New York State experiences significant population growth

Recent census data shows that New York State has reversed a trend of population loss, recording the largest numeric gain in the U.S. from 2023 to 2024. This follows a period when many residents left the Empire State. The U.S. population grew by nearly 1 percent since 2023, climbing after low growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. New York City’s population is also increasing, highlighted by Mayor Eric Adams. In 2024, births in New York outnumbered deaths for the first time in years. However, the state still faced significant migration outflows, joining California and Illinois among the states with the highest population losses due to people moving away. From 2020 to 2023, most towns and cities in New York saw declines in population. New York City experienced a notable drop, losing over 336,000 residents in the first year of the pandemic. Despite losing nearly 121,000 residents to migration in 2024, the overall population increased by almost 130,000. Analysts suggest that younger adults are among those moving out for jobs, housing, and other opportunities. New York remains the fourth-most populous state, with about 19.8 million residents, although this is roughly 400,000 less than 2020. The rate of people leaving the Northeast slowed down slightly in 2024. Mayor Adams emphasized the positive changes in New York, stating that the city is recovering from its pandemic challenges and focused on future growth. Experts note that the future population trends may be uncertain as they have been affected by the pandemic.