A Decade of State Population Change

This data visualization takes a detailed look at annual percentage change in state population over the last decade and shows variation in growth patterns. Red hues indicate growth, and blue hues indicate decline.  In recent years, North Dakota and the District of Columbia have had the highest growth rates, in percentage terms, in the country. States such as Nevada and Arizona, fast-growers a decade ago, have had some moderation in their growth rates but the states continue to increase in population.

Activity Using This Resource

Calculating with Scientific Notation - Comparing Populations 

Students will use population data from the U.S. Census Bureau to read and write numbers in scientific notation and to make comparisons of that data for states and decades.

Page Last Revised - July 21, 2025