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Slow Growth Impacts Nation's Largest Counties Hardest
Cowboy hat tip, The Texas Tribune
Texas suburbs lead U.S. for population growth as international migration slows, census finds
Slow Growth Impacts Nation’s Largest Counties Hardest
Diminishing Population Gains in Metro Areas Highlight Nationwide Trend
March 26, 2026
Press Release Number: CB26-56
MARCH 26, 2026 – Population growth slowed in a majority of the nation’s 3,143 counties and the District of Columbia between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to the Vintage 2025 population estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Among the 2,066 counties that grew between 2023 and 2024, nearly 8 in 10 saw their growth slow or reverse direction in 2025. In many cases, counties already in decline saw losses accelerate.
Meanwhile, 310 of the 387 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (metro areas) had slower growth between 2024 and 2025 than during the prior year. The three metro areas with the steepest percentage point declines in population growth rates were along the U.S.-Mexico border: Laredo, TX (from 3.2% in 2023-2024 to 0.2% from 2024 to 2025); Yuma, AZ (3.3% to 1.4%); and El Centro, CA (1.2% to -0.7%).
These shifts were largely due to lower levels of net international migration (NIM), which declined nationwide. Nine out of 10 U.S. counties experienced lower NIM levels between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, compared to the year prior. The one in 10 counties that did not see a drop in international migration did not see an increase either.
Some of the country’s most populous counties experienced the greatest impacts from lower NIM. These counties typically had more births than deaths (natural increase) as well as negative net domestic migration — more people moving out than moving in from other areas of the country. Coupled with reduced NIM, the result was slower growth or, in some cases, population decline.
“The nation’s largest counties like those in the New York metro area are often international migration hubs, gaining large numbers of international migrants and losing people that move to other parts of the country via domestic migration,” explained George M. Hayward, a Census Bureau demographer. "With fewer gains from international migration, these types of counties saw their population growth diminish or even turn into loss.”
The Population Estimates Program uses current data on births, deaths and migration to calculate population change since the most recent decennial census (2020 Census) and produce an annual time series of population estimates. Today’s release includes population totals and components of change for U.S. counties and metro areas and micropolitan statistical areas (micro areas), and total population for Puerto Rico municipios and metro/micro areas. Tables are available on census.gov/popest.
Key Takeaways
• Geographically, many of the fastest-growing counties were in states along the southeast coast of the United States in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.
• Among some of the largest metro areas, the fastest-growing counties tended to be on the outer edges, a pattern especially pronounced in Texas.
• Among counties with populations of 20,000 or more, nine of the top 10 fastest-growing counties were in the South, as were 45 out of the top 50.
• Growth declined dramatically in metro areas — on average from 1.1% between 2023 and 2024 to 0.6% between 2024 and 2025.
• This shift was largely due to NIM reductions, especially since net domestic migration losses waned and natural increase had no noticeable change.
County Highlights
• The number of counties in 2025 with natural decrease (more deaths than births) was 2,055 or 65% — roughly the same level as the prior two years, but still lower than between 2021 and 2022 when around 75% of counties had natural decrease.
• Domestic migration patterns continue to redistribute the population from the largest counties to less populous ones. Collectively, the 50 counties with 1 million or more people in 2025 had a net domestic migration loss of 637,634. In contrast, large counties (50,000-999,999 in population) had a combined net domestic migration gain of 533,766, and medium-sized counties (15,000-49,999) had a net domestic migration gain of 95,095. Even small counties (less than 15,000) had a slight net domestic migration gain of 8,773.
• NIM dropped by 20,000 or more in 10 counties. These counties (0.3% of all counties) made up 25.5% of the nation’s total NIM reduction between 2024 and 2025.
Refer to the bottom of the release for tables on Population Change by County Size, Components of Population Change by County Size, Top 10 Most Populous Counties, Top 10 Counties by Numeric Growth: 2024 to 2025, Top 10 Counties by Percent Growth: 2024 to 2025, Top 10 Counties by Numeric Decline: 2024 to 2025, and Top 10 Counties by Percent Decline: 2024 to 2025.
Metro and Micro Areas
• Between 2024 and 2025, metro areas grew faster (0.6%) than micro areas (0.2%) or the territory outside of metro/micro areas (0.1%). However, all three saw their growth reduced to about half of what it had been between 2023 and 2024 (1.1%, 0.5%, and 0.2%, respectively).
• In their entirety, metro areas lost population between 2024 and 2025 through net domestic migration (-119,205). But those losses were offset by gains in both NIM (1,209,432) and natural increase (613,743), resulting in overall population increase (1,704,826; 0.6%).
• Between 2024 and 2025, micro areas and the territory outside of metro/micro areas both lost population from natural decrease (-39,119 and -55,766, respectively) — losses that were balanced by gains from domestic migration (67,419 and 51,786) and NIM (36,655 and 16,155). As a result, micro areas grew by 64,867 (0.2%), and the territory outside of metro/micro areas grew by 11,367 (0.1%).
Refer to the bottom of the release for tables on Population Change by Metro/Micro Area Status, Components of Population Change by Metro/Micro Area Status, Top 10 U.S. Metro Areas by Numeric Growth: 2024 to 2025, Top 10 U.S. Metro Areas by Percent Growth: 2024 to 2025, Top 10 U.S. Micro Areas by Numeric Growth: 2024 to 2025, and Top 10 U.S. Micro Areas by Percent Growth: 2024 to 2025.
Technical Notes
The most recent net international migration estimates reflect methodological improvements, including the incorporation of additional administrative data at the subnational level. Details are available in the Random Samplings blog, “New Population Estimates Show Historic Decline in Net International Migration.”
The Census Bureau in June is scheduled to release July 1, 2025, population estimates by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin for the nation, states metro and micro areas and counties, and population by age and sex for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and its municipios. Vintage 2025 incorporates the 2020 Census by full demographic detail (age, sex, race and Hispanic origin) into the April 1, 2020, estimates base for the first time. These data will be embargoed.
With each new release of annual estimates, the entire time series of estimates is revised for all years back to the date of the last census. All previously published estimates (i.e., old vintages) are superseded and archived on the FTP2 site. Due to periodic methodological updates, year-to-year comparisons in the estimates should only be done within the same vintage.
Tables
1. Population and Population Change by County Size in 2025: 2023-24 vs. 2024-25
2. Components of Population Change (Rates per 1,000) by County Size in 2025: 2023-24 vs. 2024-25
3. Population and Population Change by Metro/Micro Area Status: 2023-24 vs. 2024-25
4. Components of Population Change (Rates per 1,000) by Metro/Micro Area Status: 2023-24 vs. 2024-25
5. Top 10 Most Populous Counties: July 1, 2025
6. Top 10 Counties by Numeric Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
7. Top 10 Counties by Percent Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
8. Top 10 Counties by Numeric Decline: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
9. Top 10 Counties by Percent Decline: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
10. Top 10 U.S. Metro Areas by Numeric Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
11. Top 10 U.S. Metro Areas by Percent Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
12. Top 10 U.S. Micro Areas by Numeric Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
13. Top 10 U.S. Micro Areas by Percent Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
Table 1. Population and Population Change by County Size in 2025: 2023-24 vs. 2024-25
Population Numeric Growth Percent Growth
County Size July 1, 2023 July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 2023-2024 2024-2025 2023-2024 2024-2025
United States 336,755,052 340,003,797 341,784,857 3,248,745 1,781,060 1.0 0.5
1 Million+ 100,509,210 101,581,405 101,929,965 1,072,195 348,560 1.1 0.3
Large
(50,000-999,999) 197,710,927 199,747,343 201,116,307 2,036,416 1,368,964 1.0 0.7
Medium
(15,000-49,999) 30,683,309 30,819,319 30,890,021 136,010 70,702 0.4 0.2
Small
(0-14,999) 7,851,606 7,855,730 7,848,564 4,124 -7,166 0.1 -0.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
→ Swipe or scroll to see additional data
Table 2. Components of Population Change (Rates per 1,000) by County Size in 2025: 2023-24 vs. 2024-25
Net Domestic Migration Net International Migration Natural Change
County Size 2023–2024 2024–2025 2023–2024 2024–2025 2023–2024 2024–2025
United States 0.00 0.00 8.08 3.70 1.52 1.52
1 Million+ -6.27 -6.27 13.44 6.27 3.44 3.42
Large
(50,000-999,999) 2.59 2.66 6.44 2.91 1.22 1.25
Medium
(15,000-49,999) 3.61 3.08 2.61 1.10 -1.79 -1.87
Small
(0-14,999) 1.12 1.12 2.14 0.92 -2.74 -2.89
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
→ Swipe or scroll to see additional data
Table 3. Population and Population Change by Metro/Micro Area Status: 2023-24 vs. 2024-25
Population Numeric Growth Percent Growth
Metro/Micro Status July 1, 2023 July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 2023-2024 2024-2025 2023-2024 2024-2025
United States 336,755,052 340,003,797 341,784,857 3,248,745 1,781,060 1.0 0.5
Metro areas 290,665,161 293,746,059 295,450,885 3,080,898 1,704,826 1.1 0.6
Micro areas 28,146,059 28,274,122 28,338,989 128,063 64,867 0.5 0.2
Outside metro/micro areas 17,943,832 17,983,616 17,994,983 39,784 11,367 0.2 0.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
→ Swipe or scroll to see additional data
Table 4. Components of Population Change (Rates per 1,000) by Metro/Micro Area Status: 2023-24 vs. 2024-25
Net Domestic Migration Net International Migration Natural Change
Metro/Micro Status 2023-2024 2024-2025 2023-2024 2024-2025 2023-2024 2024-2025
United States 0.00 0.00 8.08 3.70 1.52 1.52
Metro areas -0.45 -0.40 8.92 4.11 2.08 2.08
Micro areas 2.71 2.38 3.21 1.29 -1.36 -1.38
Outside metro/micro areas 3.08 2.88 2.13 0.90 -2.98 -3.10
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
→ Swipe or scroll to see additional data
Table 5. Top 10 Most Populous Counties: July 1, 2025
Rank State County April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025
1 California Los Angeles County 10,017,414 9,748,868 9,694,934
2 Illinois Cook County 5,279,010 5,188,791 5,194,625
3 Texas Harris County 4,730,408 4,996,331 5,045,026
4 Arizona Maricopa County 4,425,302 4,654,147 4,689,558
5 California San Diego County 3,298,648 3,287,542 3,282,248
6 California Orange County 3,187,279 3,158,027 3,149,507
7 Florida Miami-Dade County 2,701,762 2,812,144 2,802,029
8 Texas Dallas County 2,612,087 2,664,013 2,661,397
9 New York Kings County 2,736,291 2,658,657 2,653,963
10 California Riverside County 2,419,962 2,529,112 2,544,916
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
Table 6. Top 10 Counties by Numeric Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
Rank State County April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 Numeric Growth
1 Texas Harris County 4,730,408 4,996,331 5,045,026 48,695
2 Texas Collin County 1,066,201 1,254,213 1,297,179 42,966
3 Arizona Maricopa County 4,425,302 4,654,147 4,689,558 35,411
4 Texas Montgomery County 620,551 751,183 781,194 30,011
5 North Carolina Wake County 1,129,356 1,229,475 1,257,235 27,760
6 Washington King County 2,269,668 2,317,959 2,344,939 26,980
7 North Carolina Mecklenburg County 1,115,554 1,206,829 1,233,383 26,554
8 Texas Fort Bend County 823,997 951,028 975,191 24,163
9 Texas Williamson County 609,059 729,013 752,827 23,814
10 Arizona Pinal County 425,993 515,726 539,380 23,654
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
Table 7. Top 10 Counties by Percent Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025 (Population of 20,000 or more in 2024 and 2025)
Rank State County April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 Percent Growth
1 South Carolina Jasper County 28,811 36,338 38,533 6.0
2 Texas Waller County 56,769 66,097 69,858 5.7
3 Texas Kaufman County 145,337 198,010 209,235 5.7
4 Georgia Jackson County 75,945 94,302 99,265 5.3
5 Georgia Long County 16,150 20,493 21,557 5.2
6 North Carolina Brunswick County 136,695 166,889 174,702 4.7
7 Arizona Pinal County 425,993 515,726 539,380 4.6
8 Texas Liberty County 91,661 116,291 121,364 4.4
9 Georgia Dawson County 26,797 33,945 35,365 4.2
10 Texas Caldwell County 45,882 52,939 55,150 4.2
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
Table 8. Top 10 Counties by Numeric Decline: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
Rank State County April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 Numeric Growth
1 California Los Angeles County 10,017,414 9,748,868 9,694,934 -53,934
2 Florida Pinellas County 959,090 960,397 948,563 -11,834
3 Florida Miami-Dade County 2,701,762 2,812,144 2,802,029 -10,115
4 New York Queens County 2,405,427 2,367,034 2,358,182 -8,852
5 California Orange County 3,187,279 3,158,027 3,149,507 -8,520
6 California San Diego County 3,298,648 3,287,542 3,282,248 -5,294
7 Tennessee Shelby County 930,012 915,438 910,226 -5,212
8 New York Kings County 2,736,291 2,658,657 2,653,963 -4,694
9 Texas Dallas County 2,612,087 2,664,013 2,661,397 -2,616
10.5 California Ventura County 844,358 833,431 830,851 -2,580
10.5 New Mexico Bernalillo County 676,446 670,181 667,601 -2,580
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
Table 9. Top 10 Counties by Percent Decline: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025 (Population of 20,000 or more in 2024 and 2025)
Rank State County April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 Percent Growth
1 Florida Taylor County 21,799 21,689 21,210 -2.2
2 Louisiana Vernon Parish 48,748 46,079 45,091 -2.1
3 California Del Norte County 27,749 26,959 26,410 -2.0
4 Florida Monroe County 82,871 82,015 80,406 -2.0
5 California Tuolumne County 55,612 54,185 53,160 -1.9
6 Mississippi Washington County 44,918 41,218 40,446 -1.9
7 Kentucky Christian County 72,799 71,436 70,115 -1.8
8 Mississippi Leflore County 28,498 26,162 25,686 -1.8
9 California Lassen County 32,729 28,593 28,117 -1.7
10 New Mexico Curry County 48,428 47,377 46,655 -1.5
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
Table 10. Top 10 U.S. Metro Areas by Numeric Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
Rank Metro Area April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 Numeric Growth
1 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 7,150,227 7,777,907 7,904,627 126,720
2 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 7,638,294 8,353,600 8,477,157 123,557
3 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 6,106,816 6,420,229 6,482,182 61,953
4 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 4,851,295 5,169,873 5,228,938 59,065
5 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 2,660,124 2,884,708 2,938,830 54,122
6 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX 2,283,391 2,567,149 2,620,945 53,796
7 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 6,278,627 6,415,518 6,465,724 50,206
8 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 4,018,766 4,118,815 4,161,883 43,068
9 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX 2,558,389 2,774,738 2,813,140 38,402
10 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 2,673,372 2,919,982 2,957,672 37,690
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
Table 11. Top 10 U.S. Metro Areas by Percent Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025 (Population of 20,000 or more in 2024 and 2025)
Rank Metro Area April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 Percent Growth
1 Ocala, FL 375,892 427,995 442,660 3.4
2 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC 351,036 414,307 427,551 3.2
3 Spartanburg, SC 355,230 396,728 407,656 2.8
4 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL 725,042 851,434 874,790 2.7
5 Punta Gorda, FL 186,823 211,456 217,212 2.7
6 Huntsville, AL 491,721 542,122 556,444 2.6
7 Wilmington, NC 422,602 480,374 492,772 2.6
8 St. George, UT 180,284 208,431 213,670 2.5
9 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR 546,709 607,433 622,177 2.4
10 Raleigh-Cary, NC 1,413,995 1,558,927 1,595,720 2.4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
Table 12. Top 10 U.S. Micro Areas by Numeric Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
Rank Micro Area April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 Numeric Growth
1 Seaford, DE 237,379 271,233 277,140 5,907
2 Jefferson, GA 75,945 94,302 99,265 4,963
3 Anderson Creek, NC 133,563 146,456 150,137 3,681
4 Cookeville, TN 141,355 150,267 152,477 2,210
5 Richmond-Berea, KY 122,896 129,757 131,806 2,049
6 Clewiston, FL 51,751 59,827 61,546 1,719
7 Cedar City, UT 57,272 65,559 67,141 1,582
8 Sanford, NC 63,283 68,819 70,258 1,439
9 Statesboro, GA 90,413 96,544 97,977 1,433
10 Shelton, WA 65,721 69,759 71,165 1,406
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
Table 13. Top 10 U.S. Micro Areas by Percent Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025 (Population of 20,000 or more in 2024 and 2025)
Rank Micro Area April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 Percent Growth
1 Jefferson, GA 75,945 94,302 99,265 5.3
2 Clewiston, FL 51,751 59,827 61,546 2.9
3 Spearfish, SD 25,771 28,709 29,459 2.6
4 Anderson Creek, NC 133,563 146,456 150,137 2.5
5 Williston, ND 40,952 40,755 41,767 2.5
6 Cedar City, UT 57,272 65,559 67,141 2.4
7 Lake of the Woods, VA 36,185 39,193 40,083 2.3
8 Brookings, SD 34,364 36,814 37,635 2.2
9 Seaford, DE 237,379 271,233 277,140 2.2
10 Sanford, NC 63,283 68,819 70,258 2.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
###
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Diminishing Population Gains in Metro Areas Highlight Nationwide Trend
March 26, 2026
Press Release Number: CB26-56
MARCH 26, 2026 – Population growth slowed in a majority of the nation’s 3,143 counties and the District of Columbia between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to the Vintage 2025 population estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Among the 2,066 counties that grew between 2023 and 2024, nearly 8 in 10 saw their growth slow or reverse direction in 2025. In many cases, counties already in decline saw losses accelerate.
Meanwhile, 310 of the 387 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (metro areas) had slower growth between 2024 and 2025 than during the prior year. The three metro areas with the steepest percentage point declines in population growth rates were along the U.S.-Mexico border: Laredo, TX (from 3.2% in 2023-2024 to 0.2% from 2024 to 2025); Yuma, AZ (3.3% to 1.4%); and El Centro, CA (1.2% to -0.7%).
These shifts were largely due to lower levels of net international migration (NIM), which declined nationwide. Nine out of 10 U.S. counties experienced lower NIM levels between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, compared to the year prior. The one in 10 counties that did not see a drop in international migration did not see an increase either.
Some of the country’s most populous counties experienced the greatest impacts from lower NIM. These counties typically had more births than deaths (natural increase) as well as negative net domestic migration — more people moving out than moving in from other areas of the country. Coupled with reduced NIM, the result was slower growth or, in some cases, population decline.
“The nation’s largest counties like those in the New York metro area are often international migration hubs, gaining large numbers of international migrants and losing people that move to other parts of the country via domestic migration,” explained George M. Hayward, a Census Bureau demographer. "With fewer gains from international migration, these types of counties saw their population growth diminish or even turn into loss.”
The Population Estimates Program uses current data on births, deaths and migration to calculate population change since the most recent decennial census (2020 Census) and produce an annual time series of population estimates. Today’s release includes population totals and components of change for U.S. counties and metro areas and micropolitan statistical areas (micro areas), and total population for Puerto Rico municipios and metro/micro areas. Tables are available on census.gov/popest.
Key Takeaways
• Geographically, many of the fastest-growing counties were in states along the southeast coast of the United States in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.
• Among some of the largest metro areas, the fastest-growing counties tended to be on the outer edges, a pattern especially pronounced in Texas.
• Among counties with populations of 20,000 or more, nine of the top 10 fastest-growing counties were in the South, as were 45 out of the top 50.
• Growth declined dramatically in metro areas — on average from 1.1% between 2023 and 2024 to 0.6% between 2024 and 2025.
• This shift was largely due to NIM reductions, especially since net domestic migration losses waned and natural increase had no noticeable change.
County Highlights
• The number of counties in 2025 with natural decrease (more deaths than births) was 2,055 or 65% — roughly the same level as the prior two years, but still lower than between 2021 and 2022 when around 75% of counties had natural decrease.
• Domestic migration patterns continue to redistribute the population from the largest counties to less populous ones. Collectively, the 50 counties with 1 million or more people in 2025 had a net domestic migration loss of 637,634. In contrast, large counties (50,000-999,999 in population) had a combined net domestic migration gain of 533,766, and medium-sized counties (15,000-49,999) had a net domestic migration gain of 95,095. Even small counties (less than 15,000) had a slight net domestic migration gain of 8,773.
• NIM dropped by 20,000 or more in 10 counties. These counties (0.3% of all counties) made up 25.5% of the nation’s total NIM reduction between 2024 and 2025.
Refer to the bottom of the release for tables on Population Change by County Size, Components of Population Change by County Size, Top 10 Most Populous Counties, Top 10 Counties by Numeric Growth: 2024 to 2025, Top 10 Counties by Percent Growth: 2024 to 2025, Top 10 Counties by Numeric Decline: 2024 to 2025, and Top 10 Counties by Percent Decline: 2024 to 2025.
Metro and Micro Areas
• Between 2024 and 2025, metro areas grew faster (0.6%) than micro areas (0.2%) or the territory outside of metro/micro areas (0.1%). However, all three saw their growth reduced to about half of what it had been between 2023 and 2024 (1.1%, 0.5%, and 0.2%, respectively).
• In their entirety, metro areas lost population between 2024 and 2025 through net domestic migration (-119,205). But those losses were offset by gains in both NIM (1,209,432) and natural increase (613,743), resulting in overall population increase (1,704,826; 0.6%).
• Between 2024 and 2025, micro areas and the territory outside of metro/micro areas both lost population from natural decrease (-39,119 and -55,766, respectively) — losses that were balanced by gains from domestic migration (67,419 and 51,786) and NIM (36,655 and 16,155). As a result, micro areas grew by 64,867 (0.2%), and the territory outside of metro/micro areas grew by 11,367 (0.1%).
Refer to the bottom of the release for tables on Population Change by Metro/Micro Area Status, Components of Population Change by Metro/Micro Area Status, Top 10 U.S. Metro Areas by Numeric Growth: 2024 to 2025, Top 10 U.S. Metro Areas by Percent Growth: 2024 to 2025, Top 10 U.S. Micro Areas by Numeric Growth: 2024 to 2025, and Top 10 U.S. Micro Areas by Percent Growth: 2024 to 2025.
Technical Notes
The most recent net international migration estimates reflect methodological improvements, including the incorporation of additional administrative data at the subnational level. Details are available in the Random Samplings blog, “New Population Estimates Show Historic Decline in Net International Migration.”
The Census Bureau in June is scheduled to release July 1, 2025, population estimates by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin for the nation, states metro and micro areas and counties, and population by age and sex for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and its municipios. Vintage 2025 incorporates the 2020 Census by full demographic detail (age, sex, race and Hispanic origin) into the April 1, 2020, estimates base for the first time. These data will be embargoed.
With each new release of annual estimates, the entire time series of estimates is revised for all years back to the date of the last census. All previously published estimates (i.e., old vintages) are superseded and archived on the FTP2 site. Due to periodic methodological updates, year-to-year comparisons in the estimates should only be done within the same vintage.
Tables
1. Population and Population Change by County Size in 2025: 2023-24 vs. 2024-25
2. Components of Population Change (Rates per 1,000) by County Size in 2025: 2023-24 vs. 2024-25
3. Population and Population Change by Metro/Micro Area Status: 2023-24 vs. 2024-25
4. Components of Population Change (Rates per 1,000) by Metro/Micro Area Status: 2023-24 vs. 2024-25
5. Top 10 Most Populous Counties: July 1, 2025
6. Top 10 Counties by Numeric Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
7. Top 10 Counties by Percent Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
8. Top 10 Counties by Numeric Decline: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
9. Top 10 Counties by Percent Decline: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
10. Top 10 U.S. Metro Areas by Numeric Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
11. Top 10 U.S. Metro Areas by Percent Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
12. Top 10 U.S. Micro Areas by Numeric Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
13. Top 10 U.S. Micro Areas by Percent Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
Table 1. Population and Population Change by County Size in 2025: 2023-24 vs. 2024-25
Population Numeric Growth Percent Growth
County Size July 1, 2023 July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 2023-2024 2024-2025 2023-2024 2024-2025
United States 336,755,052 340,003,797 341,784,857 3,248,745 1,781,060 1.0 0.5
1 Million+ 100,509,210 101,581,405 101,929,965 1,072,195 348,560 1.1 0.3
Large
(50,000-999,999) 197,710,927 199,747,343 201,116,307 2,036,416 1,368,964 1.0 0.7
Medium
(15,000-49,999) 30,683,309 30,819,319 30,890,021 136,010 70,702 0.4 0.2
Small
(0-14,999) 7,851,606 7,855,730 7,848,564 4,124 -7,166 0.1 -0.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
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Table 2. Components of Population Change (Rates per 1,000) by County Size in 2025: 2023-24 vs. 2024-25
Net Domestic Migration Net International Migration Natural Change
County Size 2023–2024 2024–2025 2023–2024 2024–2025 2023–2024 2024–2025
United States 0.00 0.00 8.08 3.70 1.52 1.52
1 Million+ -6.27 -6.27 13.44 6.27 3.44 3.42
Large
(50,000-999,999) 2.59 2.66 6.44 2.91 1.22 1.25
Medium
(15,000-49,999) 3.61 3.08 2.61 1.10 -1.79 -1.87
Small
(0-14,999) 1.12 1.12 2.14 0.92 -2.74 -2.89
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
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Table 3. Population and Population Change by Metro/Micro Area Status: 2023-24 vs. 2024-25
Population Numeric Growth Percent Growth
Metro/Micro Status July 1, 2023 July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 2023-2024 2024-2025 2023-2024 2024-2025
United States 336,755,052 340,003,797 341,784,857 3,248,745 1,781,060 1.0 0.5
Metro areas 290,665,161 293,746,059 295,450,885 3,080,898 1,704,826 1.1 0.6
Micro areas 28,146,059 28,274,122 28,338,989 128,063 64,867 0.5 0.2
Outside metro/micro areas 17,943,832 17,983,616 17,994,983 39,784 11,367 0.2 0.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
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Table 4. Components of Population Change (Rates per 1,000) by Metro/Micro Area Status: 2023-24 vs. 2024-25
Net Domestic Migration Net International Migration Natural Change
Metro/Micro Status 2023-2024 2024-2025 2023-2024 2024-2025 2023-2024 2024-2025
United States 0.00 0.00 8.08 3.70 1.52 1.52
Metro areas -0.45 -0.40 8.92 4.11 2.08 2.08
Micro areas 2.71 2.38 3.21 1.29 -1.36 -1.38
Outside metro/micro areas 3.08 2.88 2.13 0.90 -2.98 -3.10
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
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Table 5. Top 10 Most Populous Counties: July 1, 2025
Rank State County April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025
1 California Los Angeles County 10,017,414 9,748,868 9,694,934
2 Illinois Cook County 5,279,010 5,188,791 5,194,625
3 Texas Harris County 4,730,408 4,996,331 5,045,026
4 Arizona Maricopa County 4,425,302 4,654,147 4,689,558
5 California San Diego County 3,298,648 3,287,542 3,282,248
6 California Orange County 3,187,279 3,158,027 3,149,507
7 Florida Miami-Dade County 2,701,762 2,812,144 2,802,029
8 Texas Dallas County 2,612,087 2,664,013 2,661,397
9 New York Kings County 2,736,291 2,658,657 2,653,963
10 California Riverside County 2,419,962 2,529,112 2,544,916
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
Table 6. Top 10 Counties by Numeric Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
Rank State County April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 Numeric Growth
1 Texas Harris County 4,730,408 4,996,331 5,045,026 48,695
2 Texas Collin County 1,066,201 1,254,213 1,297,179 42,966
3 Arizona Maricopa County 4,425,302 4,654,147 4,689,558 35,411
4 Texas Montgomery County 620,551 751,183 781,194 30,011
5 North Carolina Wake County 1,129,356 1,229,475 1,257,235 27,760
6 Washington King County 2,269,668 2,317,959 2,344,939 26,980
7 North Carolina Mecklenburg County 1,115,554 1,206,829 1,233,383 26,554
8 Texas Fort Bend County 823,997 951,028 975,191 24,163
9 Texas Williamson County 609,059 729,013 752,827 23,814
10 Arizona Pinal County 425,993 515,726 539,380 23,654
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
Table 7. Top 10 Counties by Percent Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025 (Population of 20,000 or more in 2024 and 2025)
Rank State County April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 Percent Growth
1 South Carolina Jasper County 28,811 36,338 38,533 6.0
2 Texas Waller County 56,769 66,097 69,858 5.7
3 Texas Kaufman County 145,337 198,010 209,235 5.7
4 Georgia Jackson County 75,945 94,302 99,265 5.3
5 Georgia Long County 16,150 20,493 21,557 5.2
6 North Carolina Brunswick County 136,695 166,889 174,702 4.7
7 Arizona Pinal County 425,993 515,726 539,380 4.6
8 Texas Liberty County 91,661 116,291 121,364 4.4
9 Georgia Dawson County 26,797 33,945 35,365 4.2
10 Texas Caldwell County 45,882 52,939 55,150 4.2
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
Table 8. Top 10 Counties by Numeric Decline: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
Rank State County April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 Numeric Growth
1 California Los Angeles County 10,017,414 9,748,868 9,694,934 -53,934
2 Florida Pinellas County 959,090 960,397 948,563 -11,834
3 Florida Miami-Dade County 2,701,762 2,812,144 2,802,029 -10,115
4 New York Queens County 2,405,427 2,367,034 2,358,182 -8,852
5 California Orange County 3,187,279 3,158,027 3,149,507 -8,520
6 California San Diego County 3,298,648 3,287,542 3,282,248 -5,294
7 Tennessee Shelby County 930,012 915,438 910,226 -5,212
8 New York Kings County 2,736,291 2,658,657 2,653,963 -4,694
9 Texas Dallas County 2,612,087 2,664,013 2,661,397 -2,616
10.5 California Ventura County 844,358 833,431 830,851 -2,580
10.5 New Mexico Bernalillo County 676,446 670,181 667,601 -2,580
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
Table 9. Top 10 Counties by Percent Decline: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025 (Population of 20,000 or more in 2024 and 2025)
Rank State County April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 Percent Growth
1 Florida Taylor County 21,799 21,689 21,210 -2.2
2 Louisiana Vernon Parish 48,748 46,079 45,091 -2.1
3 California Del Norte County 27,749 26,959 26,410 -2.0
4 Florida Monroe County 82,871 82,015 80,406 -2.0
5 California Tuolumne County 55,612 54,185 53,160 -1.9
6 Mississippi Washington County 44,918 41,218 40,446 -1.9
7 Kentucky Christian County 72,799 71,436 70,115 -1.8
8 Mississippi Leflore County 28,498 26,162 25,686 -1.8
9 California Lassen County 32,729 28,593 28,117 -1.7
10 New Mexico Curry County 48,428 47,377 46,655 -1.5
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
Table 10. Top 10 U.S. Metro Areas by Numeric Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
Rank Metro Area April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 Numeric Growth
1 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 7,150,227 7,777,907 7,904,627 126,720
2 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 7,638,294 8,353,600 8,477,157 123,557
3 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 6,106,816 6,420,229 6,482,182 61,953
4 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 4,851,295 5,169,873 5,228,938 59,065
5 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 2,660,124 2,884,708 2,938,830 54,122
6 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX 2,283,391 2,567,149 2,620,945 53,796
7 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 6,278,627 6,415,518 6,465,724 50,206
8 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 4,018,766 4,118,815 4,161,883 43,068
9 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX 2,558,389 2,774,738 2,813,140 38,402
10 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 2,673,372 2,919,982 2,957,672 37,690
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
Table 11. Top 10 U.S. Metro Areas by Percent Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025 (Population of 20,000 or more in 2024 and 2025)
Rank Metro Area April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 Percent Growth
1 Ocala, FL 375,892 427,995 442,660 3.4
2 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC 351,036 414,307 427,551 3.2
3 Spartanburg, SC 355,230 396,728 407,656 2.8
4 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL 725,042 851,434 874,790 2.7
5 Punta Gorda, FL 186,823 211,456 217,212 2.7
6 Huntsville, AL 491,721 542,122 556,444 2.6
7 Wilmington, NC 422,602 480,374 492,772 2.6
8 St. George, UT 180,284 208,431 213,670 2.5
9 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR 546,709 607,433 622,177 2.4
10 Raleigh-Cary, NC 1,413,995 1,558,927 1,595,720 2.4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
Table 12. Top 10 U.S. Micro Areas by Numeric Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025
Rank Micro Area April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 Numeric Growth
1 Seaford, DE 237,379 271,233 277,140 5,907
2 Jefferson, GA 75,945 94,302 99,265 4,963
3 Anderson Creek, NC 133,563 146,456 150,137 3,681
4 Cookeville, TN 141,355 150,267 152,477 2,210
5 Richmond-Berea, KY 122,896 129,757 131,806 2,049
6 Clewiston, FL 51,751 59,827 61,546 1,719
7 Cedar City, UT 57,272 65,559 67,141 1,582
8 Sanford, NC 63,283 68,819 70,258 1,439
9 Statesboro, GA 90,413 96,544 97,977 1,433
10 Shelton, WA 65,721 69,759 71,165 1,406
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
Table 13. Top 10 U.S. Micro Areas by Percent Growth: July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025 (Population of 20,000 or more in 2024 and 2025)
Rank Micro Area April 1, 2020 (Estimates Base) July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 Percent Growth
1 Jefferson, GA 75,945 94,302 99,265 5.3
2 Clewiston, FL 51,751 59,827 61,546 2.9
3 Spearfish, SD 25,771 28,709 29,459 2.6
4 Anderson Creek, NC 133,563 146,456 150,137 2.5
5 Williston, ND 40,952 40,755 41,767 2.5
6 Cedar City, UT 57,272 65,559 67,141 2.4
7 Lake of the Woods, VA 36,185 39,193 40,083 2.3
8 Brookings, SD 34,364 36,814 37,635 2.2
9 Seaford, DE 237,379 271,233 277,140 2.2
10 Sanford, NC 63,283 68,819 70,258 2.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates
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