Reduced Immigration Weighed on Population Growth Across the Nation
Source: Economics Group of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Summary
U.S. population growth softened in 2025, dipping to 0.5% from 1.0% in 2024.
- A slowdown in immigration was the primary driver. Net new immigrant inflows declined by 54% to 1.3 million. That said, the pace of foreign-born migration last year still exceeded the 868K annual average from 2011 to 2019.
- Select States in the South and Mountain West continue to outperform. South Carolina led the nation with 1.5% population growth in 2025. Other top states included Idaho, North Carolina, Texas and Utah, each of which also ranked within the top five in 2024.