Demographic data, trends, and characteristics of the U.S. population.
The U.S. population grew by 0.5% between July 2024 and July 2025, adding about 1.8 million people and reaching nearly 342 million. That is the slowest annual growth since 2021, driven by a 54% drop in net international migration. Natural increase remained steady at just over 500,000.
Florida is the fastest-growing state in 2026 with a 2% year-over-year population increase, followed by Arizona and Texas. Over the 2020–2025 period, Idaho led with 10.4% growth, while the South accounted for nearly three-quarters of U.S. population gains. This article breaks down the latest Census Bureau estimates, rankings, and the migration and economic forces behind the trend.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates show the national population grew by just 0.5% between July 2024 and July 2025, the slowest since the COVID-19 pandemic. California remains the most populous state at 39.36 million, but it lost residents, while Texas and Florida posted the largest numeric gains. The new state-level data highlight a continuing shift toward the South and Mountain West.