Special Report
This Is America's Fastest Shrinking State
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Last Updated:
A new U.S. Census Bureau study presents extraordinary population figures. The Census’ Vintage 2021 report shows that America’s population rose by only 0.1%, or 392,665, between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021. That is the lowest rate since the United States was founded.
Population growth figures vary between states, with some growing and some shrinking. The fastest shrinking state in America is New York.
The Census report indicates that several factors contributed to the slow population growth. The most obvious is the more than 800,000 deaths caused by COVID-19. Other reasons are a lower number of immigrants and a drop in fertility.
Kristie Wilder, a demographer in the Population Division at the Census Bureau, commented: “Population growth has been slowing for years because of lower birth rates and decreasing net international migration, all while mortality rates are rising due to the aging of the nation’s population.” (This is how many people are still alive from the year you were born.)
The study also includes state data, showing population changes both by absolute numbers and percentages. The population of Texas increased over the period by 310,228, the most of any state. It is currently the second largest state by population. Florida, the third largest state by population, had the second largest increase in the period, gaining 211,196. It was followed by Arizona with a 98,330 increase.
The states with the largest decline in absolute population were New York, with a population decrease of 319,020, California, with a decline of 261,902, and Illinois, with a population decline of 113,776. The years of California’s rapid population growth appear to be behind it, although it remains the largest state by population. (Not New York, but another state had the biggest population drop in the past 10 years.)
Based on percentage changes, New York is the fastest shrinking state in America. Its population declined by 1.6% over the measured period. No other state had a population drop of more than 1%. The Census researchers said the decrease in New York was largely due to “negative domestic migration,” which fell 352,185.
Click here to see this is America’s fastest shrinking state
Idaho
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 2.88% — or an increase of 53,151 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 1,847,772 — 13th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 1,900,923 — 13th lowest
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Utah
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 1.72% — or an increase of 56,291 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 3,281,684 — 21st lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 3,337,975 — 21st lowest
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Montana
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 1.66% — or an increase of 18,078 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 1,086,193 — 7th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 1,104,271 — 8th lowest
Arizona
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 1.37% — or an increase of 98,330 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 7,177,986 — 14th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 7,276,316 — 14th highest
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South Carolina
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 1.17% — or an increase of 59,976 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 5,130,729 — 23rd highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 5,190,705 — 23rd highest
Delaware
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 1.16% — or an increase of 11,498 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 991,886 — 6th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 1,003,384 — 6th lowest
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Texas
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 1.06% — or an increase of 310,288 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 29,217,653 — 2nd highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 29,527,941 — 2nd highest
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Florida
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.98% — or an increase of 211,196 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 21,569,932 — 3rd highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 21,781,128 — 3rd highest
Nevada
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.96% — or an increase of 29,920 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 3,114,071 — 19th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 3,143,991 — 19th lowest
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South Dakota
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.93% — or an increase of 8,277 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 887,099 — 5th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 895,376 — 5th lowest
North Carolina
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.90% — or an increase of 93,985 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 10,457,177 — 9th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 10,551,162 — 9th highest
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New Hampshire
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.81% — or an increase of 11,144 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 1,377,848 — 10th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 1,388,992 — 10th lowest
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Tennessee
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.80% — or an increase of 55,099 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 6,920,119 — 16th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 6,975,218 — 16th highest
Maine
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.73% — or an increase of 9,967 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 1,362,280 — 9th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 1,372,247 — 9th lowest
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Georgia
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.69% — or an increase of 73,766 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 10,725,800 — 8th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 10,799,566 — 8th highest
Oklahoma
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.62% — or an increase of 24,608 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 3,962,031 — 23rd lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 3,986,639 — 23rd lowest
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Colorado
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.48% — or an increase of 27,761 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 5,784,308 — 21st highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 5,812,069 — 21st highest
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Vermont
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.48% — or an increase of 3,075 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 642,495 — 2nd lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 645,570 — 2nd lowest
Arkansas
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.45% — or an increase of 13,659 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 3,012,232 — 18th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 3,025,891 — 18th lowest
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Alabama
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.30% — or an increase of 15,074 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 5,024,803 — 24th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 5,039,877 — 24th highest
Indiana
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.30% — or an increase of 20,341 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 6,785,644 — 17th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 6,805,985 — 17th highest
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Wyoming
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.27% — or an increase of 1,536 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 577,267 — the lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 578,803 — the lowest
Washington
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.26% — or an increase of 19,907 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 7,718,785 — 13th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 7,738,692 — 13th highest
Missouri
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.22% — or an increase of 13,706 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 6,154,481 — 19th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 6,168,187 — 18th highest
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Connecticut
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.15% — or an increase of 5,337 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 3,600,260 — 22nd lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 3,605,597 — 22nd lowest
Iowa
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.14% — or an increase of 4,410 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 3,188,669 — 20th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 3,193,079 — 20th lowest
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Kentucky
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.12% — or an increase of 5,436 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 4,503,958 — 25th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 4,509,394 — 25th lowest
Virginia
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.12% — or an increase of 10,230 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 8,632,044 — 12th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 8,642,274 — 12th highest
Nebraska
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.11% — or an increase of 2,237 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 1,961,455 — 14th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 1,963,692 — 14th lowest
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Oregon
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.11% — or an increase of 4,611 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 4,241,544 — 24th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 4,246,155 — 24th lowest
Wisconsin
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.06% — or an increase of 3,585 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 5,892,323 — 20th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 5,895,908 — 20th highest
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Alaska
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.03% — or an increase of 232 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 732,441 — 3rd lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 732,673 — 3rd lowest
Minnesota
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: 0.004% — or an increase of 225 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 5,707,165 — 22nd highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 5,707,390 — 22nd highest
Kansas
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -0.04% — or a decrease of 1,298 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 2,935,880 — 16th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 2,934,582 — 16th lowest
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Rhode Island
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -0.06% — or a decrease of 619 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 1,096,229 — 8th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 1,095,610 — 7th lowest
New Mexico
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -0.08% — or a decrease of 1,689 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 2,117,566 — 15th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 2,115,877 — 15th lowest
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Ohio
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -0.09% — or a decrease of 10,570 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 11,790,587 — 7th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 11,780,017 — 7th highest
Maryland
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -0.12% — or a decrease of 7,550 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 6,172,679 — 18th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 6,165,129 — 19th highest
New Jersey
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -0.14% — or a decrease of 12,613 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 9,279,743 — 11th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 9,267,130 — 11th highest
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Michigan
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -0.17% — or a decrease of 16,853 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 10,067,664 — 10th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 10,050,811 — 10th highest
Pennsylvania
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -0.20% — or a decrease of 25,569 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 12,989,625 — 5th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 12,964,056 — 5th highest
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Mississippi
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -0.23% — or a decrease of 6,905 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 2,956,870 — 17th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 2,949,965 — 17th lowest
West Virginia
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -0.38% — or a decrease of 6,839 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 1,789,798 — 12th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 1,782,959 — 12th lowest
North Dakota
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -0.52% — or a decrease of 4,014 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 778,962 — 4th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 774,948 — 4th lowest
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Massachusetts
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -0.53% — or a decrease of 37,497 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 7,022,220 — 15th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 6,984,723 — 15th highest
Louisiana
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -0.58% — or a decrease of 27,156 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 4,651,203 — 25th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 4,624,047 — 25th highest
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California
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -0.66% — or a decrease of 261,902 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 39,499,738 — the highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 39,237,836 — the highest
Hawaii
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -0.71% — or a decrease of 10,358 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 1,451,911 — 11th lowest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 1,441,553 — 11th lowest
Illinois
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -0.89% — or a decrease of 113,776 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 12,785,245 — 6th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 12,671,469 — 6th highest
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New York
> Pct. population change, July 1, 2020 – July 1, 2021: -1.58% — or a decrease of 319,020 people
> Population as of July 1, 2020: 20,154,933 — 4th highest
> Population as of July 1, 2021: 19,835,913 — 4th highest
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