Is population growing or shrinking?

Refreshed annually
It grew by 7,900 between 2024 and 2025. That’s more than the population of Webster City. Changes in population reflect birth and death rates, immigration patterns, regional shifts, and even the overall health of the economy. Iowa’s 0.25% annual increase was primarily driven by immigration to the state. In the decade between 2015 and 2025, Iowa’s population grew by 3.3%.

+7.93K

population change (2024 to 2025)

+0.25%

percent change in population (2024 to 2025)
Since 2000, Iowa's population increased in 25 of 25 years. The largest increase occurred between 2012 and 2013, when it gained 19,700 residents. The state's smallest increase during the 21st century occurred between 2001 and 2002 when it gained 2,200 residents.

Iowa gained 7,900 residents between 2024 and 2025.

Annual population change, 1901–2025

What contributes to population change in Iowa?

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 2024 to 2025 natural population change was positive in Iowa, with births exceeding deaths by 2,900.
  • 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. Iowa’s population change from immigration was positive, with about 5,900 more people coming from another country to Iowa than leaving.
  • Domestic migration, moving between states: Iowa’s population change from domestic migration was negative, with about 970 more people leaving for another state than moving in.

Between 2024 and 2025, immigration was the primary driver of population growth in Iowa.

Components of population change, 2011–2025

Which counties in Iowa are growing? Which are shrinking?

Among 99 county equivalents, Dallas County had the largest population growth in Iowa, welcoming 3,645 new residents. Clay County lost the most, with a loss of 319 residents. County-level population data is available as of 2025.

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Dallas County led Iowa in percent population increase between 2024 and 2025 at 3.2 percent. Clay County ranked last with a 1.9 percent decline.

Between 2024 and 2025, Dallas County gained 3.2% in population, the largest increase in Iowa.

Population change

How does population change in Iowa compare to other states?

Between 2015 and 2025, Iowa’s population has increased by 3.3%. During that same period, the US population grew by 6.2%. Iowa ranks 32nd among states in population growth over that decade.

Iowa ranked 32nd in population growth between 2015 and 2025.

Percent change in population

Population change between 2024 and 2025, by county in Iowa

Population change between 2024 and 2025, by county in Iowa
CountyPopulation change rate
1.

Dallas County, IA

+3.2%
2.

Wayne County, IA

+1.6%
3.

Warren County, IA

+1.5%
4.

Guthrie County, IA

+0.89%
5.

Buchanan County, IA

+0.83%
6.

Johnson County, IA

+0.74%
7.

Linn County, IA

+0.71%
8.

Madison County, IA

+0.71%
9.

Marion County, IA

+0.7%
10.

Benton County, IA

+0.62%

Population change between 2015 and 2025, by state

Population change between 2015 and 2025, by state
StatePopulation change rate
1.

Idaho 

+22%
2.

Utah 

+17.9%
3.

Florida 

+16.5%
4.

Texas 

+15.8%
5.

Nevada 

+14.9%
6.

South Carolina

+14.8%
7.

Arizona 

+13.7%
8.

North Carolina

+12.4%
9.

Delaware 

+12.2%
10.

Washington state

+11.4%

How is the US population changing?

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

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.