Fastest-Growing States in the U.S. 2026: Population, Migration, and Rankings

Population growth is one of the clearest signals of where Americans are choosing to live, work, and invest. The latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates show a sharply uneven map: while the national population grew by less than 1% in 2026, a handful of states—led by Florida, Arizona, and Texas—expanded at more than double that pace. Over the 2020–2025 period, Idaho posted the fastest growth, and the South added more residents than all other regions combined.

Key Numbers

• Florida 2026 year-over-year growth: 2.0%
• Arizona 2026 year-over-year growth: 1.8%
• Texas 2026 year-over-year growth: 1.7%
• National average growth, 2026: 0.71%
• Idaho 2020–2025 growth: 10.4%
• Florida 2020–2025 growth: 8.9%
• South Carolina 2020–2025 growth: 8.8%
• U.S. population increase since 2020: over 10 million
• Share of U.S. growth in the South since 2020: nearly three-quarters
• States losing residents in 2026 study: 5

Explanation

State population growth is measured by the U.S. Census Bureau through annual population estimates, which track births, deaths, and net migration. A state can grow because it has more births than deaths, because more people move in than move out, or both. In recent years, domestic migration—Americans moving from one state to another—has become the dominant driver of differences in state growth rates.

The fastest-growing states are not necessarily the largest. Texas, for example, adds far more people in absolute terms than smaller states such as Idaho or South Carolina, but its percentage growth rate is lower because it starts from a much larger base. Both measures matter: percentage growth shows momentum, while absolute growth shows scale and impact on housing, infrastructure, and political representation.

The current growth map reflects a long-running shift toward the Sun Belt. Warm climates, lower taxes, relatively affordable housing, and expanding job markets have drawn people to states such as Florida, Texas, Arizona, and the Carolinas. Remote work accelerated this trend by allowing more workers to choose where they live without changing employers.

Ranking Table

The table below shows the leading states by year-over-year growth in 2026, based on Census Bureau estimates compiled by America’s Dashboard. A second table shows the fastest-growing states over the 2020–2025 period, as mapped by Visual Capitalist.

Longer multiyear growth from 2020 to 2025 shows a slightly different order:

State Comparison

Florida stands out for combining rapid annual growth with sustained multiyear gains. Its 2.0% year-over-year increase in 2026 was the highest in the nation, and its 8.9% growth since 2020 placed second only to Idaho. Arizona and Texas also posted annual growth well above the national average, reflecting strong in-migration and job creation.

• Florida: top 2026 growth rate and top net migration rate; large retiree and remote-worker inflows.
• Texas: third-fastest annual growth but the largest absolute population gains over the past decade because of its size.
• Arizona: second-fastest annual growth in 2026, driven by migration from California and other high-cost states.
• Idaho: fastest 2020–2025 growth at 10.4%, though its smaller population means smaller absolute gains.
• South Carolina: third-fastest 2020–2025 growth, part of the broader Southern population surge.

Year-over-Year Change

Year-over-year change compares the estimated population on July 1 of one year with the same date a year earlier. In 2026, the national growth rate was 0.71%, but the top states grew at more than twice that pace. Florida’s 2.0% increase was driven by a net migration rate of +2.8 per 1,000 residents, the highest among the states.

Growth is a vote of confidence. When people choose to move to a state, they are saying the combination of jobs, costs, and lifestyle works. When they leave, they are saying the opposite.

Not every state shared in the gains. A 2026 SmartAsset study identified five states with year-over-year population declines, underscoring that growth is uneven even as the national total rises.

10-Year Change

Longer-run Census data from the 2010–2020 decade provide historical context. Utah and Idaho led in percentage growth, while Texas added the most people in absolute terms—nearly 4 million. The table below shows the top 10 states by 10-year percentage change over that period.

Factors Behind the Trend

Several forces are driving the current population shifts:

• Climate and lifestyle: Sun Belt states offer warmer weather and outdoor amenities that attract retirees and remote workers.
• Taxes and cost of living: Florida and Texas have no state income tax, and many fast-growing states have lower housing costs than coastal metros.
• Job growth: Expanding metro areas in the South and West have created employment opportunities in technology, healthcare, logistics, and construction.
• Remote work: The rise of remote work since 2020 has allowed more Americans to move without changing jobs, often toward lower-cost or higher-amenity states.
• Domestic migration: Net migration—not natural increase—is now the main differentiator between fast-growing and slow-growing states.

Why It Matters

Population growth affects nearly every aspect of state policy and daily life. Faster-growing states gain congressional seats and electoral votes after each decennial census, while slower-growing or shrinking states lose them. Growth also increases demand for housing, schools, roads, and utilities, which can strain infrastructure but also expand the tax base and labor supply.

For businesses, population growth signals expanding consumer markets and available workers. For residents, it can mean rising home prices and congestion, but also more economic opportunity. Understanding which states are growing—and why—helps policymakers, investors, and families plan for the future.

Methodology

The U.S. Census Bureau produces annual population estimates for each state as of July 1. These estimates incorporate births, deaths, and net migration, and are revised as new data become available. The year-over-year growth rate is the percentage change from the previous July 1. Net migration is calculated as the number of people moving into a state minus those moving out, often expressed per 1,000 residents.

This article draws on multiple compilations of Census data: America’s Dashboard for 2026 year-over-year growth, Visual Capitalist for 2020–2025 growth, SmartAsset for 2026 winners and losers, and World Population Review for 2010–2020 decennial comparisons.

Limitations of the Data

Population estimates are not exact counts; they are subject to revision and can differ from decennial census results. Small states can show large percentage swings from relatively modest absolute changes. Annual migration data may lag and can be affected by temporary factors such as the pandemic, natural disasters, or economic shocks. Comparisons across sources should also account for different time periods and methodologies.

Because percentage growth and absolute growth tell different stories, no single ranking captures the full picture. A small state with a high growth rate may add fewer people than a large state with a lower rate.

Source & Data Date

Primary source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program. The 2026 year-over-year figures reflect the most recent annual estimates as compiled by America’s Dashboard. The 2020–2025 growth rates are from Visual Capitalist’s mapping of Census data. The 2010–2020 decennial changes are from World Population Review. The 2026 winners-and-losers study is from SmartAsset, published August 17, 2026.