Is Missouri's population growing or shrinking?
Updated annually
It grew by 37,400 between 2023 and 2024. That’s more than the population of the city of Wildwood. Changes in population reflect birth and death rates, immigration patterns, regional shifts, and even the overall health of the economy. Missouri’s 0.6% annual increase was primarily driven by immigration to the state. In the decade between 2014 and 2024, Missouri’s population grew by 3.1%.
+37.4K
population change (2023 to 2024)
+0.6%
percent change in population (2023 to 2024)
Since 2000, Missouri's population increased in 24 of 24 years. The largest increase occurred between 2005 and 2006, when it gained 52,400 residents. The state's smallest increase during the 21st century occurred between 2021 and 2022 when it gained 8,000 residents.
Missouri gained 37,400 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 positive in Missouri, with births exceeding deaths by 1,500.
- 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. Missouri’s population change from immigration was positive, with about 23,600 more people coming from another country to Missouri than leaving.
- Domestic migration, moving between states: Missouri’s population change from domestic migration was positive, with about 12,300 more people moving to Missouri from other states than leaving.
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Between 2023 and 2024, immigration was the primary driver of population growth in Missouri.
Components of population change
Among 115 county equivalents, Jackson County had the largest population growth in Missouri, welcoming 7,079 new residents. St. Louis city lost the most, with a loss of 3,077 residents.
Cedar County led Missouri in percent population increase between 2023 and 2024 at 2.2 percent. Putnam County ranked last with a 2.2 percent decline.
Between 2023 and 2024, Cedar County gained 2.2% in population, the largest increase in Missouri.
Population change
Between 2014 and 2024, Missouri’s population has increased by 3.1%. During that same period, the US population grew by 6.5%. Missouri ranks 34th among states in population growth over that decade.
Missouri ranked 34th 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.
