U.S. State Populations 2019: Most populous states

U.S. State Populations 2019: Most populous states
Release date: December 30, 2019

U.S. Census Bureau
Release Date: December 30, 2019

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s national and state population estimates released today, forty-two states and the District of Columbia had fewer births in 2019 than 2018, while eight states saw a birth increase. With fewer births in recent years and the number of deaths increasing, natural increase (or births minus deaths) has declined steadily over the past decade.

“While natural increase is the biggest contributor to the U.S. population increase, it has been slowing over the last five years,” said Dr. Sandra Johnson, a demographer/statistician in the Population Division of the Census Bureau. “Natural increase, or when the number of births is greater than the number of deaths, dropped below 1 million in 2019 for the first time in decades.”

The nation’s population was 328,239,523 in 2019, growing by 0.5% between 2018 and 2019, or 1,552,022 people. Annual growth peaked at 0.73% this decade in the period between 2014 and 2015. The growth between 2018 and 2019 is a continuation of a multiyear slowdown since that period.

The South, the largest of the four regions with a population of 125,580,448 in 2019, saw the largest numeric growth (1,011,015) and percentage growth (0.8%) between 2018 and 2019. This growth is driven mainly by natural increase (359,114) and net domestic migration (407,913), which is the movement of people from one area to another within the United States. The Northeast region, the smallest of the four regions with a population of 55,982,803 in 2019, saw population decrease for the first time this decade, declining by 63,817 or -0.1%. This decline was due to net domestic migration (-294,331), which offset population gains from natural increase (97,152) and net international migration (134,145), or the difference between the number of people moving into the country and out of the country.

Forty states and the District of Columbia saw population increases between 2018 and 2019. Ten states lost population between 2018 and 2019, four of which had losses over 10,000 people. The 10 states that lost population were New York (-76,790; -0.4%), Illinois (-51,250; -0.4%), West Virginia (-12,144; -0.7%), Louisiana (-10,896; -0.2%), Connecticut (-6,233; -0.2%), Mississippi (-4,871; -0.2%), Hawaii (-4,721; -0.3%), New Jersey (-3,835; 0.0%), Alaska (-3,594; -0.5%), and Vermont (-369 ; -0.1%).

Also released today were national- and state-level estimates of the components of population change, which include tables on births, deaths and migration.

Puerto Rico Population Estimates
Puerto Rico’s population increased by 340 people (0.0%) between 2018 and 2019 after several years of annual population decline. This slight increase is due to total net migration, which was positive for the first time in years (7,733) and large enough to offset the natural decrease (-7,393).

“Though migration between 2018 and 2019 was large enough to increase the population this year, Puerto Rico’s population remains below where it was at the start of the decade,” explained Johnson.

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Dec. 19, 2019 – Today the U.S. Census Bureau released new 5-year estimates from the 2014-2018 American Community Survey (ACS). As part of the nationwide release of over 40 demographic topics, estimates profiling the 65 and older population are now available. Of the 3,142 counties in the United States, Sumter County, Fla., had the highest percentage of residents aged 65 and older—at 55.6% in 2014-2018. This is significantly higher than the percentage in 2009-2013 (46.7%).

“The American Community Survey is vital to understanding different demographic groups across the nation,” said Victoria Velkoff, Associate Director for Demographic Programs. “This includes the 65 and older population. By looking at the latest data, resources can be provided to support not only the aging population, but all groups across the country.”

The median age of the U.S. older population was 73.2 years in the 2014-2018 ACS. Highlands County, Fla.; Mower County, Minn.; and Palm Beach County, Fla., had some of the highest median ages among the 65 years and older population at about 75 years, while Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, had one of the lowest (70 years).

When it comes to the sex distribution among the 65 years and older population, they are primarily female, but according to 2014-2018 ACS data, Cass County, Minn.; Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska; Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska; La Paz County, Ariz.; Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska; Monroe County, Fla.; and Polk County, Texas, were among the counties that had higher proportions of older males than older females. However, in other counties, there were about three women for every two men age 65 and over. Danville city, Va. (61.7%); Bronx County, N.Y. (61.0%); and Muscogee County, Ga. (60.3%), were among counties with the highest percentage of older women.

From 2014 to 2018, for counties with populations of 50,000 or more, Arlington County, Va.; Fairfax County, Va.; Howard County, Md.; Loudoun County, Va.; and Montgomery County, Md., were among the counties with the highest household incomes for householders 65 years and over. Median household income was highest in Hawaii ($65,086) and lowest in Mississippi ($34,275) for households with a householder 65 years and over.

For individuals age 65 or older, counties that had among the lowest poverty rates included: Douglas County, Colo.; James City County, Va.; and Stafford County, Va. Counties with the highest poverty rates for people age 65 and over included McKinley County, N.M.; Starr County, Texas; and Webb County, Texas.

Of the 65 years and older population who lived in renter-occupied housing units during 2014-2018, 54.4% spent 30% or more of their household income on housing costs. Of those 65 and older living in owner-occupied housing units, only 26.3% spent 30% or more of their household income on housing costs.

Alexandria city, Va.; Arlington County, Va.; Boulder County, Colo.; Fairfax County, Va.; Howard County, Md.; Marin County, Calif.; and Montgomery County, Md., were among the counties with the highest rates of bachelor’s degree or higher educational attainment for the population age 65 and older.

Nationally, 70.6% of individuals 65 years and older had a subscription to at least one broadband internet service, including mobile internet. Among the counties with the highest rates of broadband subscription for this group are Douglas County, Colo.; Eagle County, Colo.; Falls Church city, Va.; Nantucket County, Mass.; Pitkin County, Colo.; and Summit County, Utah.

Sumter County, Fla., had the largest proportion of the citizen voting-age population that is 65 years of age and older, with 60.4% of the electorate in this age group. Its county seat is Bushnell, and the largest community is The Villages.

Of the 18.6 million veterans in the United States, about half were 65 years and older (49.5%). Counties with the largest proportion of veterans among the older population include Comanche County, Okla.; Coryell County, Texas; Lyon County, Nev.; Nye County, Nev.; and Okaloosa County, Fla.