Immigration Fuels Urban Growth: US Population Surges Past 340 Million

International immigrants contributed significantly to the growth of the largest urban counties in the US. The Census Bureau's 2024 estimates reveal that immigrants primarily settled in the urban cores of metropolitan areas, offsetting population declines resulting from domestic relocations. This trend underscores immigration's vital role in reversing natural population decreases.

Immigrants were the driving force behind the growth of the largest urban counties in the United States last year, according to the latest population estimates from the US Census Bureau. The estimates show significant growth in core counties of the Houston, Miami, and Phoenix metropolitan areas, primarily due to international migration.

Without the influx of immigrants, counties such as Harris County, Texas, Miami-Dade County, Florida, and Maricopa County, Arizona, would have seen more people moving out than moving in. The surge in international migration has counteracted the trend of domestic relocations and declining birth rates, pushing the US population above 340 million for the first time.

The dissonance between domestic and international migration patterns is evident, as immigrants continue to prefer living in urban cores while domestic residents gravitate towards suburban areas. Areas like New York, which lost residents during the pandemic, have rebounded with a dramatic influx of international migrants, highlighting the significant impact of immigration on urban population dynamics.

(With inputs from agencies.)