Is population growing or shrinking?

Updated annually
It grew by 5,400 between 2023 and 2024. That’s more than the population of the city of Norway. Changes in population reflect birth and death rates, immigration patterns, regional shifts, and even the overall health of the economy. Maine’s 0.38% annual increase was primarily driven by people moving from other states. In the decade between 2014 and 2024, Maine’s population grew by 5.1%.

+5.37K

population change (2023 to 2024)

+0.38%

percent change in population (2023 to 2024)
Since 2000, Maine's population increased in 21 of 24 years. The largest increase occurred between 2020 and 2021, when it gained 14,400 residents. The state's largest decline during the 21st century occurred between 2009 and 2010 when it lost 1,600 residents.

Maine gained 5,400 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 Maine, with deaths exceeding births by 5,200.
  • 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. Maine’s population change from immigration was positive, with about 5,200 more people coming from another country to Maine than leaving.
  • Domestic migration, moving between states:  Maine’s population change from domestic migration was positive, with about 5,300 more people moving to Maine from other states than leaving.

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Between 2023 and 2024, domestic migration was the primary driver of population growth in Maine.

Components of population change

Among 16 county equivalents, Cumberland County had the largest population growth in Maine, welcoming 2,551 new residents. Aroostook County lost the most, with a loss of 373 residents.
Cumberland County led Maine in percent population increase between 2023 and 2024 at 0.82 percent. Aroostook County ranked last with a 0.56 percent decline.

Between 2023 and 2024, Cumberland County gained 0.82% in population, the largest increase in Maine.

Population change

Between 2014 and 2024, Maine’s population has increased by 5.1%. During that same period, the US population grew by 6.5%. Maine ranks 25th among states in population growth over that decade.

Maine ranked 25th 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.