The United States population grew by 3.3 million people this year, the highest increase in more than two decades, driven primarily by immigration. This population increase marked the sharpest annual growth since 2001, bringing the total population to 340 million. International migration accounted for 84% of the population growth, with 2.8 million people moving to the U.S. legally and illegally. The U.S. Census Bureau attributed the growth to improved data sources on immigration. Births also contributed to the surge, outnumbering deaths by 519,000, rebounding from the lows of 2021.
The South remained the fastest-growing region, adding 1.8 million people, largely due to immigration. Texas and Florida saw the highest gains from immigration, with 562,941 and 467,347 new residents, respectively. Despite people leaving states with major cities such as California and New York, the exodus was less pronounced as Americans shifted towards midsize cities and smaller towns for affordability, especially with the rise of remote work during the pandemic.
President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally loomed as a potential challenge to the growth brought by international migration. Despite some states experiencing overall losses in population, the general trend of immigration and births driving population growth continues, with 33 states and the District of Columbia seeing more births than deaths. The latest census data highlights the shifting demographics and migration patterns within the United States in recent years.
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