2020 Census Results Released, Show Changes in Congressional Seats

​On April 26, 2021, the initial set of data from the 2020 Census was released. Among all 50 states, 37 grew more slowly in the 2010s than in the previous decade, and three states lost population—the largest number of such states since the 1980s. The constitutionally mandated reapportionment of members of Congress based on the 2020 census indicates a reallocation of seven seats across various states—most notably, the first-ever loss of a seat for California.

The 2020 census results are released in several stages. This first release of total populations for states was scheduled to occur last December. However, collection and processing issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters delayed the release until now.
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The purpose of this first set of numbers, articulated in the U.S. Constitution, is to provide the basis for allocating members of the House of Representatives across states, taking into account population changes that have occurred since the prior census. At the same time, these numbers provide a definitive assessment of how populations across each state and the nation have shifted over the prior decade.

Below are key findings from the new census data:

• The 331,449,281 U.S. residents counted in the 2020 census represent a population increase of 7.4% from the 2010 count of 308,745,538. This is the second-smallest decade-long growth rate since the first census was taken in 1790. 
• The low rate of national population growth is reflected in the slow growth or population declines across states. Three states lost population from 2010 to 2020: West Virginia, Mississippi, and Illinois. This is the highest number of population-losing states since the 1980s. 
• Thirty-seven states showed lower growth over the 2010-to-2020 decade than in the previous decade, and all but three exhibited smaller growth rates than in the high-flying 1990s. One of the 13 states that grew faster in the 2010s is North Dakota, where growth rose to 15.8% (up from 4.7%), due largely to migration during the energy boom there in the early part of the decade.
• At the high end for growth rates from 2010 to 2020 are several western states, along with Texas, Florida, and North Dakota. Among these are Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona—states which also saw high growth in the two prior decades. Of this group, Nevada showed the biggest growth slowdown (from 66% in 1990 to 2010 to 15% in 2010 to 2020).
• More noteworthy is the reduced growth for the West’s (and nation’s) largest state: California. The Golden State grew by only 6.1% from 2010 to 2020—the lowest growth rate in its history. California’s growth slowdown reflects reduced immigration from abroad as well as rising out-migration, especially to other states in the West.

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