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Ranked: U.S. Population Growth by State (1970–2025)

Published 3 weeks ago, on May 30, 2026, By Bruno Venditti

Design by Amy Kuo

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Ranked: U.S. Population Growth by State (1970–2025)

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Key Takeaways

• Nevada’s population surged 572% since 1970, making it America’s fastest-growing state by a wide margin.
  
• Population growth was concentrated across the Sun Belt and Mountain West, led by Arizona, Florida, Texas, and Utah.
  
• Most Northeastern and Midwestern states grew far more slowly, while Washington, D.C. was the only region to lose population overall.
  

America’s population shifted dramatically toward the South and West between 1970 and 2025, reshaping the country’s economic and political landscape.

States across the Sun Belt and Mountain West saw explosive growth as Americans moved toward lower-cost housing, warmer climates, and expanding job markets. Meanwhile, many Northeastern and Midwestern states posted comparatively modest gains.

The data for this visualization comes from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Nevada’s Las Vegas Boom

Nevada recorded the fastest population growth in the country, expanding by 572% since 1970. The state’s transformation was largely fueled by Las Vegas evolving from a tourism-centered economy into a broader metropolitan hub with expanding healthcare, logistics, construction, and business sectors.

Arizona ranked second, growing by 329%, while Florida nearly tripled its population over the same period.Search:

Rank	State	Growth	1970 population	2025 population
1	Nevada	572%	488,738	3,282,188
2	Arizona	329%	1,775,399	7,623,818
3	Florida	246%	6,791,418	23,462,518
4	Utah	234%	1,059,273	3,538,904
5	Idaho	185%	713,015	2,029,733
6	Texas	183%	11,198,655	31,709,821
7	Colorado	172%	2,209,596	6,012,561
8	Georgia	146%	4,587,930	11,302,748
9	Alaska	144%	302,583	737,270
10	Washington	134%	3,413,244	8,001,020
11	North Carolina	120%	5,084,411	11,197,968
12	South Carolina	115%	2,590,713	5,570,274
13	New Mexico	109%	1,017,055	2,125,498
14	Oregon	104%	2,091,533	4,273,586
15	California	97%	19,971,069	39,355,309

Much of this growth came from Americans relocating away from higher-cost states in search of cheaper housing, lower taxes, warmer weather, and expanding job markets across the South and West.

The Rise of the Sun Belt

The biggest winners over the last 55 years were concentrated across the Sun Belt and Mountain West. Texas, Utah, Colorado, Georgia, and the Carolinas all more than doubled their populations as jobs and affordable housing drew in new residents.

Texas added more than 20 million residents between 1970 and 2025, more than the current population of New York state.

The state’s diversified economy, including energy, technology, manufacturing, and finance, helped fuel sustained growth across major cities like Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio.

Florida’s growth story was similarly dramatic. Beyond retirees, the state attracted workers and businesses seeking lower taxes and lower living costs compared to coastal Northeastern states.

Read more: Ranked: U.S. Population Growth by State (1970–2025) – Visual Capitalist

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