The U.S. Census Bureau data reveals that the states of Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Texas, and Arizona experienced the most significant population growth in percentage terms among all American states from July 1, 2000, to July 1, 2023.
The data indicates that all U.S. states, with the exception of West Virginia, saw an increase in population during this period. West Virginia, also known as the Mountain State, experienced a population decline of two percent.
Professor Kenneth M. Johnson, a senior demographer at the University of New Hampshire, attributes the population change in each state to three key factors: natural growth, which occurs when the number of births surpasses the number of deaths, internal migration within the United States, and immigration from other countries.
The U.S. population increased from approximately 281 million in 2000 to about 333 million in 2023, as per the Census Bureau figures. This indicates that the American population growth remains robust, unlike in other advanced economies such as Japan and South Korea, where significant declines are anticipated due to below replacement level fertility rates and low migration.
However, the rate of immigration, including illegal immigration, into the U.S. has sparked considerable controversy. The House Committee on Homeland Security reported over 3.2 million encounters between suspected irregular migrants and law enforcement in 2023 alone.
The Census Bureau data reveals that Nevada's population surged by 58.2 percent from 2,018,741 to 3,194,176 between July 1, 2000, and July 1, 2023. The neighboring states of Utah and Idaho also witnessed significant population growth of 52.3 percent and 51.2 percent respectively, while Arizona recorded a growth of 44 percent.
"Utah generally has the highest population growth rate in the country. Its population gain is fueled by far above-average levels of natural increase due to high birth rates. It also receives significant domestic migration, but it is natural increase that is the big driver of its population gain," Johnson explained.
Several states along the southern east coast also recorded substantial population growth. Florida's population increased by 40.9 percent, North Carolina and Georgia by 34.1 percent, and South Carolina by 33.5 percent. Texas also recorded a remarkable growth of 45.6 percent.
Johnson further elaborated, "Domestic migration also has fueled most of North and South Carolina's population gain. Both states also have average levels of natural increase, plus modest increases from immigration. Georgia has a similar growth pattern to North Carolina and South Carolina. It has above average levels of natural increase as well as significant migration gains fueled mostly by migration from other parts of the U.S."
The increase in Florida's population was primarily attributed to internal migration, particularly among retirees. Johnson stated, "Florida has had relatively modest levels of natural increase, in part because its population is older. Florida's substantial population gain was fueled primarily by migrationmost of it domestic migration, though Florida also receives significant [outside] immigration."
On the other end of the spectrum, West Virginia's population declined by two percent, while the smallest population increases were recorded by Michigan and Illinois at 0.9 percent, Louisiana at 2.3 percent, and New York at three percent.
"Between 2000-2023, 66,000 more people died than were born in West Virginia...[the state] has had a very modest gain from domestic migration recently and during the '00-'10 decade, otherwise, its population loss would have been even greater," Johnson noted.
California was the 29th fastest-growing state in the period in percentage terms, with its population increasing by 14.6 percent.
Johnson also highlighted the significant impact of the Great Recession on American demographics. He stated, "The Great Recession had a significant impact on U.S. demographic change during the period from roughly 2008-2015. Economists might say that the Great Recession ended in 2010, but demographers would say that its impact continued well into the 2010s. In fact, the fertility declines that began in 2008 continue to this day."
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