The U.S. Census Bureau announced on Mar. 26 that population growth slowed in a majority of the nation’s 3,143 counties and the District of Columbia between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to its Vintage 2025 population estimates.
This slowdown is significant as it reflects changing migration patterns and demographic trends across the United States. Lower levels of net international migration (NIM) were a key factor behind these shifts.
Among the counties that grew between 2023 and 2024, nearly eight out of ten saw their growth slow or reverse in the following year. Many declining counties experienced even greater losses during this period. Of the nation’s metropolitan statistical areas, more than three-quarters also had slower growth compared to the previous year. The steepest declines occurred along the U.S.-Mexico border: Laredo, Texas; Yuma, Arizona; and El Centro, California all reported significant drops in their population growth rates.
Nine out of ten U.S. counties experienced lower NIM between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025 compared to the prior year. In large urban centers—such as those in New York’s metro area—this reduction had a pronounced effect because these areas typically gain many international migrants but lose residents through domestic migration within the country. “The nation’s largest counties like those in the New York metro area are often international migration hubs, gaining large numbers of international migrants and losing people that move to other parts of the country via domestic migration,” explained George M. Hayward, a Census Bureau demographer. “With fewer gains from international migration, these types of counties saw their population growth diminish or even turn into loss.”
The data show regional differences as well: many fast-growing counties were located along Florida’s southeast coast as well as Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Among larger metropolitan areas especially in Texas’ outer suburbs—the fastest-growing regions tended to be on their edges rather than city centers.
Metro areas overall grew faster (0.6%) than micro areas (0.2%) or rural territories outside both categories (0.1%), though all saw reduced rates compared with previous years due mainly to NIM reductions rather than changes in natural increase or domestic movement trends.
Looking ahead, additional detailed demographic estimates by age groupings will be released by mid-year for states and Puerto Rico municipalities using new methodological improvements based on administrative data sources.
