How many people live in MS? See latest Census data
The United States recorded one of its slowest periods of population growth since 2020 over the past year. While several states did not grow at all, Mississippi’s population increased slightly.
The Magnolia State gained nearly 3,990 new residents between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to Census data released late January. There are currently an estimated 2,954,160 Mississippi residents, the data shows.
The South was the fastest-growing region in the country during that time frame, with a growth rate of 0.88%, according to the data. This is a 34% decrease from the previous year’s growth rate of 1.35%.
Mississippi saw a 46% decrease in the growth rate between 2024 and 2025, down from 26% in 2024 to 0.14% in 2025, the data shows.
Immigration, which dropped from 2.7 million to 1.3 million from July 2024 to June 2025, was the biggest reason for the country’s overall population growth slowdown, analysts said.
Which states grew the most over the last year?
These five U.S. states experienced the largest percent change in state population between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to Census data:
1. South Carolina: 1.8% increase
2. Idaho: 1.4%
3. North Carolina: 1.3%
4. Texas: 1.2%
5. Utah: 1%
Which states did not grow over the last year?
These five U.S. states were the only ones that experienced population decline, the data shows:
- California
- Hawaii
- New Mexico
- Vermont
- West Virginia
