U.S. Population Growth Slowing for Some States
- Famey Lockwood
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: a few seconds ago
Shifts in migration patterns affect the need and availability for healthcare; thus
U.S. Population Growth Slowing for Some States
will affect Nurses, Healthcare Informational Professionals, Informatics
both locally and globally.
Data from U.S. Census Bureau:
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest population estimates, U.S. population growth has slowed significantly. Between July 2024 and July 2025, the net international migration (NIM) population declined to about 1.3 million from a high of 2.7 million the previous year.
Overall U.S. population growth slowed but did not reverse nationwide.
Net international migration declined sharply (from ~2.7M to ~1.3M), which reduced total population growth.
Natural Change impact to population shifts:
Historically, U.S. population growth was driven largely by natural change, defined as “more births than deaths”. Natural change is specifically addressed in the census data, noting, “With natural change less of a contributor to growth than it used to be, some states – especially those without positive net domestic migration – are dependent on international migration for their population to grow.”
State-Level Population Changes:
States experiencing the highest population increases included:
South Carolina
North Carolina
Idaho
Delaware
Meanwhile, states with notable population declines included:
California
New York
Illinois
Despite the overall slowdown, nearly all states experienced an increase in their immigrant population in 2024, underscoring how central international migration has become to population stability across the country.
The author’s view >> U.S. states that have lost population and are not gaining in population ** “are dependent on international migration for their population to grow.” The current state of World Affairs brings much thought and preponderance to this topic.
You might ask, “Why the decline in 2025?”
🏛️ The current federal government administration’s policies are viewed as the main reason.
🏛️ The sharp drop in net international migration between 2024 and 2025 raises important questions. Many observers point to changes in federal immigration enforcement and policy, along with global instability and processing backlogs, as contributing factors.
While the Census does not address causation,
the policy implications are “front and center” in our daily lives.
Takeaway for Healthcare Professionals:
🚀 The recent slowdown in U.S. population growth, driven largely by a sharp decline in net international migration, has important implications for the healthcare workforce and health data infrastructure. As many states increasingly rely on immigration to sustain population levels, nurses and health information management (HIM) professionals will be directly affected by shifting patient demographics, workforce availability, and care demands.
🖊️ Changes in migration patterns affect where healthcare services are most needed and require nurses and providers to adapt to more diverse cultural and language needs. For nurses on the front lines and HIM professionals managing health information, understanding these population trends is essential for workforce planning, resource allocation, and most of all – maintaining one’s career.
Stay informed, connected and supportive – healthcare professionals. Population trends are but one aspect in our rapidly changing career landscape.
Source:
US Census Bureau, Decreases in Net International Migration Slowed Population Growth Across the Country, published: January 27, 2026; accessed February 3, 2026
Written by: George M. Hayward and Luke T. Rogers
U.S. Population Growth Slowing for Some States
Thoughts and content are from #FameyGirl – review and approval by AI.
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