Which parts of the US witnessed the highest rise in population in 2023, thanks to immigration?
US Census Bureau's recent data release reveals a noteworthy uptick in the US population, surging by 1.6 million people in the past year. This increase, constituting a 0.5% rise, is attributed to a reduction in deaths and a return to pre-pandemic immigration levels.
Demographer Kristie Wilder of the bureau's population division notes, «Although births declined, this was tempered by the near 9% decrease in deaths. Ultimately, fewer deaths paired with rebounding immigration resulted in the nation experiencing its largest population gain since 2018.»
Southern states take the lead in growth
The majority of this population growth unfolded in the South, claiming an impressive 87% share of the overall increase. This region, resilient in maintaining population growth throughout the pandemic, added over 1.4 million residents, pushing its total population beyond 130 million.
The growth in the South was predominantly fueled by domestic migration, with more than 706,000 individuals relocating to the region, stretching from Texas to Delaware. Additionally, net international migration contributed nearly 500,000 new residents. Texas stands out as the state with the highest population increase, welcoming over 473,000 people, followed closely by Florida with 365,000 new inhabitants. South Carolina and Florida emerge as the fastest-growing states, experiencing population rises of 1.7% and 1.6%, respectively.
Dowell Myers, a professor of public policy at the University of Southern California, emphasizes the appeal of Southern states like Florida and South Carolina as retirement destinations. Meanwhile, Texas, with its thriving urban culture and high-tech job market,
