Growth slows across U.S. counties as immigration plummets

Data: U.S. Census ; Map: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals Population growth is slowing in most counties nationwide amid a massive drop in immigration, new U.S. Census data shows. Why it matters: The new data offers the best look yet at how tighter immigration enforcement is affecting America's demographic makeup. Driving the news: International migration fell in nine out of 10 U.S. counties between 2024 and 2025 compared to the prior period, the Census Bureau says . Other counties stayed flat. Between the lines: That drop is hitting populous areas especially hard. Census Bureau demographer George M. Hayward, in a statement: "The nation's largest counties ... are often international migration hubs, gaining large numbers of international migrants and losing people that move to other parts of the country via domestic migration." "With fewer gains from international migration, these types of counties saw their population growth diminish or even turn into loss." Case in point: California's Los Angeles County lost nearly 54,000 people from 2024 to 2025, down about -0.6%. (It remains the biggest U.S. county, with about 9.7 million people.) The big picture: The U.S. overall still grew by 0.5% between 2024-25. But that's down from 1% over the previous period. Nationwide natural change (births minus deaths) held steady, while international migration plummeted from about 2.8 million people to 1.3 million — about a 55% drop. Caveat: The Census' international migration data include both foreigners and Americans coming home from abroad, including military service members. The other side: The fastest-growing metros overall from 2024-45 were Ocala, Fla. (+3.4%) ; Myrtle Beach, S.C. (+3.2%) and Spartanburg, S.C. (+2.8%) .

Go to News Site