Census: Falling immigration drove most of US population growth slowdown in 2024-25
Mar 6th 2026
New Census estimates show a sharp drop in net international migration from 2023-24 to 2024-25, halving national population growth and causing lower gains or losses in most states, with immigration still the primary source of recent growth.
- Net international migration fell from 2.7 million in 2023-24 to 1.3 million in 2024-25, and immigration still supplied 71% of that year’s population growth.
- National growth rate dropped from 0.96% in 2023-24 to 0.52% in 2024-25, one of the smallest annual gains in U.S. history.
- Forty eight states and the District of Columbia recorded lower growth, greater declines, or a flip from growth to loss between 2023-24 and 2024-25.
- Immigration provided all population growth in 14 states and more than half the growth in 10 more states during 2024-25.
- California moved from a 2023-24 gain to a 2024-25 loss largely because immigration fell from about 313,000 to 109,000 people.
- The Census and other agencies project even lower net immigration for 2026, which would deepen state and national slowdowns if realized.