What Drove DC's Population Increase?
At the end of last year, the U.S. Census Bureau released data showing that DC's population grew by nearly 15,000 people to rise above 700,000 in 2024. It marked the third year in a row that the city’s population increased, and the DC Policy Center recently looked at how international migration drove that increase.
"The gains from migration resulted from increasing international immigration and, to a lesser extent, a slowing of domestic outmigration," the analysis found. "Between July 2023 and July 2024, the District’s international migration rate increased from 15 to 18 per 1,000 people [which amounted to 12,500 new residents]."
While the international numbers are positive for the city, 2024 marked the fourth year in a row that the city lost residents due to domestic migration.
"All in all, the recent population data is mixed for the District," the report found. "While three years of accelerating population growth is a positive sign, the District’s rate of natural change and domestic migration remain areas of concern."
