Which US states are losing population?

Several U.S. states consistently lose population, primarily driven by domestic migration, with New York, California, and Illinois often cited for significant losses, along with smaller states like West Virginia, Mississippi, and Vermont seeing recent declines, while other states like Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and Oregon have also experienced losses, according to recent Census data.

What is the fastest shrinking state?

While several states are losing population, New York consistently ranks as the fastest shrinking state by percentage, losing around 0.5% annually between 2022-2023, followed by other significant declines in Illinois, Louisiana, and Hawaii, though West Virginia also experienced decline in recent years, and projections suggest increasing losses for Illinois, Mississippi, and West Virginia in the coming decades. 

What is the slowest growing state by population?

Population grew the slowest in Alaska (0.02%), Mississippi (0.03%), Michigan and New Mexico (both 0.04%), and Vermont (0.05%). Growth accelerated in 35 states, including nine of the 10 slowest-growing states.

What is the #1 overpopulated state?

The #1 most populous state in the U.S. is California, consistently leading with nearly 40 million residents, followed by Texas and Florida, though it's important to distinguish between total population and population density, where New Jersey ranks highest.
 

What is the fastest declining city in the United States?

Jackson, Mississippi is frequently cited as the fastest-shrinking major U.S. city by percentage, experiencing significant economic struggles leading to population loss, with other contenders for rapid decline including St. Louis, Missouri, Shreveport, Louisiana, and Pine Bluff, Arkansas, often losing residents to suburbs or economic hardship. However, lists vary by time frame and definition (city vs. metro area), with some data showing New Orleans as a fast-shrinking large metro area and cities like Monterey Park, South San Francisco, and Sandy, Utah also seeing significant drops. 

9 Million Americans Have Left the U.S. – Why Even Americans Don’t Want to Stay, Here’s Why

Which state is being left the most?

California and New York consistently see the most people leaving in sheer numbers, driven by high costs and taxes, though New Jersey often tops lists for the highest percentage of outbound moves, also citing expenses and retirement. Other states like Illinois and Massachusetts also experience significant population loss, with residents often moving to more affordable areas, particularly in the South. 

What is the fastest sinking city in the US?

Houston is the fastest-sinking city in the U.S., study finds. The study, published in the journal Nature Cities, found that 42% of Houston's land area was sinking about one-fifth inch per year, with 12% sinking at more than double that rate.

What is the blackest state by population?

Texas has the largest total Black population by number, but Mississippi and Louisiana have the highest percentage (proportion) of Black residents relative to their total population, with the District of Columbia having the highest percentage overall, though it's a district, not a state. So, "blackest" depends on whether you mean the most people or the highest proportion.
 

Which state is expected to gain the most?

Over the next 25 years, Texas is projected to gain 8.6 million residents, the highest absolute increase across states. Like Texas, Florida and California are projected to lead nationally in population gains, adding 5.2 million and 3.1 million people, respectively. In comparison, 18 states are projected to shrink.

What state will have the largest population in 2050?

Recently we reported that current, official population projections by state agencies indicate that Texas will become the most populous state by 2050. Over the following 10 years, the gap is projected to increase to nearly 5,000,000, with Texas at 44.4 million and California at 39.5 million (Figure 1).

What is the emptiest U.S. state?

The state of Alaska has — by far — the lowest population density in the United States, with only 1.3 people per square mile.

Is Florida gaining or losing population?

Florida's population is increasing significantly, consistently ranking as one of the nation's fastest-growing states, fueled primarily by domestic migration from other U.S. states (like New York, California, Texas) and international immigration, with major growth in its metro areas and a notable influx of older adults.
 

What states lose the most people?

According to a December release by the Census Bureau, California, Illinois and New York—along with West Virginia, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Hawaii and Oregon — lost population in 2023 compared to 2022. Throughout the new Census first released in 2020, all three states have shown continuously sinking population numbers.

Which US state is the most empty?

The most "empty" U.S. state, meaning the least densely populated, is Alaska, with only about 1.3 people per square mile, followed by Wyoming (6.0), Montana (7.1), and North Dakota (11.0). This is due to Alaska's massive size, harsh climate, and challenging terrain, making it sparsely inhabited despite its vast wilderness, with population concentrated in cities like Anchorage.
 

What state is #1 in quality of life?

There isn't one single answer, as different studies rank states differently, but Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Jersey frequently appear at the top for quality of life, with Vermont leading in CNBC's metrics (health, environment, inclusion), Massachusetts in WalletHub's overall rankings (healthcare, education), and New Jersey praised for safety and health. States like Minnesota, Idaho, and Utah also consistently rank high, emphasizing factors like strong economies, environments, and community well-being. 

What state is everyone moving to in 2025?

The top state Americans packed up their belongings and moved to in 2025 was Oregon, according to a United Van Lines study. The Beaver State topped the list with the highest percentage of inbound migration (65%), moving up from the No. 8 spot in 2024.

What state is hiring the most right now?

While different reports highlight different states based on specific metrics, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Minnesota consistently rank as top states with strong job markets and opportunities in late 2024/early 2025, with California showing the highest number of openings due to its large economy and specific industry needs. States in the "Battery Belt" like Michigan, Georgia, and the Carolinas are also seeing high demand in manufacturing. 

Where do most Black millionaires live?

Atlanta has the most black millionaires in the United States. This group of black people has a history of organizations and activities that distinguish it from other classes within the black community, as well as from the white upper class.

What race has the highest population in the world?

The Han Chinese are the world's largest single ethnic group, numbering over 1.4 billion and making up a significant portion of the global population, primarily in China, with large diasporas worldwide. While "race" is a complex concept, Han Chinese represent the biggest identifiable group by ethnicity, with Asians generally forming the largest racial demographic globally (around 60%).
 

What city has the worst quality of life?

Global Liveability Index

Copenhagen was ranked the most liveable city in 2025, while Damascus was ranked the least liveable.

What 9 cities could become unlivable by 2040?

The clip is titled “9 American Cities Facing Unlivable Conditions by 2040, Experts Say.” The nine cities are New Orleans, Phoenix, Miami, Chicago, Anchorage, Houston, San Francisco, Norfolk, and Las Vegas. The common denominator related to livability or unlivability in these cases (in some form or fashion) is water.

What is the most forgotten city in America?

There's no single "most forgotten city," but San Jose, California, is often cited as a major, forgettable city, while historic sites like Cahokia (Illinois) represent ancient, lost urban centers, and contemporary towns like Centralia (PA) and Gary (IN) are known for severe decline, earning them "forgotten" status due to economic collapse and decay. The "forgotten" label depends on whether you mean a large city overlooked by many, a historical place lost to time, or a modern city struggling with blight.