U.S. Population Growth Halves in 2025 as Net Migration Plunges, Census Says

Overview

• The U.S. population reached about 342 million on July 1, 2025, rising by 1.8 million for a 0.5% annual gain.
• Net international migration fell to roughly 1.3 million from about 2.7–2.8 million in 2024, and officials project a further drop toward about 321,000 if recent trends continue.
• Natural increase added 519,000 people as births and deaths held relatively steady from the prior year.
• The July 2024–July 2025 window spans the end of Joe Biden’s term and the early months of President Trump’s return, with researchers linking the slowdown to intensified immigration enforcement.
• State outcomes diverged: California posted a net loss of 9,500 on a sharp decline in immigration, South Carolina, Idaho and North Carolina led growth rates, and five states including Hawaii and New Mexico saw population declines.