Philadelphia's population grew by 10,500 residents

Philadelphia's population has increased for the first time in years, according to new data from the U.S. Census. Between 2023 and 2024, the city welcomed 10,500 new residents, bringing the total population to about 1.57 million. This growth is a notable shift after four years of decline. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, the city lost around 7,200 residents from 2022 to 2023. The recent increase is mainly due to international migration, which outpaced the number of people moving out of the city. During this period, over 21,300 immigrants arrived in Philadelphia, while approximately 15,300 U.S.-born residents left. Additionally, there were more births, with about 18,700 babies born compared to 14,100 deaths. Experts note that immigrants have played a crucial role in Philadelphia's population growth, especially since the 1990s. Professor Emilio Parrado highlighted that despite previous losses during the pandemic, the city is once again attracting new residents. Philadelphia's population dynamics are similar to trends seen in other Northeast cities. While the city's growth is positive, it still lags behind rapidly growing areas in the Sun Belt, like Harris County, Texas, which saw a much larger increase of 105,800 residents during the same timeframe.