Population growth slows in Ohio, despite gains in Columbus

The latest data from the US census release end of 2019 reveals that our country’s population growth is slowing overall. Fewer births and more deaths pushed the national annual increase below the one million mark for the first time in decades.

While Ohio remains the nation’s seventh-most populous state, its growth rate mirrors the national trend, increasing only from an estimated 2019 total of 12,759 residents to a total of 11,689,100 Ohioans.

As the population of many cities in Ohio declines, Columbus and the Central Ohio region consistently top lists of the nation’s fastest growing municipalities – lately in 11th place with 10,770 new Columbus residents gained between July 1, 2017 and July 1, 2018 according to U.S. Census estimates. The official US census will take place in 2020.

Regional experts predict that Central Ohio’s population is expected to grow from two million in 2016 to three million by the year 2050, and are taking steps to plan for this continued growth.

Meanwhile, world population experts expect global population growth slow to stop by the year 2100 most of the century’s growth occurring in Africa.

For more information on the growth in Central Ohio, CLICK HERE to listen to our recent podcast interview with MORPC Executive Director William Murdock.