Is Delaware's population growing or shrinking?
Updated annually
It grew by 15,500 between 2023 and 2024. That’s more than the population of the city of Milford. Changes in population reflect birth and death rates, immigration patterns, regional shifts, and even the overall health of the economy. Delaware’s 1.5% annual increase was primarily driven by people moving from other states. In the decade between 2014 and 2024, Delaware’s population grew by 12.5%.
+15.5K
population change (2023 to 2024)
+1.5%
percent change in population (2023 to 2024)
Since 2000, Delaware's population increased in 24 of 24 years. The largest increase occurred between 2022 and 2023, when it gained 15,800 residents. The state's smallest increase during the 21st century occurred between 2008 and 2009 when it gained 7,900 residents.
Delaware gained 15,500 residents between 2023 and 2024.
Annual population change
A state’s population is influenced by three factors:
- Natural population change: If births outnumber deaths in a given year, natural population growth is positive. If deaths exceed births, it is negative. Between 2023 to 2024 natural population change was negative in Delaware, with deaths exceeding births by 21.
- Immigration: international migration directly into or out of a state. If more people move in than move out, population change from immigration is positive. If more people move out than move in, it’s negative. Delaware’s population change from immigration was positive, with about 7,300 more people coming from another country to Delaware than leaving.
- Domestic migration, moving between states: Delaware’s population change from domestic migration was positive, with about 8,200 more people moving to Delaware from other states than leaving.
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Between 2023 and 2024, domestic migration was the primary driver of population growth in Delaware.
Components of population change
Among 3 county equivalents, Sussex County had the largest population growth in Delaware, welcoming 7,159 new residents. Kent County gained the fewest, with a gain of 2,567 residents.
Sussex County led Delaware in percent population increase between 2023 and 2024 at 2.7 percent. New Castle County ranked last with a 0.99 percent increase.
Between 2023 and 2024, Sussex County gained 2.7% in population, the largest increase in Delaware.
Population change
Between 2014 and 2024, Delaware’s population has increased by 12.5%. During that same period, the US population grew by 6.5%. Delaware ranks 9th among states in population growth over that decade.
Delaware ranked ninth in population growth between 2014 and 2024.
Percent change in population
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
