The U.S. census has been conducted once every decade since 1790. The first results of the 2020 survey were released in April, and they show that the country’s population grew over the previous 10 years at the second-lowest pace in history, increasing by 7.4%, to 331,449,281 — about half the rate it grew by in the previous ten years, during which the last millennials (the largest generation in American history) were born.
While U.S. population growth regularly topped 30% in the 1800s, the last time the U.S. exhibited growth above 20% was prior to World War I. The only time the U.S. population grew at a slower rate than in the 2010s was in the wake of the Great Depression in the 1930s.
That era also saw a redistribution of the population around the country, as impoverished families packed up and moved to greener pastures — sometimes literally, considering that the Dust Bowl turned swaths of America into arid wasteland. Some rural areas in Oklahoma and Texas, for example, experienced population declines of 25% while California’s population jumped nearly 22% in the 1930s.
In the 2010s, Americans continued to migrate to the country’s South and West. Traditional migration magnets California and New York have been losing out to the Sunbelt states of Florida and Texas. California just gave up a population-linked congressional seat for the first time in 170 years, while Ohio, New York, Colorado, Montana and Oregon also lost political influence in the House of Representatives. Florida and North Carolina each gained a seat while Texas gained two.
Our analysis includes the resident population for the 50 states, as ascertained by the Twenty-Fourth Decennial Census under Title 13, United States Code, and counts of U.S. military and federal civilian employees living overseas (and their dependents living with them overseas) allocated to their home state, as reported by the employing federal agencies. Overseas is defined as any location outside the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. The apportionment population excludes the populations of the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
West Virginia had the largest population drop in the last 10 years. Here are the details:
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: -3.3%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 1,854,239
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 1,793,716
Click here to see how every state’s population has changed since 2010
Source: Chilkoot / Getty Images
1. Alabama
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +2.7%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 713,910
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 733,391
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Source: Dreamframer / Getty Images
3. Arizona
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +11.6%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 6,407,172
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 7,151,502
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
4. Arkansas
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +3.1%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 2,921,964
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 3,011,524
Source: choness / Getty Images
5. California
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +5.9%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 37,319,502
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 39,538,223
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Source: Planet Unicorn / Getty Images
6. Colorado
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +14.4%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 5,047,349
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 5,773,714
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
7. Connecticut
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +0.7%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 3,579,114
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 3,605,944
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
8. Delaware
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +10.0%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 899,593
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 989,948
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
9. Florida
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +14.3%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 18,845,537
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 21,538,187
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
10. Georgia
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +10.3%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 9,711,881
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 10,711,908
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Source: okimo / iStock via Getty Images
11. Hawaii
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +6.7%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 1,363,963
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 1,455,271
Source: knowlesgallery / Getty Images
12. Idaho
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +17.1%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 1,570,746
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 1,839,106
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
13. Illinois
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: -0.2%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 12,840,503
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 12,812,508
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Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
14. Indiana
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +4.5%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 6,490,432
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 6,785,528
Source: pabradyphoto / Getty Images
15. Iowa
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +4.6%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 3,050,745
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 3,190,369
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Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
16. Kansas
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +2.8%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 2,858,190
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 2,937,880
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
17. Kentucky
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +3.6%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 4,348,181
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 4,505,836
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Source: f11photo / Getty Images
18. Louisiana
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +2.5%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 4,544,532
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 4,657,757
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
19. Maine
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +2.6%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 1,327,629
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 1,362,359
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
20. Maryland
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +6.7%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 5,788,645
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 6,177,224
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
21. Massachusetts
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +7.1%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 6,566,307
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 7,029,917
Source: pawel.gaul / Getty Images
22. Michigan
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +2.0%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 9,877,510
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 10,077,331
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Source: Scruggelgreen / Getty Images
23. Minnesota
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +7.5%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 5,310,828
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 5,706,494
24/7 Wall St.
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
24. Mississippi
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: -0.3%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 2,970,548
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 2,961,279
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
25. Missouri
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +2.7%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 5,995,974
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 6,154,913
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Source: peeterv / Getty Images
26. Montana
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +9.4%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 990,697
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 1,084,225
Source: ChrisBoswell / Getty Images
27. Nebraska
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +7.2%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 1,829,542
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 1,961,504
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Source: gchapel / Getty Images
28. Nevada
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +14.9%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 2,702,405
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 3,104,614
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
29. New Hampshire
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +4.6%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 1,316,762
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 1,377,529
Source: Creative-Family / Getty Images
30. New Jersey
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +5.6%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 8,799,446
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 9,288,994
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Source: ferrantraite / Getty Images
31. New Mexico
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +2.6%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 2,064,552
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 2,117,522
Source: FilippoBacci / Getty Images
32. New York
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +4.1%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 19,399,878
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 20,201,249
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
33. North Carolina
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +9.0%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 9,574,323
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 10,439,388
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
34. North Dakota
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +15.5%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 674,715
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 779,094
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
35. Ohio
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +2.3%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 11,539,336
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 11,799,448
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
36. Oklahoma
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +5.3%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 3,759,944
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 3,959,353
Source: 4nadia / Getty Images
37. Oregon
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +10.4%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 3,837,491
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 4,237,256
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Source: f11photo / Getty Images
38. Pennsylvania
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +2.3%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 12,711,160
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 13,002,700
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
39. Rhode Island
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +4.1%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 1,053,959
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 1,097,379
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
40. South Carolina
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +10.4%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 4,635,649
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 5,118,425
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Source: EunikaSopotnicka / Getty Images
41. South Dakota
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +8.6%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 816,166
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 886,667
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
42. Tennessee
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +8.7%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 6,355,311
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 6,910,840
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
43. Texas
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +15.5%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 25,241,971
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 29,145,505
Source: johnnya123 / Getty Images
44. Utah
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +17.9%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 2,775,332
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 3,271,616
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
45. Vermont
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +2.7%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 625,879
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 643,077
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
46. Virginia
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +7.6%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 8,023,699
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 8,631,393
Source: thyegn / iStock via Getty Images
47. Washington
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +14.3%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 6,742,830
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 7,705,281
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
48. West Virginia
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: -3.3%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 1,854,239
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 1,793,716
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
49. Wisconsin
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +3.6%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 5,690,475
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 5,893,718
Source: collins_family / Flickr
50. Wyoming
> Pct. change in population, 2010-2020: +2.2%
> Resident population, July 1, 2010: 564,487
> Resident population, April 1, 2020: 576,851
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