From July 2023 to July 2024, Nebraska’s estimated population grew by 17,601 people, a 0.88% increase, passing the 2 million mark. As in prior years, a “natural change” of births minus deaths was positive, while domestic migration remained negative. The largest growth driver was international migration, reaching 12,978, said the Center for Public Affairs Research in an analysis of new Census data. (Courtesy of CPAR)
As of July, the estimated number of people in the state was 2,005,465.
Nebraska ranked as the 17th fastest-growing state in data released Thursday, according to Josie Schafer of the Center for Public Affairs Research, which is the state’s liaison to the Census Bureau.
Notable, she said, is the rise reported in international migration — nearly 13,000 of the state’s 17,601 overall population growth during the year came from other countries. Schafer said that more than doubled the estimated increase reported the year before.
That sharp increase reflected in international migration figures is more due to a change in the methods used to track the data nationally, rather than a sudden influx of newcomers from other countries, she said.