In the next 25 years, Texas is expected to see an increase of 8.6 million residents, marking the highest growth among all states.
Florida and California are also projected to experience significant population gains, with forecasts of 5.2 million and 3.1 million additional residents, respectively. In stark contrast, 18 states are anticipated to see a decline in population.
A graphic from Visual Capitalist’s Dorothy Neufeld illustrates America’s fastest-growing states by 2050, based on predictions from the University of Virginia.
The Numbers Behind Population GrowthÂ
From now until 2050, the U.S. is estimated to grow by 9%, adding nearly 32 million people to the population.
However, this growth will not be uniform across states. For example, Utah is predicted to grow nearly four times faster than the national average at 35%, while West Virginia is expected to see a population decrease of 15%.
Notably, North Dakota, Idaho, and Washington D.C. are all forecasted to experience growth of 30% during this period. Additionally, nine states, including Georgia and North Carolina, are projected to gain over 1 million residents each. In contrast, New York’s population is set to grow by just 4%, adding approximately 820,000 people—much lower than other large states.
On the flip side, Illinois is anticipated to face the steepest decline, losing 1.1 million residents.
As migration slows and fertility rates decrease due to an aging population, America’s overall growth is expected to decelerate in the coming decades. By 2050, it is predicted that 25% of Maine and Florida’s populations will be 65 years or older.
