New U.S. Census Bureau estimates reveal South Carolina as the nation’s fastest-growing state, adding nearly 80,000 residents between July 2024 and July 2025 to achieve a population growth rate of 1.5%. Only five states—California, Hawaii, Vermont, New Mexico, and West Virginia—experienced population declines during the same period.

Texas recorded the largest absolute increase in total population, gaining nearly 400,000 residents—a figure more than double that of Florida, which ranked second. Nationally, U.S. population growth slowed to approximately 0.5%, a significant drop from the 1% expansion seen during the prior year, the fastest pace in decades.

Christine Hartley, assistant division chief for Estimates and Projections at the Census Bureau, attributed the slowdown largely to a historic decline in net international migration. The figure fell from 2.7 million to 1.3 million between July 2024 and June 2025, with births and deaths remaining relatively stable compared to the previous year.

Recent reports indicate Greenville, South Carolina, has seen increased home listings amid shifting demographic trends. Under current administration policies aimed at reducing illegal immigration through border enforcement and mass deportations, net international migration is projected to decline further—potentially falling to 321,000 by the end of June 2025, according to Census Bureau data.

Simon Hankinson, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, stated that efforts targeting unauthorized crossings and interior enforcement have yielded measurable results in reducing illegal entries. While deportations accounted for approximately 230,000 individuals nationwide during 2025, the Census Bureau notes that such actions represent only a small portion of the overall net migration decline. The agency does not specify the primary drivers behind the substantial reduction in international arrivals.