Washington state’s steady population growth is another casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the most recent U.S. Census figures.
From July 1, 2020 through July 1, 2021, the Evergreen State’s population remained essentially static, reaching a meager 19,900 for a growth rate of 0.3%. Washington State ranked in the middle of the pack in terms of growth, ranking 24th among the 50 states.
Washington state’s slow growth mirrors that of a US population that grew by just 392,665 people in the past year — or 0.1% — according to the bureau’s published period population estimates. December 21. slower pace than any other year since the founding of the nation.
Side effects of COVID-19 include reduced immigration from other countries and fewer pregnancies.
“Population growth has been slowing for years due to declining birth rates and declining net international migration, while death rates are rising due to the country’s aging population,” said demographer Kristie Wilder. to the Population Division of the Census Bureau. in one Press release. “Now, with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, that combination has resulted in a historically slow pace of growth.”
Washington’s dramatically slowed growth represents a reversal of fortune for a state that has grown nearly 15% over the past 10 years to more than 7.7 million, according to Data published in April by the Census Bureau. The increase in the state’s population has no longer earned Washington seats in the United States House of Representatives, which remains at 10.
One of the most interesting numbers to come out of the most recent census data is net migration from Washington State, the number of people within the country who moved to Washington State minus the number of people who have moved. The Census Bureau estimates a statistically insignificant net loss of 29 people in Washington between 2020 and 2021. That’s compared to a net gain of 37,000 in 2019.
Internal migration was an important factor in Washington state’s steady growth before the pandemic. Washington state had the seventh highest internal migration total – 336,000 – from 2010 to 2019.
Even so, Washington has fared better than many states. Between 2020 and 2021, 17 states and the District of Columbia lost their total population.
Texas had the largest cumulative numerical gain over the past year, and Idaho had the fastest annual and cumulative population increase. New York has reported the greatest annual and cumulative population decline.
COVID-19 has claimed the lives of more than 9,800 people in Washington State. Across the country, more than 818,000 Americans have been killed by the pandemic.