Demographics
Interactive: How the U.S. Population Has Changed in 10 Years, by State
U.S. Population Change in the Last Decade, by State
The U.S. is the third most-populated country in the world, behind only two Asian giants of China and India respectively. But within the country, a lot can change in 10 years, and populations are especially mutable in nature.
As people moved in and out of certain areas for both lifestyle and economic reasons, which U.S. state populations fluctuated the most?
Drawing from the latest Census Bureau data, we look at how each state’s resident populations evolved over the past decade. But first, a blast from the past.
Historical Trends: U.S. Population Since the 1930s
Population growth trends in the U.S. have been closely tied to the economic ebbs and flows experienced by the nation. In one stark example, the country’s 10-year population growth rate plummeted to just 7.3% due to the Great Depression.
This was later offset by the post-WWII “Baby Boom”, during which birth rates soared once more, bumping up the population 10-year growth rate to 18.5% in the 1950s. The Baby Boomer generation now wields the most influence over the U.S. economy and society thanks to the favorable economic conditions in which they were born.
However, U.S. population growth rates recently hit new lows—the slower pace in the 2010s is rivalling that of the 1930s. According to Brookings, there area few factors at play:
- Falling fertility rate
- An increase in deaths (aging population, overdose deaths)
- Lower immigration rate
With all this in mind, how does the current landscape of the U.S. population by state look?
The Entire U.S. Population by State in 2020
The U.S. experienced 7.4% population growth between 2010-2020, which equates to the addition of 22.7 million people.
An impressive one-tenth of this growth occurred in California, and it remains the most populous state, rising above 39.5 million people in 2020. The SoCal megaregion—Los Angeles and San Diego—alone contributes more than $1.4 trillion to global economic output.
Area | 2020 Census Resident Population | Numeric Change (2010-2020) | % Change (2010-2020) |
---|---|---|---|
Alabama | 5,024,279 | 244,543 | 5.1% |
Alaska | 733,391 | 23,160 | 3.3% |
Arizona | 7,151,502 | 759,485 | 11.9% |
Arkansas | 3,011,524 | 95,606 | 3.3% |
California | 39,538,223 | 2,284,267 | 6.1% |
Colorado | 5,773,714 | 744,518 | 14.8% |
Connecticut | 3,605,944 | 31,847 | 0.9% |
Delaware | 989,948 | 92,014 | 10.2% |
District of Columbia (Territory) | 689,545 | 87,822 | 14.6% |
Florida | 21,538,187 | 2,736,877 | 14.6% |
Georgia | 10,711,908 | 1,024,255 | 10.6% |
Hawaii | 1,455,271 | 94,970 | 7.0% |
Idaho | 1,839,106 | 271,524 | 17.3% |
Illinois | 12,812,508 | -18,124 | -0.1% |
Indiana | 6,785,528 | 301,726 | 4.7% |
Iowa | 3,190,369 | 144,014 | 4.7% |
Kansas | 2,937,880 | 84,762 | 3.0% |
Kentucky | 4,505,836 | 166,469 | 3.8% |
Louisiana | 4,657,757 | 124,385 | 2.7% |
Maine | 1,362,359 | 33,998 | 2.6% |
Maryland | 6,177,224 | 403,672 | 7.0% |
Massachusetts | 7,029,917 | 482,288 | 7.4% |
Michigan | 10,077,331 | 193,691 | 2.0% |
Minnesota | 5,706,494 | 402,569 | 7.6% |
Mississippi | 2,961,279 | -6,018 | -0.2% |
Missouri | 6,154,913 | 165,986 | 2.8% |
Montana | 1,084,225 | 94,810 | 9.6% |
Nebraska | 1,961,504 | 135,163 | 7.4% |
Nevada | 3,104,614 | 404,063 | 15.0% |
New Hampshire | 1,377,529 | 61,059 | 4.6% |
New Jersey | 9,288,994 | 497,100 | 5.7% |
New Mexico | 2,117,522 | 58,343 | 2.8% |
New York | 20,201,249 | 823,147 | 4.2% |
North Carolina | 10,439,388 | 903,905 | 9.5% |
North Dakota | 779,094 | 106,503 | 15.8% |
Ohio | 11,799,448 | 262,944 | 2.3% |
Oklahoma | 3,959,353 | 208,002 | 5.5% |
Oregon | 4,237,256 | 406,182 | 10.6% |
Pennsylvania | 13,002,700 | 300,321 | 2.4% |
Puerto Rico (Territory) | 3,285,874 | -439,915 | -11.8% |
Rhode Island | 1,097,379 | 44,812 | 4.3% |
South Carolina | 5,118,425 | 493,061 | 10.7% |
South Dakota | 886,667 | 72,487 | 8.9% |
Tennessee | 6,910,840 | 564,735 | 8.9% |
Texas | 29,145,505 | 3,999,944 | 15.9% |
Utah | 3,271,616 | 507,731 | 18.4% |
Vermont | 643,077 | 17,336 | 2.8% |
Virginia | 8,631,393 | 630,369 | 7.9% |
Washington | 7,705,281 | 980,741 | 14.6% |
West Virginia | 1,793,716 | -59,278 | -3.2% |
Wisconsin | 5,893,718 | 206,732 | 3.6% |
Wyoming | 576,851 | 13,225 | 2.3% |
U.S. Total | 331,449,281 | 22,703,743 | 7.4% |
*Note: U.S. total and 10-year percentage change includes District of Columbia but excludes Puerto Rico
Overall, there’s been a significant shift in population towards the Sun Belt region (stretching from Southeast to Southwest), where 62% of the U.S. now resides. Let’s take a closer look at the biggest gainers and decliners over time.
Gainers: Utah, Texas
Utah saw the quickest population growth rate of 18.4% in the last decade. Drawn in by strong economic prospects, net migration into the state is balancing out a decline in births. What’s interesting is that 80% of Utah’s population is concentrated in the Wasatch Front – a metro area anchored by Salt Lake City and the chain of cities and towns running north and south of Utah’s largest city.
A little further south, Texas swelled by almost 4 million residents in the last 10 years. Much of this growth took place in the “Texas Triangle”, which contains Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin. This booming region of the country contributes over $1.2 trillion to global economic output.
Decliners: West Virginia, Puerto Rico
West Virginia lost the most people in a decade, seeing a numeric population decline of 59,278. This may be explained by an aging population—16% of West Virginians are 65 years old and above.
When territories are also taken into account, Puerto Rico saw the biggest percentage decline of 11.8%, or close to 44,000 people over 10 years. Many of them moved into the mainland, and especially into Florida, after two hurricanes hit the island in 2017.
Full Speed Ahead: States Competing On Forward Momentum
By 2025, California will be home to five of the fastest-growing urban U.S. cities. The unstoppable growth of the tech industry in Silicon Valley is partly behind this, as many people flock to the West Coast to fill the shoes of highly skilled jobs required.
But could Silicon Valley one day lose its steam? Current and projected population growth in Texas is bolstering its tech potential too—in fact, it’s been dubbed the next “Silicon Hills”, with many tech companies from SpaceX to Oracle choosing to camp out in Austin instead.
Demographics
Mapped: A Decade of Population Growth and Decline in U.S. Counties
This map shows which counties in the U.S. have seen the most growth, and which places have seen their populations dwindle in the last 10 years.

A Decade of Population Growth and Decline in U.S. Counties
There are a number of factors that determine how much a region’s population changes.
If an area sees a high number of migrants, along with a strong birth rate and low death rate, then its population is bound to increase over time. On the flip side, if more people are leaving the area than coming in, and the region’s birth rate is low, then its population will likely decline.
Which areas in the United States are seeing the most growth, and which places are seeing their populations dwindle?
This map, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, shows a decade of population movement across U.S. counties, painting a detailed picture of U.S. population growth between 2010 and 2020.
Counties With The Biggest Population Growth from 2010-2020
To calculate population estimates for each county, the U.S. Census Bureau does the following calculations:
From 2010 to 2020, Maricopa County in Arizona saw the highest increase in its population estimate. Over a decade, the county gained 753,898 residents. Below are the counties that saw the biggest increases in population:
Rank | County | Point of Reference | State | Pop. Growth (2010–2020) |
---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | Maricopa County | Phoenix, Scottsdale | Arizona | +753,898 |
#2 | Harris County | Houston | Texas | +630,711 |
#3 | Clark County | Las Vegas | Nevada | +363,323 |
#4 | King County | Seattle | Washington | +335,884 |
#5 | Tarrant County | Fort Worth, Arlington | Texas | +305,180 |
#6 | Bexar County | San Antonio | Texas | +303,982 |
#7 | Riverside County | Riverside, Palm Springs | California | +287,626 |
#8 | Collin County | Plano | Texas | +284,967 |
#9 | Travis County | Austin | Texas | +270,111 |
#10 | Hillsborough County | Tampa | Florida | +264,446 |
Phoenix and surrounding areas grew faster than any other major city in the country. The region’s sunny climate and amenities are popular with retirees, but another draw is housing affordability. Families from more expensive markets—California in particular—are moving to the city in droves. This is a trend that spilled over into the pandemic era as more people moved into remote and hybrid work situations.
Texas counties saw a lot of growth as well, with five of the top 10 gainers located in the state of Texas. A big draw for Texas is its relatively affordable housing market. In 2021, average home prices in the state stood at $172,500—$53,310 below the national average.
Counties With The Biggest Population Drops from 2010-2020
On the opposite end of the spectrum, here’s a look at the top 10 counties that saw the biggest declines in their populations over the decade:
Rank | County | Point of Reference | State | Pop. Growth (2010–2020) |
---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | Cook County | Chicago | Illinois | -90,693 |
#2 | Wayne County | Detroit | Michigan | -74,224 |
#3 | Cuyahoga County | Cleveland | Ohio | -50,220 |
#4 | Genesee County | Flint | Michigan | -20,165 |
#5 | Suffolk County | Long Island | New York | -20,064 |
#6 | Caddo Parish | Shreveport | Louisiana | -18,173 |
#7 | Westmoreland County | Murrysville | Pennsylvania | -17,942 |
#8 | Hinds County | Jackson | Mississippi | -17,751 |
#9 | Kanawha County | Charleston | West Virginia | -16,672 |
#10 | Cambria County | Johnstown | Pennsylvania | -14,786 |
The largest drops happened in counties along the Great Lakes, including Cook County (which includes the city of Chicago) and Wayne County (which includes the city of Detroit).
For many of these counties, particularly those in America’s “Rust Belt”, population drops over this period were a continuation of decades-long trends. Wayne County is an extreme example of this trend. From 1970 to 2020, the area lost one-third of its population.
U.S. Population Growth in Percentage Terms (2010-2020)
While the map above is great at showing where the greatest number of Americans migrated, it downplays big changes in counties with smaller populations.
For example, McKenzie County in North Dakota, with a 2020 population of just 15,242, was the fastest-growing U.S. county over the past decade. The county’s 138% increase was driven primarily by the Bakken oil boom in the area. High-growth counties in Texas also grew as new sources of energy were extracted in rural areas.
The nation’s counties are evenly divided between population increase and decline, and clear patterns emerge.
Pandemic Population Changes
More recent population changes reflect longer-term trends. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the counties that saw the strongest population increases were located in high-growth states like Florida and Texas.
Below are the 20 counties that grew the most from 2020 to 2021.
Rank | County | Point of Reference | State | Pop. Growth (2020–2021) |
---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | Maricopa County | Phoenix | Arizona | +58,246 |
#2 | Collin County | Plano | Texas | +36,313 |
#3 | Riverside County | Riverside, Palm Springs | California | +35,631 |
#4 | Fort Bend County | Sugar Land | Texas | +29,895 |
#5 | Williamson County | Georgetown | Texas | +27,760 |
#6 | Denton County | Denton | Texas | +27,747 |
#7 | Polk County | Lakeland | Florida | +24,287 |
#8 | Montgomery County | The Woodlands | Texas | +23,948 |
#9 | Lee County | Fort Myers | Florida | +23,297 |
#10 | Utah County | Provo | Utah | +21,843 |
#11 | Pinal County | San Tan Valley | Arizona | +19,974 |
#12 | Clark County | Las Vegas | Nevada | +19,090 |
#13 | Pasco County | New Port Richey | Florida | +18,322 |
#14 | Wake County | Raleigh | North Carolina | +16,651 |
#15 | St. Johns County | St. Augustine | Florida | +15,550 |
#16 | Hillsborough County | Tampa | Florida | +14,814 |
#17 | Bexar County | San Antonio | Texas | +14,184 |
#18 | Ada County | Boise | Idaho | +13,947 |
#19 | Osceola County | Kissimmee | Florida | +12,427 |
#20 | St. Lucie County | Fort Pierce | Florida | +12,304 |
Many of these counties are located next to large cities, reflecting a shift to the suburbs and larger living spaces. However, as COVID-19 restrictions ease, and the pandemic housing boom tapers off due to rising interest rates, it remains to be seen whether the suburban shift will continue, or if people begin to migrate back to city centers.
Money
Mapping the Migration of the World’s Millionaires
This graphic maps out the migration of millionaires across the globe, showing the top 10 countries the ultra-rich are moving to and from.

Mapping the Migration of the World’s Millionaires
Throughout 2022, a projected 88,000 millionaires will move to a new country, according to the latest Henley Global Citizens Report.
Which countries are these millionaires moving to, and where in the world are they coming from?
This graphic maps the migration of high net worth individuals (HNWIs)—people with a net worth of over US$1 million—showing where rich people are flocking, and where they’re fleeing.
Migration of Millionaires is Back
Before diving into the country-specific data, it’s worth taking a step back to look at overall millionaire migration trends, and how things are changing this year.
2020 saw a drastic drop in the number of millionaire migrants, as pandemic-induced lockdowns kept people from leaving their home countries—and at times, their homes in general.
But as restrictions ease and countries begin to open up their borders again, the migration of millionaires is beginning to gather steam once again:
Year | # of HNWIs that migrated | Y-o-y change |
---|---|---|
2018 | 108,000 | 14% |
2019 | 110,000 | 2% |
2020 | 12,000 | -89% |
2021 | 25,000 | 108% |
2022P | 88,000 | 252% |
2023P | 125,000 | 42% |
Below, we’ll dive into which countries are seeing the highest number of HNWI migrants, and which ones are losing the most HNWIs.
Which Countries Are Millionaires Leaving?
There are a plethora of reasons why the ultra-rich move countries. Escaping conflict is one of them, which is why it’s no surprise to see Russia and Ukraine are projected to see some of the biggest emigration numbers by the end of 2022.
Here are the top 10 countries by millionaire outflows:
Country | Projected net outflows of HNWIs (2022) | % of HNWIs lost |
---|---|---|
🇷🇺 Russia | 15,000 | 15% |
🇨🇳 China | 10,000 | 1% |
🇮🇳 India | 8,000 | 2% |
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | 3,000 | 2% |
🇺🇦 Ukraine | 2,800 | 42% |
🇧🇷 Brazil | 2,500 | 2% |
🇬🇧 UK | 1,500 | 0% |
🇲🇽 Mexico | 800 | 0% |
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 600 | 1% |
🇮🇩 Indonesia | 600 | 1% |
Figures rounded to the nearest 100.
While Russia is expected to see 15,000 millionaires leaving the country, Ukraine is projected to experience the highest loss in percentage terms—a whopping 42% of its HNWIs could leave the country by the end of 2022.
China could also see a big loss in its millionaire population, with a projected loss of 10,000.
According to Andrew Amoils, Head of Research at New World Wealth, this could be more damaging to the country than in previous years, since general wealth growth in China has declined recently.
Where Are The Ultra-Rich Moving?
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become a millionaire magnet, with a projected 4,000 HNWIs flowing into the country by the end of 2022. This influx of ultra-wealthy people is partly because of the country’s accommodating immigration policies that are specially tailored to attract private wealth and international talent.
Here are the top 10 countries that saw millionaire inflows:
Country | Projected net inflows of HNWIs (2022) | % of HNWI Gained |
---|---|---|
🇦🇪 UAE | 4,000 | 4% |
🇦🇺 Australia | 3,500 | 1% |
🇸🇬 Singapore | 2,800 | 1% |
🇮🇱 Israel | 2,500 | 2% |
🇺🇸 USA | 1,500 | 0% |
🇵🇹 Portugal | 1,300 | 2% |
🇬🇷 Greece | 1,200 | 3% |
🇨🇦 Canada | 1,000 | 0% |
🇳🇿 New Zealand | 800 | 1% |
Australia continues to attract HNWIs, coming in second behind the UAE. According to New World Wealth, approximately 80,000 millionaires have moved to the Land Down Under in the last two decades.
A few things that attract migrants to Australia are the country’s low costs of healthcare, its lack of inheritance tax, and its generally prosperous economy.
Where does this data come from?
Source: Henley Global Citizens Report 2022
Data notes: As countries reopen, and the invasion of Ukraine wears on, this will have ripple effects on where people choose to live. There are two main things to keep in mind when view the information above. 1) Individuals need to remain in a country for six months in order to be updated in the database. In many cases, it’s not yet clear where people leaving certain countries choosing to relocate. 2) In the graphic above, we’ve visualized the top 10 countries for inflows and outflows.
Update: This article and graphic have been updated to more clearly explain what’s being shown, and list the data source in a more prominent way. We appreciate your feedback.
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