Summary
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that while the United States population grew by 1.8 million people from mid-2024 to mid-2025, five states—California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont, and West Virginia—saw their populations decrease. The decrease in these states is connected to issues such as high living costs, economic challenges, and reduced international migration.
Key Facts
- The U.S. population grew by 0.5% from July 2024 to July 2025.
- California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont, and West Virginia saw population declines during this period.
- California's population decreased by about 9,000 people or 0.02%.
- Hawaii's population fell by 0.14%.
- New Mexico, Vermont, and West Virginia each lost between 1,000 to 2,000 residents.
- The U.S. overall experienced the slowest population growth rate since the early COVID-19 pandemic.
- A significant drop in net international migration contributed to the slowdown in population growth.
- High cost of living and economic factors in each state are reasons for the population declines.
