Idaho’s population growth drops to 12th nationally

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With the release of the final population estimates for the year, Idaho’s population growth slowed considerably between July 2008 and July 2009, but the state still ranks as the 12th fastest growing state in the nation.  

The state Department of Labor reported that the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the state’s population grew by 1.2 percent between mid-2008 and mid-2009, the slowest growth rate for Idaho since 2002 following the last national recession. Wyoming ranked first in growth rate at 2.1 percent while Texas gained 478,000 people, more than any other state.

Nationally, the U.S. population grew 0.9 percent, the same rate as the year before. These figures were released Dec. 24.

Just over 18,000 more people lived in Idaho in mid 2009 than the year before, increasing the state’s total population to 1,545,801. The Census Bureau revised its 2008 estimate upward by 3,600.

A dramatic decline in the number of people moving into Idaho contributed to the state’s population slowdown. In-migration fell to 3,700 from mid-2008 to mid-2009. Last year, in-migration was 14,000, the first time under 20,000 in four years.

Natural population growth – births less deaths – increased slightly to 14,300.

The economic slowdown that has cost Idaho 47,500 jobs during this same time frame also slowed Idaho’s rate from 18th in total migration last year to 34th this year.

Idaho remains as the 39th most populated state, about 250,000 behind Nebraska and 221,000 ahead of New Hampshire. California was again the most populated state at just under 37 million, a 1 percent growth rate.

Since the 2000 Census, Idaho’s population has increased by 19.5 percent – nearly 252,000 people – the fifth fastest rate nationally behind Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Georgia. About 116,000 of that increase came from natural growth and the rest from in-migration.

*Idaho Business Review Staff