U.S. population increased by 1.2 million in 2022, largely fueled by international migration

The U.S. population expanded by 1.2 million people this year, with growth largely driven by international migration, and the nation now has 333.2 million residents, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Net international migration — the number of people moving into the U.S. minus the number of people leaving — was 168% higher than last year’s 376,029 international migrants, the Associated Press reported.

Natural growth, which is the number of births minus the number of deaths, added another 245,080 people to the total in what was the first year-over-year increase in total births since 2007.

Regionally, the Northeast lost almost 219,000 people in a trend largely driven by domestic residents moving out of New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, as well as deaths outpacing births in Pennsylvania, according to AP.

The Midwest lost almost 49,000 residents, with Illinois losing the most people and deaths outpacing births in Ohio.

Meanwhile, the South gained 1.3 million residents. Texas and Florida had the largest population gains, which exceeded 400,000 residents each, according to AP. Texas had the highest natural growth rate of ant state while Florida had the largest natural decrease. North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee also had large growth gains.

However, California lost more than 113,000 residents, largely driven by more than 343,000 domestic residents moving out of California. 

Despite the loss, California had the largest population growth due to the increase in international residents, AP reported. California also had the second highest natural increase.