U.S. Population Grows by 3.3 Million to 340 Million, Fastest Rate in 23 Years Driven by 2.8 Million Immigrants

Dec 19, 2024, 06:23 PM

The U.S. population surpassed 340 million in 2024, marking the fastest growth rate in 23 years at 1%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This surge was primarily driven by a significant increase in net international migration, which accounted for 84% of the nation's 3.3 million population increase from 2023 to 2024. The Census Bureau reported that 2.8 million people immigrated to the U.S. in 2024, facilitated in part by a new method of counting that includes individuals admitted for humanitarian reasons. Natural increase, with births outnumbering deaths by nearly 519,000, also contributed to the population growth, though it remains below historical highs. The South was the fastest-growing region, adding nearly 1.8 million residents, with Texas and Florida seeing the largest numeric increases, adding 562,941 and 467,347 residents respectively. The District of Columbia experienced the fastest growth rate at 2.2%. Immigration played a crucial role in the population dynamics of individual states, preventing population declines in 16 states that would have otherwise lost residents due to domestic migration or natural decrease.