Is Montana's population growing or shrinking?
Updated annually
It grew by 5,900 between 2023 and 2024. That’s more than the population of Columbia Falls. Changes in population reflect birth and death rates, immigration patterns, regional shifts, and even the overall health of the economy. Montana’s 0.52% annual increase was primarily driven by people moving from other states. In the decade between 2014 and 2024, Montana’s population grew by 10.9%.
+5.93K
population change (2023 to 2024)
+0.52%
percent change in population (2023 to 2024)
Since 2000, Montana's population increased in 24 of 24 years. The largest increase occurred between 2020 and 2021, when it gained 19,300 residents. The state's smallest increase during the 21st century occurred between 2000 and 2001 when it gained 3,200 residents.
Montana gained 5,900 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 Montana, with births exceeding deaths by 12.
- 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. Montana’s population change from immigration was positive, with about 506 more people coming from another country to Montana than leaving.
- Domestic migration, moving between states: Montana’s population change from domestic migration was positive, with about 5,400 more people moving to Montana from other states than leaving.
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Between 2023 and 2024, domestic migration was the primary driver of population growth in Montana.
Components of population change
Among 56 county equivalents, Gallatin County had the largest population growth in Montana, welcoming 1,055 new residents. Roosevelt County lost the most, with a loss of 130 residents.
Broadwater County led Montana in percent population increase between 2023 and 2024 at 3 percent. Treasure County ranked last with a 3.7 percent decline.
Between 2023 and 2024, Broadwater County gained 3% in population, the largest increase in Montana.
Population change
Between 2014 and 2024, Montana’s population has increased by 10.9%. During that same period, the US population grew by 6.5%. Montana ranks 13th among states in population growth over that decade.
Montana ranked 13th 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.
