The growth of the U.S. population slowed in 2025 because of a sharp decline in net international migration, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.The data reflects the impacts of massive immigration policy changes and enforcement after President Donald Trump took office for a second time last year.The data was released Tuesday as part of the Vintage 2025 population estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau. It details population change nationally and by state and gives a first look at how populations have changed in 2025.The total population growth across the United States picked up after hitting a record low of increasing by just 0.2% from 2020 to 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.From 2021 to 2024, the rate of growth increased until halving in 2025, when the population grew by just 0.5% — about half the rate of growth seen in 2024.The slowing population growth was driven by a sharp decline in net international migration across the United States. Net international migration is the difference in the number of people who immigrate from another country and the number of people who emigrate to another country. A positive net international migration change means more people immigrated to the U.S. than moved out of the U.S.Other factors of population growth include the rate of natural increase, which is the difference between the number of births and deaths. Natural increase remained about the same in 2024 and 2025.The Get the Facts Data Team analyzed estimates and found that all states had more people move there from another country. However, the rate declined in every state.West Virginia saw the largest decline in net international migration and was also one of just five states to decline in population in 2025, the data team found. The other states where the total population declined are California, Hawaii, Vermont and New Mexico. Vermont’s population declined about 0.3%, the highest among the other states' percentage decreases. South Carolina's population grew about 1.5% over the past year, making it the nation’s fastest-growing state. Idaho and North Carolina were just below South Carolina. Both states’ populations increased because of domestic migration gains. Idaho gained about 4,000 people in domestic migration, and North Carolina gained 1,000.Search the tables below to see how populations changed in each state. PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
WASHINGTON — The growth of the U.S. population slowed in 2025 because of a sharp decline in net international migration, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The data reflects the impacts of massive immigration policy changes and enforcement after President Donald Trump took office for a second time last year.
The data was released Tuesday as part of the Vintage 2025 population estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau. It details population change nationally and by state and gives a first look at how populations have changed in 2025.
The total population growth across the United States picked up after hitting a record low of increasing by just 0.2% from 2020 to 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
From 2021 to 2024, the rate of growth increased until halving in 2025, when the population grew by just 0.5% — about half the rate of growth seen in 2024.
The slowing population growth was driven by a sharp decline in net international migration across the United States.
Net international migration is the difference in the number of people who immigrate from another country and the number of people who emigrate to another country. A positive net international migration change means more people immigrated to the U.S. than moved out of the U.S.
Other factors of population growth include the rate of natural increase, which is the difference between the number of births and deaths. Natural increase remained about the same in 2024 and 2025.
The Get the Facts Data Team analyzed estimates and found that all states had more people move there from another country. However, the rate declined in every state.
West Virginia saw the largest decline in net international migration and was also one of just five states to decline in population in 2025, the data team found.
The other states where the total population declined are California, Hawaii, Vermont and New Mexico. Vermont’s population declined about 0.3%, the highest among the other states' percentage decreases.
South Carolina's population grew about 1.5% over the past year, making it the nation’s fastest-growing state. Idaho and North Carolina were just below South Carolina.
Both states’ populations increased because of domestic migration gains. Idaho gained about 4,000 people in domestic migration, and North Carolina gained 1,000.
Search the tables below to see how populations changed in each state.
