America is still growing. But not by much.
According to U.S. Census estimatesreleased Jan. 27, population growth has slowed "significantly," with just 1.8 million more people between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025.
That amount of population growth – just 0.5% – is the slowest rate of growth since early in the COVID-19 pandemic, when a worldwide shutdown slowed population growth to just 0.2% in 2021. And it comes after a significant uptick in 2024, when 3.2 million people were added to the U.S. population, which grew by a full percentage point, the most growth since 2006.
The main culprit for slower growth? What one Census Bureau official called "a historic decline in net international migration."
But the data was also filled with continued alarming trends in birthrates and some surprising regions that are gaining population. Here's what to know.
Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains is hunkered down for what could be the worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. The storm began out of Texas and Oklahoma Friday evening, hitting the region with heavy sleet and snow. Forecasters have warned of "catastrophic" ice accumulation. On Saturday, the system is expected to push towards Virginia, dumping a foot of snow or more on parts of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, while New England sees double-digit subzero temperatures. See the dramatic scenes of frigid cold temperatures, beginning here with an image of a jogger on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 24, 2026. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
See stunning photos from the massive winter storm blanketing the US
Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains is hunkered down for what could bethe worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. The storm began out of Texas and Oklahoma Friday evening, hitting the region with heavy sleet and snow. Forecasters have warned of "catastrophic" ice accumulation. On Saturday, the system is expected to push towards Virginia, dumping a foot of snow or more on parts of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, while New England sees double-digit subzero temperatures. See the dramatic scenes of frigid cold temperatures, beginning here with an image of a jogger on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 24, 2026.
What fewer international migrants means for Americans
Christine Hartley, assistant division chief for estimates and projections at the Census Bureau, said in a release from the agency that migration into the U.S. dropped from 2.7 million people to 1.3 million during the period from July 2024-July 2025.
"With births and deaths remaining relatively stable compared to the prior year, the sharp decline in net international migration is the main reason for the slower growth rate we see today," Hartley continued.
The slowdown in population growth was evenly distributed across the country, the Census Bureau said, with every state except Montana and West Virginia seeing slower growth or accelerated declines in population.
The Census Bureau said that if current trends hold, migration into the U.S. will drop by another 1 million people, to about 321,000, by this July.
Fewer babies, slower growth
There were about 519,000 more births than deaths in the U.S. between July 2024 and July 2025, about the same as the year before, the Census Bureau said. That's a higher rate than during the pandemic but still "represents a significant decline from prior decades," according to the agency. In 2017, for example, there were 1.1 million more births than deaths, and during the years between 2000 and 2010, natural change accounted for between 1.6 million and 1.9 million.
Research showsAmerican women are having fewer babies, with percentage of women 40 to 44 who have one child nearly doubling from 10% in 1980 to 19% in 2022.
Susan Newman, a social psychologist and author of "Just One: The New Science, Secrets & Joy of Parenting an Only Child," told USA TODAY in 2025 that struggles with infertility, the high (and rising) cost of parenting and cultural shifts are some of the reasons people are choosing to be "one and done," having only one child.
Young adults, faced with higher costs for education, health care and housing, aredelaying typical milestoneslike marriage and family, as well.
America doesn't have enough babies.Could working from home deliver a baby boom?
Midwest is growing
Only one region of the country, the Midwest, saw every one of its states gain population between July 2024 and July 2025. The Midwest population has grown steadily each year since 2023, including slight gains in what the Census Bureau calls "natural change" — births minus deaths.
Marc Perry, a senior demographer for the Census Bureau, said for the first time in the 2020s, the Midwest saw net positive domestic migration — more people moving to the region from elsewhere within the U.S., a "notable turnaround" from population losses in 2021-2022.
Population pops in the Palmetto State
People are moving to South Carolina from elsewhere in the U.S., the Census Bureau noted: With 66,622 new residents moving in, the population grew by a total of 79,958 people between July 2024 and July 2025, the highest rate of growth (1.5%) of any state — though even that was down from a 1.8% increase in 2024.
South Carolina's neighbor, North Carolina, followed close behind at 1.3% growth. Idaho saw 1.4% growth, with both states' growth fueled largely by domestic migration, the Census Bureau said. Texas' 1.2% growth was spurred by both domestic and international movement, even with a sharp decrease in international migration. Utah's 1% growth came mainly from natural change — more births than deaths.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:New US Census data highlights immigration and an alarming trend