Is population growing or shrinking?

Updated annually
It declined by 516 between 2023 and 2024, one of 3 states to lose population. Changes in population reflect birth and death rates, immigration patterns, regional shifts, and even the overall health of the economy. West Virginia’s -0.03% annual decrease was primarily driven by deaths outpacing births. In the decade between 2014 and 2024, West Virginia's population declined by 4.5%.

-516

population change (2023 to 2024)

-0.03%

percent change in population (2023 to 2024)
Since 2000, West Virginia's population increased in 11 of 24 years. The largest increase occurred between 2008 and 2009, when it gained 7,500 residents. The state's largest decline during the 21st century occurred between 2016 and 2017 when it lost 13,200 residents.

West Virginia lost 516 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 West Virginia, with deaths exceeding births by 7,800.
  • 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. West Virginia’s population change from immigration was positive, with about 2,800 more people coming from another country to West Virginia than leaving.
  • Domestic migration, moving between states:  West Virginia’s population change from domestic migration was positive, with about 4,500 more people moving to West Virginia from other states than leaving.

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Between 2023 and 2024, natural change was the primary driver of population decline in West Virginia.

Components of population change

Among 55 county equivalents, Berkeley County had the largest population growth in West Virginia, welcoming 3,436 new residents. Kanawha County lost the most, with a loss of 696 residents.
Berkeley County led West Virginia in percent population increase between 2023 and 2024 at 2.6%. Lincoln County ranked last with a 1.6% decline.

Between 2023 and 2024, Berkeley County gained 2.6% in population, the largest increase in West Virginia.

Population change

Between 2014 and 2024, West Virginia’s population has declined by 4.5%. During that same period, the US population grew by 6.5%. West Virginia ranks 50th among states in population growth over that decade.

West Virginia ranked 50th 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.