Is Virginia's population growing or shrinking?
Updated annually
It grew by 76,500 between 2023 and 2024. That’s more than the population of the city of Harrisonburg. Changes in population reflect birth and death rates, immigration patterns, regional shifts, and even the overall health of the economy. Virginia’s 0.88% annual increase was primarily driven by immigration to the state. In the decade between 2014 and 2024, Virginia’s population grew by 5.7%.
+76.5K
population change (2023 to 2024)
+0.88%
percent change in population (2023 to 2024)
Since 2000, Virginia's population increased in 24 of 24 years. The largest increase occurred between 2003 and 2004, when it gained 108,600 residents. The state's smallest increase during the 21st century occurred between 2020 and 2021 when it gained 21,300 residents.
Virginia gained 76,500 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 Virginia, with births exceeding deaths by 15,200.
- 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. Virginia’s population change from immigration was positive, with about 56,200 more people coming from another country to Virginia than leaving.
- Domestic migration, moving between states: Virginia’s population change from domestic migration was positive, with about 5,300 more people moving to Virginia from other states than leaving.
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Between 2023 and 2024, immigration was the primary driver of population growth in Virginia.
Components of population change
Among 133 county equivalents, Fairfax County had the largest population growth in Virginia, welcoming 14,248 new residents. Bristol city lost the most, with a loss of 352 residents.
New Kent County led Virginia in percent population increase between 2023 and 2024 at 3.8%. Bristol city ranked last with a 2.1% decline.
Between 2023 and 2024, New Kent County gained 3.8% in population, the largest increase in Virginia.
Population change
Between 2014 and 2024, Virginia’s population has increased by 5.7%. During that same period, the US population grew by 6.5%. Virginia ranks 21st among states in population growth over that decade.
Virginia ranked 21st 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.
