Is West Virginia's population growing or shrinking?
Refreshed annually
It declined by 1,300 between 2024 and 2025, one of 5 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 -0.07% annual decrease was primarily driven by deaths outpacing births. In the decade between 2015 and 2025, West Virginia’s population declined by 4.3%.
-1.26K
population change (2024 to 2025)
-0.07%
percent change in population (2024 to 2025)
Since 2000, West Virginia's population increased in 11 of 25 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 1,300 residents between 2024 and 2025.
Annual population change, 1901–2025
What contributes to population change in West Virginia?
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 negative in West Virginia, with deaths exceeding births by 7,900.
- 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 244 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 6,400 more people moving to West Virginia from other states than leaving.
Between 2024 and 2025, natural change was the primary driver of population decline in West Virginia.
Components of population change, 2011–2025
Which counties in West Virginia are growing? Which are shrinking?
Among 55 county equivalents, Berkeley County had the largest population growth in West Virginia, welcoming 3,532 new residents. Kanawha County lost the most, with a loss of 1,042 residents. County-level population data is available as of 2025.
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Jefferson County led West Virginia in percent population increase between 2024 and 2025 at 3 percent. Webster County ranked last with a 2.2 percent decline.
Between 2024 and 2025, Jefferson County gained 3% in population, the largest increase in West Virginia.
Population change
How does population change in West Virginia compare to other states?
Between 2015 and 2025, West Virginia’s population has declined by 4.3%. During that same period, the US population grew by 6.2%. West Virginia ranks 50th among states in population growth over that decade.
West Virginia ranked 50th in population growth between 2015 and 2025.
Percent change in population
Population change between 2024 and 2025, by county in West Virginia
| County | Population change rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jefferson County, WV | +3% |
| 2. | Berkeley County, WV | +2.6% |
| 3. | Hampshire County, WV | +1.4% |
| 4. | Morgan County, WV | +1.2% |
| 5. | Calhoun County, WV | +0.79% |
| 6. | Grant County, WV | +0.72% |
| 7. | Barbour County, WV | +0.51% |
| 8. | Upshur County, WV | +0.42% |
| 9. | Mineral County, WV | +0.15% |
| 10. | Monongalia County, WV | +0.06% |
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.
