Population declined in 16 states, Census estimates show; drop could hurt rural areas that need immigrants

Population change, July 2010 to July 2020
Stateline map based on Census Bureau estimates; click the image to enlarge it or click here for the interactive version.

"With a perfect storm of aging residents, low birth rates, Covid-19 deaths and immigration cutbacks, 16 states saw population decreases last year as the United States experienced the slowest national population growth since the Great Depression," Tim Henderson reports for Stateline. "The nation grew only about 7% between 2010 and 2020, similar to the previous historic low between 1930 and 1940, according to new Census Bureau estimates, which do not reflect the 2020 census counts. The agency will release the final 2020 census tally in March."

The population declined could hurt rural economies. "Many smaller cities and towns depend on unskilled farm or factory labor and need more immigration to stay productive," Henderson reports.