Texas Leads U.S. in Population Growth, but Immigration Slowdown Impacts Pace

The Lone Star State added the most new residents in 2025, but its growth rate slowed amid a nationwide decline in international migration.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 8:23am

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According to new U.S. Census Bureau data, Texas added 391,243 residents in 2025, the most of any state. However, the state's population growth slowed to 1.2%, its slowest pace since 2021, as the number of immigrants moving to Texas dropped by 48% compared to the previous year. Nationally, the U.S. population grew by less than half a percentage point, with net international migration falling by about 55% due to a "historic decline" in newcomers.

Why it matters

Texas' population growth is a key economic driver, but the slowdown in immigration could impact the state's future economic prospects. The data also highlights broader national trends around declining immigration and population growth, which have implications for workforce, tax revenues, and infrastructure planning.

The details

The slowdown in Texas' population growth is attributed to a steep drop-off in the number of immigrants moving to the state, driven in part by the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Texas also saw fewer newcomers from other states, with some experts suggesting the well of potential new Texans living elsewhere may have run dry for now. Despite the overall growth, Texas is still seeing more residents leave for other states than arrive.

  • In 2025, Texas added 391,243 new residents, the most of any state.
  • Texas' population growth rate slowed to 1.2% in 2025, its slowest pace since 2021.
  • The number of immigrants moving to Texas dropped by 48% in 2025 compared to the previous year.
  • Nationally, net international migration to the U.S. fell by about 55% in 2025 compared to the previous year.

The players

Texas

The state that led the U.S. in population growth in 2025, adding 391,243 new residents.

U.S. Census Bureau

The federal agency that released the data on population growth and migration trends in 2025.

Lloyd Potter

The state demographer of Texas, who noted that the slowdown in population growth could impact the state's economic growth.

Christine Hartley

The assistant division chief for Estimates and Projections at the Census Bureau, who described the decline in net international migration to the U.S. as a "historic decline".

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What they’re saying

“I think the implication is our economic growth isn't probably going to be as hearty as what we've seen historically.”

— Lloyd Potter, State Demographer of Texas (sacurrent.com)

“Net international migration to the United States fell by about 55% to 1.3 million in 2025 from 2.7 million the previous year, a 'historic decline' that drove the overall slowdown in U.S. population growth last year.”

— Christine Hartley, Assistant Division Chief for Estimates and Projections, U.S. Census Bureau (sacurrent.com)

What’s next

The Census Bureau projects net international migration to the U.S. could further fall to 321,000 in 2026, which could lead to an even slower pace of population growth nationwide.

The takeaway

Texas' continued population growth, despite a slowdown, underscores its status as a major economic and demographic force. However, the decline in immigration could pose challenges for the state's future economic prospects, highlighting the broader national trends around population growth and the need for policymakers to address these shifts.