Listen to the article
U.S. Population Growth Slows as Immigration Drops Under Trump Policies
President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown has significantly slowed U.S. population growth, according to new Census Bureau data released Tuesday. The nation’s population reached nearly 342 million people in 2025, but the annual growth rate fell to 0.5%, down sharply from the previous year’s nearly 1% increase.
Immigration, which had been the primary driver of U.S. population growth, saw a dramatic decline. Only 1.3 million people entered the country in 2025, less than half of the 2.8 million who immigrated in 2024. The Census Bureau’s report does not differentiate between legal and illegal immigration in these figures.
The 2025 growth rate represents a significant shift in demographic trends. For context, the lowest growth rate in the past 125 years occurred in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the population grew by just 0.16%, or 522,000 people. Before that, the lowest rate was just under 0.5% in 1919 during the Spanish flu pandemic.
Natural population increase—births exceeding deaths—contributed 519,000 people to the nation’s growth in 2025, indicating that immigration remains the primary factor in overall population expansion despite the recent decline.
The immigration slowdown has particularly affected states that traditionally attract large numbers of immigrants. California, which gained 232,000 residents in 2024, experienced a net population loss of 9,500 people in 2025. While domestic outmigration remained relatively consistent between the two years, the number of immigrants moving to California plummeted from 361,000 to 109,000.
Florida, facing its own challenges with rising housing costs and escalating home insurance premiums, saw decreases in both domestic and international migration. The state attracted only 22,000 residents from other states in 2025, down from 64,000 the previous year. Similarly, the flow of immigrants into Florida fell from over 411,000 to 178,000 people.
New York barely grew at all in 2025, adding just 1,008 residents. The state’s net immigration dropped by more than half, from 207,000 to 95,600 people.
The data release comes as researchers attempt to assess the effects of Trump’s immigration policies since his return to the White House in January 2025. The president made border security a central campaign issue during his successful 2024 bid for the presidency.
The Census figures reflect population changes from July 2024 to July 2025, spanning the end of President Joe Biden’s administration and the first six months of Trump’s return to office. The numbers capture the initial immigration enforcement surges in Los Angeles and Portland, but do not reflect the impact of similar operations later launched in Chicago, New Orleans, Memphis, and Minneapolis.
The 2025 figures mark a stark contrast from 2024, when international migration accounted for 84% of the nation’s 3.3 million population increase. That year’s immigration surge was partly attributed to a new counting methodology that included people admitted for humanitarian reasons.
“They do reflect recent trends we have seen in out-migration, where the numbers of people coming in is down and the numbers going out is up,” explained Eric Jensen, a senior research scientist at the Census Bureau.
Unlike the decennial census that determines congressional representation and the distribution of $2.8 trillion in federal funding, these annual population estimates are calculated using government records and internal Census Bureau data.
The release of the 2025 estimates was delayed by last fall’s federal government shutdown and comes during a challenging period for U.S. statistical agencies. The Census Bureau lost approximately 15% of its workforce last year due to buyouts and layoffs implemented as part of the White House’s cost-cutting initiatives through the Department of Government Efficiency.
Recent actions by the Trump administration, including the dismissal of Erika McEntarfer as Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, have raised concerns about political interference in federal statistical agencies. However, Brookings Institution demographer William Frey expressed confidence in the Census Bureau’s work, stating, “I have no reason to doubt the numbers that come out.”
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
21 Comments
The report indicates that natural population increase, not just immigration, contributed to the growth. That’s an interesting dynamic to explore further. Immigration policies are just one factor in these demographic shifts.
Yes, the relative contributions of natural increase and immigration will be important to understand the full picture.
The report highlights that natural population increase still contributed to growth, which is an important counterpoint to the immigration decline. The overall demographic dynamics are complex.
Agreed, the interplay between natural increase and immigration is a crucial factor to consider in evaluating the population trends.
While the slowdown in population growth may have some economic implications, it’s important to look at the broader context and potential benefits as well. Sustainable population levels are an important consideration.
Good point. There can be pros and cons to population changes that should be carefully evaluated.
The comparison to historical low growth rates during pandemics is an interesting angle. I wonder how other factors like economic conditions and geopolitics may be influencing the latest slowdown.
Good observation. Contextualizing the current trends against past events and broader economic/political factors would provide valuable insights.
While the drop in immigration is notable, it’s important to understand the specific policy changes that led to this. Were there targeted restrictions, or broader shifts in migration patterns?
Exactly, digging into the policy details and their impacts would be crucial to fully assess the situation.
It’s noteworthy that the report doesn’t differentiate between legal and illegal immigration. That data point would be valuable to fully assess the impacts of policy changes.
Agreed, that’s an important nuance that would help paint a more complete picture of the population trends.
It will be interesting to see how this slowdown in population growth affects various industries and sectors of the US economy. Some may benefit, while others could face challenges.
Absolutely, the sectoral and regional impacts could vary widely and will be important to monitor going forward.
The data shows a significant drop in immigration, which seems to be the main driver of the reduced population growth. I’d be curious to see more details on the impacts across different industries and regions.
Agreed, the regional and industry-specific impacts would be important to understand. Population trends have wide-ranging effects.
A 0.5% growth rate is quite low historically. I wonder how this compares to other developed countries and what the implications could be for the US economy and labor market going forward.
Good point. Comparative analysis with other nations would provide helpful context on the significance of this slowdown.
Interesting to see how immigration policies can impact population growth. I wonder what the long-term effects will be for the US economy and labor force.
Yes, it’s a complex issue with many factors to consider. Lower immigration could lead to labor shortages in certain sectors.
The report provides a high-level overview, but more granular data and analysis would be helpful to fully understand the implications of this demographic shift. It’s a complex issue worth exploring further.