U.S. Counties Losing Population: 2025 Census Estimates and Rural Decline Trends

| Population Size & Growth |

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates show population growth slowed in a majority of the nation’s 3,143 counties and the District of Columbia between July 2024 and July 2025. Nearly 8 in 10 counties that grew the prior year saw growth slow or reverse, and 310 of 387 metro areas decelerated. Rural America grew for a fifth straight year only because 168,000 net in-migrants offset natural decrease, while about half of rural counties lost population.

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Largest U.S. Metropolitan Economies by GDP: 2025 Rankings

| City & Metro Rankings |

In 2025, the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area led the United States with an estimated GDP of $2.189 trillion, followed by Los Angeles ($1.078 trillion) and Chicago ($760 billion). The top 10 metro areas generate about 42.8% of U.S. GDP while holding only 28.4% of the population. This article ranks the largest U.S. metropolitan economies and explains the data, methodology, and implications.

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Real Per Capita Personal Income by State: 2024 Rankings Adjusted for Cost of Living

| Income & Cost of Living |

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released 2024 state-level real per capita personal income data on February 19, 2026, showing wide variation after adjusting for cost of living. The District of Columbia led at $81,872, while several states clustered near $52,000. Nationally, real personal income rose 2.9 percent, but state growth ranged from a 5.5 percent gain in California to a 2.2 percent decline in North Dakota.

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U.S. State Exports by State: International Trade Rankings and Key Partners

| Trade & Investment |

U.S. state export data from the Census Bureau show Texas as the top exporting state and the Northern Mariana Islands as the lowest. The figures are based on the origin of movement of goods and include four-digit NAICS commodity codes, country of destination, and shipping details. Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, and the United Kingdom are among the most frequent top partners for individual states.

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Largest U.S. Metropolitan Areas by Population: 2025 Rankings and Trends

| Rankings |

The New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area remains the largest U.S. metro area in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates, with 20,112,448 residents as of July 1, 2025. Los Angeles and Chicago follow, while Sun Belt metros such as Dallas, Houston, Austin, and Orlando continue to post the strongest long-term growth. The official rankings cover 387 metropolitan statistical areas in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

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Poverty Rate by State: 2025 Rankings and Key Trends

| Income & Cost of Living |

The U.S. national official poverty rate was 10.6% in 2024, but state-level rates varied widely, from under 8% in several states to 19.6% in Louisiana. Southern states dominate the highest poverty rankings, while the Supplemental Poverty Measure was 12.9%, reflecting the end of pandemic-era benefits. These state rankings are critical for federal funding and economic policy.

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What Is the Labor Force Participation Rate? Latest U.S. Data and State Comparisons

| Economy |

The U.S. labor force participation rate was 61.4% in July 2026, down 0.8 percentage points from July 2025. The rate measures the share of people ages 16 and older who are working or actively looking for work. Recent declines reflect a January 2026 population correction, an aging population, and a June drop among prime-age workers. State-level data are available from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

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Counties With the Lowest Unemployment Rates: 2026 LAUS Rankings

| Rankings |

A look at the counties and local areas reporting the lowest unemployment rates in 2026 according to Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data. Recent state-level releases show several rural and suburban counties in Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Kentucky with rates below 3 percent, while Nevada’s micropolitan areas also rank among the lowest in the state.

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