Fact Check: The U.S. Census Bureau reported that immigration in 2024 drove U.S. population growth to its fastest rate in 23 years, surpassing 340 million residents.

Fact Check: "The U.S. Census Bureau reported that immigration in 2024 drove U.S. population growth to its fastest rate in 23 years, surpassing 340 million residents."

What We Know

The U.S. Census Bureau released its Vintage 2024 population estimates on December 19, 2024, indicating that the U.S. population grew by nearly 1.0% between 2023 and 2024, surpassing 340 million residents for the first time. This growth rate is the fastest the nation has experienced since 2001, significantly higher than the record low growth rate of 0.2% observed in 2021. The primary driver of this growth was net international migration, which accounted for 84% of the total population increase of 3.3 million people during this period, with a net increase of 2.8 million people due to immigration (Census.gov).

Analysis

The claim that immigration drove U.S. population growth to its fastest rate in 23 years is supported by the data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The reported growth rate of nearly 1.0% is indeed the highest since 2001, confirming the assertion that this is the fastest growth rate in over two decades. The Census Bureau's methodology has been improved to better capture the effects of international migration on population estimates, which adds credibility to the findings (Census.gov).

Moreover, the Census Bureau's estimates indicate that the population increase was largely due to immigration, which reflects a broader trend of rising international migration in recent years. The net international migration figures have shown a consistent upward trajectory, with previous years also reporting significant increases (Census.gov, Census.gov).

The reliability of the Census Bureau as a source is high, as it is the official statistical agency of the U.S. government, tasked with collecting and analyzing demographic data. However, it is important to note that while the Census Bureau's estimates are based on rigorous methodologies, they are subject to revisions as new data becomes available (Census.gov).

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that immigration in 2024 drove U.S. population growth to its fastest rate in 23 years, surpassing 340 million residents, is accurate based on the data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. The significant role of net international migration in this growth, along with the reported population figures, supports this assertion.

Sources

1. Migration Drives Highest Population Growth in Decades - Census.gov
2. Growth in Metro Areas Outpaced Nation - U.S. Census Bureau
3. U.S. Population Grows at Fastest Pace in More Than Two
4. Improved Method Better Estimates Net International
5. Immigration drives US population growth to highest rate in 23 years as