Texas leads nation in population growth. Here's what's driving the gains

Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Dec 26, 2024

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Texas gained more new people than any other state between July 2023 and July 2024, according to Census data.

Texas’s population jumped by 562,941 people. Florida saw the second highest numeric growth with 467,347 new people and California the third with 232,570.

Washington, D.C., and Florida both topped Texas percentage growth, with D.C.’s population increasing by 2.2% and Florida’s increasing by 2%. Texas saw a 1.8% increase in its population.

The latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show that the nation’s population has topped 340 million people and is growing the fastest it has since 2001. The growth is primarily driven by net international migration, defined by the bureau as “any change of residence across U.S. borders.”

Every state saw an increase in international migration. Texas saw the third largest gain after Florida and California, 319,569 people.

Texas saw the largest difference between the number of births and deaths, gaining 158,753 new people. Texas also saw the largest uptick in domestic migration, gaining 85,267 people.

The South was the fastest growing region overall, gaining more people than all of the other regions combined, according to the Census Bureau.

All but three states — West Virginia, Vermont and Mississippi — had populations that grew between 2023 and 2024.

Texas remains the second most populous state, after California.

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