Is Rhode Island's population growing or shrinking?
Updated annually
It grew by 8,900 between 2023 and 2024. That’s more than the population of the city of Hopkinton. Changes in population reflect birth and death rates, immigration patterns, regional shifts, and even the overall health of the economy. Rhode Island’s 0.8% annual increase was primarily driven by immigration to the state. In the decade between 2014 and 2024, Rhode Island’s population grew by 3.6%.
+8.88K
population change (2023 to 2024)
+0.8%
percent change in population (2023 to 2024)
Since 2000, Rhode Island's population increased in 19 of 24 years. The largest increase occurred between 2023 and 2024, when it gained 8,900 residents. The state's largest decline during the 21st century occurred between 2004 and 2005 when it lost 6,700 residents.
Rhode Island gained 8,900 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 negative in Rhode Island, with deaths exceeding births by 362.
- 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. Rhode Island’s population change from immigration was positive, with about 9,500 more people coming from another country to Rhode Island than leaving.
- Domestic migration, moving between states: Rhode Island’s population change from domestic migration was negative, with about 305 more people leaving for another state than moving in.
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Between 2023 and 2024, immigration was the primary driver of population growth in Rhode Island.
Components of population change
Among 5 county equivalents, Providence County had the largest population growth in Rhode Island, welcoming 8,693 new residents. Newport County lost the most, with a loss of 375 residents.
Providence County led Rhode Island in percent population increase between 2023 and 2024 at 1.3%. Newport County ranked last with a 0.45% decline.
Between 2023 and 2024, Providence County gained 1.3% in population, the largest increase in Rhode Island.
Population change
Between 2014 and 2024, Rhode Island’s population has increased by 3.6%. During that same period, the US population grew by 6.5%. Rhode Island ranks 31st among states in population growth over that decade.
Rhode Island ranked 31st 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.
