U.S. Population Growth Slows to 0.6% on Immigration Drop

U.S. population growth slowed markedly in the year ending July 1, 2025, with metropolitan areas along the Mexican border experiencing the steepest declines due to a sharp drop in international migration, according to new estimates from the Census Bureau. The average growth rate for metro areas nationwide fell to 0.6 percent, down from 1.1 percent the previous year, as nine out of 10 counties recorded lower immigration levels than in 2024.

The estimates highlight how immigration, which had driven urban recoveries after the COVID-19 pandemic, played a central role in the slowdown. Border communities, where international arrivals have historically fueled rapid expansion, saw the most dramatic shifts. In Laredo, Texas, the growth rate plummeted from 3.2 percent to 0.2 percent. Yuma, Arizona, dropped from 3.3 percent to 1.4 percent, while El Centro, California, turned negative, falling from 1.2 percent growth to a 0.7 percent decline. All three areas had benefited from thousands of immigrants the year before.

Major urban centers also felt the impact. Counties encompassing Houston, Miami, and Los Angeles, which topped immigrant destinations in 2024, saw substantial reductions in new...