Is Washington state's population growing or shrinking?
Refreshed annually
It grew by 73,100 between 2024 and 2025. That’s more than the population of the city of Sammamish. Changes in population reflect birth and death rates, immigration patterns, regional shifts, and even the overall health of the economy. Washington state’s 0.92% annual increase was primarily driven by immigration to the state. In the decade between 2015 and 2025, Washington state’s population grew by 11.4%.
+73.1K
population change (2024 to 2025)
+0.92%
percent change in population (2024 to 2025)
Since 2000, Washington state's population increased in 25 of 25 years. The largest increase occurred between 2015 and 2016, when it gained 135,400 residents. The state's smallest increase during the 21st century occurred between 2020 and 2021 when it gained 17,500 residents.
Washington state gained 73,100 residents between 2024 and 2025.
Annual population change, 1901–2025
What contributes to population change in Washington state?
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 state, with births exceeding deaths by 17,200.
- 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. Washington state’s population change from immigration was positive, with about 46,200 more people coming from another country to Washington state than leaving.
- Domestic migration, moving between states: Washington state’s population change from domestic migration was positive, with about 9,200 more people moving to Washington state from other states than leaving.
Between 2024 and 2025, immigration was the primary driver of population growth in Washington state.
Components of population change, 2011–2025
Which counties in Washington state are growing? Which are shrinking?
Among 39 county equivalents, King County had the largest population growth in Washington state, welcoming 26,980 new residents. Island County lost the most, with a loss of 325 residents. County-level population data is available as of 2025.
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Columbia County led Washington state in percent population increase between 2024 and 2025 at 2.3 percent. Ferry County ranked last with a 0.4 percent decline.
Between 2024 and 2025, Columbia County gained 2.3% in population, the largest increase in Washington state.
Population change
How does population change in Washington state compare to other states?
Between 2015 and 2025, Washington state's population has increased by 11.4%. During that same period, the US population grew by 6.2%. Washington state ranks 10th among states in population growth over that decade.
Washington state ranked 10th in population growth between 2015 and 2025.
Percent change in population
Population change between 2024 and 2025, by county in Washington state
| County | Population change rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Columbia County, WA | +2.3% |
| 2. | Douglas County, WA | +2.1% |
| 3. | Mason County, WA | +2% |
| 4. | Kittitas County, WA | +1.4% |
| 5. | Klickitat County, WA | +1.4% |
| 6. | Whitman County, WA | +1.4% |
| 7. | Lincoln County, WA | +1.3% |
| 8. | Okanogan County, WA | +1.3% |
| 9. | Benton County, WA | +1.3% |
| 10. | Wahkiakum County, WA | +1.2% |
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.
