US Population Growth Slows to 0.5% in 2025, Marking Post-Pandemic Low
Population growth in the United States experienced a significant slowdown in 2025, with the country adding just 1.8 million people between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to the Vintage 2025 population estimates released by the US Census Bureau on Tuesday, January 27. This represents a growth rate of only 0.5%, marking the slowest pace since the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2025 figures stand in stark contrast to the previous year's strong rebound, when the US population grew by 3.2 million people, or 1.0% — the fastest growth rate since 2006. The current slowdown brings the growth rate closer to the record-low 0.2% expansion recorded in 2021 during the height of pandemic disruptions.
Sharp Decline in International Migration Drives National Slowdown
Census officials have identified a historic decline in net international migration as the primary driver behind the deceleration in population growth. According to the Census Bureau, net international migration dropped to 1.3 million between July 2024 and June 2025, down from 2.7 million in the previous year — representing a dramatic decline of nearly 54%.
"With births and deaths remaining relatively stable, the sharp decline in net international migration is the main reason for the slower growth rate we see today," explained Christine Hartley, assistant division chief for Estimates and Projections at the Census Bureau.
If current trends continue, the bureau projects that net international migration could fall even further to approximately 321,000 by July 2026, potentially exacerbating the population growth slowdown in the coming years.
Midwest Emerges as Regional Bright Spot with Broad-Based Gains
Despite the national slowdown, the Midwest region emerged as a notable exception, becoming the only US region where all states recorded population growth between July 2024 and July 2025. The Midwest added 244,385 people in 2025, continuing positive trends established in 2023 and 2024 after experiencing population declines in 2021 and modest growth in 2022.
Census officials attribute the Midwest's resilience to positive domestic migration and slight improvements in natural change. "For the first time this decade, the Midwest saw positive net domestic migration," noted Marc Perry, senior demographer at the Census Bureau.
Ohio and Michigan were particularly significant contributors to the region's growth, successfully reversing large domestic migration losses that had characterized the earlier part of the decade.
South Carolina Leads State-Level Growth with 1.5% Expansion
At the state level, South Carolina emerged as the fastest-growing state in the nation, with its population rising by 1.5% during the measurement period. This growth was driven largely by strong net domestic migration, reflecting the state's continued appeal to internal migrants.
Idaho and North Carolina followed closely behind South Carolina in growth rankings, while Texas posted solid growth from a combination of natural change and international migration, despite experiencing slower inflows compared to previous years.
Regional Variations and State-Level Declines
All four US census regions recorded population growth in 2025, but at a slower pace than in recent years. The South's growth rate fell below 1% for the first time since 2021, while the Northeast experienced the steepest slowdown among all regions.
Five states — California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont, and West Virginia — experienced population declines during the measurement period, highlighting the uneven nature of demographic changes across the country.
The Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 estimates provide crucial insights into shifting demographic patterns that will influence economic planning, resource allocation, and policy decisions at both federal and state levels in the coming years.
