Is Washington, DC's population growing or shrinking?
Refreshed annually
It grew by 2,300 between 2024 and 2025. Changes in population reflect birth and death rates, immigration patterns, regional shifts, and even the overall health of the economy. Washington, DC’s 0.34% annual increase was primarily driven by immigration to the state. In the decade between 2015 and 2025, Washington, DC’s population grew by 4.3%.
+2.34K
population change (2024 to 2025)
+0.34%
percent change in population (2024 to 2025)
Since 2000, Washington, DC's population increased in 19 of 25 years. The largest increase occurred between 2012 and 2013, when it gained 13,600 residents. The state's largest decline during the 21st century occurred between 2019 and 2020 when it lost 16,400 residents.
Washington, DC gained 2,300 residents between 2024 and 2025.
Annual population change, 1901–2025
What contributes to population change in Washington, DC?
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 2024 to 2025 natural population change was positive in Washington, DC, with births exceeding deaths by 2,500.
- 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. Washington, DC’s population change from immigration was positive, with about 3,900 more people coming from another country to Washington, DC than leaving.
- Domestic migration, moving between states: Washington, DC’s population change from domestic migration was negative, with about 4,100 more people leaving for another state than moving in.
Between 2024 and 2025, immigration was the primary driver of population growth in Washington, DC.
Components of population change, 2011–2025
Which counties in Washington, DC are growing? Which are shrinking?
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How does population change in Washington, DC compare to other states?
Between 2015 and 2025, Washington, DC’s population has increased by 4.3%. During that same period, the US population grew by 6.2%. Washington, DC’s population growth was higher than 23 states for the decade.
Washington, DC's population growth was higher than 23 states between 2015 and 2025.
Percent change in population
Population change between 2024 and 2025, by county in Washington, DC
| County | Population change rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | District of Columbia, DC | +0.34% |
Population change between 2015 and 2025, by state
| State | Population change rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Idaho | +22% |
| 2. | Utah | +17.9% |
| 3. | Florida | +16.5% |
| 4. | Texas | +15.8% |
| 5. | Nevada | +14.9% |
| 6. | South Carolina | +14.8% |
| 7. | Arizona | +13.7% |
| 8. | North Carolina | +12.4% |
| 9. | Delaware | +12.2% |
| 10. | Washington state | +11.4% |
How is the US population changing?
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
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.
