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.
Misc
Comparing Population Pyramids Around the World
Population pyramids can show a country’s demographic advantages and challenges at a glance. See how different parts of the world stack up.

Understanding and Comparing Population Pyramids
Demographic data can reveal all kinds of insights about a population, from the country’s fertility and mortality rates to how certain events and policies have shaped the makeup of a population.
Population pyramids are one of the best ways to visualize population data, and comparing the pyramids of various countries and regions side-by-side can reveal unexpected insights and differences between groups.
This graphic uses population data from the United Nations to compare the demographics of some select nations and regions of the world, showcasing how much age distributions can vary.
Three Types of Population Pyramids
Although population pyramids can come in all shapes and sizes, most generally fall into three distinct categories:
- Expansive Pyramids: Recognized by their traditional “pyramid-like” shape with a broad base and narrow top, expansive pyramids reflect a population with a high birth rate along with a high mortality rate which is most common in developing countries.
- Constrictive Pyramids: With a narrow base and thicker middle and top sections of the pyramid, constrictive pyramids often occur in developed economies whose populations have low birth rates and long life expectancies.
- Stationary Pyramids: These pyramids showcase an evenly distributed population across age groups, often found in newly-developed countries which have stable birth and mortality rates.
Each population pyramid is essentially a visual snapshot of a nation’s current demographic breakdown, shaped by fluctuating birth and mortality rates as well as changes to immigration and social policies.
Understanding the inherent risks associated with different pyramid types can help give insight into the challenges these populations face.
The Risks of Different Population Pyramid Types
Each type of population pyramid structure has unique challenges and advantages often characterized by the country or region’s current stage of economic development.
Populations with expansive pyramids, such as the one representing the continent of Africa, have the advantage of a larger youth and working-aged population, however this advantage can be rendered null if job growth, education, and health care aren’t prioritized.
Countries with constrictive pyramids like Japan face the challenge of supporting their outsized aging population with a diminishing working-aged population. While immigration and increasing birth rates can help in both the short and long term, due to the working population being outnumbered, countries with constrictive pyramids must find ways to increase their productivity to avoid potential declines in economic growth.
China and India’s Demographics Compared
After the world’s population reached eight billion people last year, 2023 brought a new population milestone as India overtook China as the world’s most populous country.
When you compare the two nations’ population pyramids, you can see how India’s population has a strong base of young and working-aged people compared to China’s more constrictive population pyramid that also features a higher median age.
This demographic difference is largely shaped by China’s one-child policy which since 2021 was loosened to be a three-child policy. As a result, China’s total fertility rate is around 1.2 today, in contrast to India’s total fertility rate of 2.0.
While India is set to ride the productivity boom of its large working-age population, the country will have to ensure it can keep its population pyramid stable as the majority of the population ages and total fertility rates continue to decline.
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Interested in learning more about the various factors that affect demographics?
VC+ Members get an exclusive look comparing the G7 and BRICS nations, how war shapes population pyramids, and immigration’s role in demographics. Unlock this in-depth briefing and hundreds of other visual insights with our newly available VC+ Archive. |
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