Due to the bad economic times that have plagued the country for the past several years, the U.S. is experiencing its slowest rate of population growth since World War II.

 

The population went up by about 2.8 million to 311.6 million from April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That translated to a growth rate of 0.9%, the smallest recorded since 1945, the last year of World War II.

 

A decline in births and fewer immigrants entering the U.S. brought about the slower population growth. About 703,000 immigrants arrived in 2010-2011, the smallest number since 1991. As for babies being born in the U.S., the rate dipped 7.3% from 2007 to 2010, a period covering the Great Recession and its aftermath.

 

Just five states accounted for half of the nation’s population growth: Texas (529,000, California (438,000), Florida (256,000), Georgia (128,000) and North Carolina (121,000). Three states actually lost population: Rhode Island, Michigan and Maine.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Economy Contributes to Slowest Population Growth Rate Since ’40s (by Sabrina Tavernise, New York Times)

Texas Gains the Most in Population Since the Census (U.S. Bureau of the Census)

5 Facts about the U.S. Population from Latest Census Figures (by David Wallechinsky, AllGov)

Detroit Sets National Record for Population Loss (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)