Immigration drives highest US population growth in over 2 decades
The United States experienced a significant population increase in 2024, driven largely by a surge in migrants entering the country. According to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau, the nation’s population exceeded 340 million, marking the highest rate of growth in 23 years. Between 2023 and 2024, the population grew by nearly 1%, the largest increase since 2001. This growth was a stark contrast to the record low 0.2% increase seen in 2021 during the height of pandemic restrictions on travel.
Immigration played a significant role in the population growth, with almost 2.8 million people entering the country in 2024. This increase was partially attributed to a new method of counting that included individuals admitted for humanitarian reasons. Net international migration accounted for 84% of the overall population increase, highlighting the impact of migration on the country’s demographic landscape.
The Census Bureau noted that improved integration of federal data sources on immigration has enhanced their estimates methodology, allowing for a better understanding of how international migration is influencing population growth. Births also contributed to the population increase, outnumbering deaths by almost 519,000 in 2024. While this was an improvement over the historic low seen in 2021, it still fell below previous high points.
The report revealed that the southern region of the U.S. experienced the fastest growth in 2024, adding 1.8 million residents. States like Texas and Florida saw significant population increases, with Texas gaining over half a million new residents. However, some states, such as Mississippi, Vermont, and West Virginia, experienced population declines in small numbers.
One notable aspect of the population growth was the inclusion of individuals who entered the U.S. through the Biden administration’s humanitarian parole program. This program, which has faced criticism from Republicans, admitted over 5.8 million people from 2021 to 2024. However, accurately capturing the number of new immigrants remains a challenge for U.S. population estimates.
The revised method used by the Census Bureau to calculate immigration figures in 2024 resulted in a higher estimate of almost 2.3 million people entering the country. This adjustment highlights the complexity of accurately tracking immigration trends and their impact on population growth. Overall, the influx of migrants in 2024 played a significant role in driving the nation’s population to its highest level in over two decades.
