
↓ 0.39%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#39
Wisconsin
3.48%
↓ 3.33%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#34
109.97 per mi²
↑ 1.03%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#25
5,955,737
↑ 1.01%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#21
Wyoming
2.28%
↓ 0.87%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#44
5.98 per mi²
↑ 0.34%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#49
580,817
↑ 0.35%
Vs 2021
Ranked in the US
#50