The U.S. population witnessed its most significant growth in 23 years, reaching over 340 million residents, propelled primarily by immigration, according to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The annual growth rate approached 1% for the year, marking the highest level of increase since 2001. This comes in stark contrast to the record low growth of 0.2% experienced in 2021 amidst stringent pandemic-related travel restrictions.
In 2024, immigration rose by nearly 2.8 million individuals, with a new counting method acknowledging the arrival of those admitted for humanitarian purposes. International migration alone accounted for 84% of the overall population increase of 3.3 million from 2023 to 2024.
Between 2023 and 2024, the number of births surpassed deaths by approximately 519,000, signifying a recovery from the low of just 146,000 in 2021, though still considerably below the figures seen in previous decades.
The effects of immigration were significant not only on a national scale but also at the state level. In fact, 16 states experienced population growth entirely due to immigration, counterbalancing losses from residents moving out or deaths exceeding births. According to William Frey, a demographer with The Brookings Institution, immigration has proven to be a crucial factor in fostering population increases in various regions facing stagnant growth or decline.
In 2024, the South continued to lead the nation in population growth, contributing 1.8 million new residents—more than all other regions combined. Notably, Texas saw the highest increase with 562,941 new residents, followed closely by Florida, which grew by 467,347 individuals. The District of Columbia recorded the fastest growth rate in the country at 2.2%.
While three states—Mississippi, Vermont, and West Virginia—experienced minor population declines in 2024, losing between 127 to 516 residents, there was a noticeable decrease in migration from coastal urban areas like California and New York to the burgeoning Sunbelt states. Interestingly, both California and New York saw population increases in 2024, with gains of 232,570 and 129,881 individuals, respectively, largely attributed to immigration.
The continued migration to the South has resulted in a significant shift in the U.S. population center, moving southward after decades of a southwest drift, which has implications for the demographic landscape of the country, according to urban planner Alex Zakrewsky.
In terms of the youth population, the number of children declined from 73.3 million in 2023 to 73.1 million in 2024.
The methodology for estimating international migration numbers now includes individuals entering the country under humanitarian parole, a process that has been utilized for 70 years across different presidential administrations. The Migration Policy Institute indicated that over 5.8 million individuals were admitted via various humanitarian policies from 2021 to 2024.
Gathering accurate numbers for new immigrants poses challenges for the Census Bureau’s annual estimates. The recent methodological adjustments coincide with the expected return of former President Donald Trump, who has stated intentions to enforce mass deportations of illegal immigrants. The Census Bureau’s immigration figures for 2023 differed significantly from those reported by other federal agencies, estimating 1.1 million immigrants compared to the Congressional Budget Office’s higher estimate of 3.3 million. After revising its calculation method, last year’s immigration numbers were recalibrated by the Census Bureau to approximately 2.3 million.
Past surveys by the Census Bureau primarily captured immigrants residing in address-registered households, inadvertently omitting many who arrived for humanitarian reasons, as it often takes them time to establish stable living conditions. Demographer Jennifer Van Hook noted that immigration patterns have evolved, with increased numbers of individuals seeking asylum from across the globe.
