Immigrants reshape US cities; Miami, Illinois see highest growth: Report

India is a major contributor to US immigration, accounting for around 6% of the foreign-born population.

Immigrants drive population growth in major US urban counties

Immigration was the key factor keeping the largest urban counties in the United States growing last year, with Houston, Miami, and Phoenix witnessing the most growth due to international migration, Business Standard reported, citing US Census Bureau data.

According to the report, Harris County, Texas, Miami-Dade County, Florida, and Maricopa County, Arizona, saw population increases mainly due to immigration. Without international migration, these counties would have experienced little to no overall population growth, as more residents left than moved in. Miami-Dade County, in particular, would have faced a population decline, as the number of births exceeding deaths was insufficient to counteract the departure of tens of thousands of residents.

US sees fastest population growth in 23 years

The report noted that immigration in 2024 pushed the US population growth rate to its highest in 23 years, with the total population surpassing 340 million. The Census Bureau recently changed its method of counting immigrants, incorporating more individuals admitted for humanitarian, often temporary, reasons.

Kenneth Johnson, a senior demographer at the University of New Hampshire, told Business Standard that while natural growth has traditionally been the main driver of US population increases, declining birth rates in the last four years have made immigration the dominant factor.

Domestic vs international migration trends

The Census Bureau data revealed a stark contrast between the movement of international migrants and US residents. While foreign-born individuals primarily moved to urban centers, many US residents relocated to suburban counties further from city centers.

The counties attracting the most international migrants included Miami-Dade (Florida), Harris (Texas), Los Angeles (California), and Cook (Illinois, home to Chicago).

Domestic migration was highest in suburban areas such as Montgomery County, Texas (north of Houston); Pinal County, Arizona (southwest of Phoenix); and Pasco County, Florida (northeast of Tampa). Other counties with significant domestic migration included Polk County, Florida (between Orlando and Tampa), and Collin County, Texas (north of Dallas).

New York metro area sees population rebound

The New York metro area, the largest in the US with 19.9 million people, saw the highest overall population increase among metropolitan regions, the report stated. While 147,000 domestic residents moved out, nearly 288,000 immigrants arrived, including tens of thousands who were transported from Texas by bus. Other major metro areas, including San Francisco and Washington, DC, also saw population growth due to international migration after experiencing declines during the pandemic.

New York also recorded the highest natural population growth, with nearly 214,000 births outpacing 141,000 deaths.

Elsewhere, South Florida surpassed Washington and Atlanta to become the sixth most populous metro area in the country. In North Carolina, metro Charlotte overtook Baltimore to rank 21st, while Tarrant County, Texas, which includes Fort Worth, became the 15th most populous county, surpassing San Bernardino County, California.

Deaths outnumber births in two-thirds of US counties

Despite the national population increase, deaths exceeded births in two-thirds of the 3,144 counties across the country. The trend underscores the growing reliance on immigration for population stability, particularly in the years following the pandemic.

“Recent levels of natural decrease are unprecedented,” Johnson told Business Standard.

Immigration’s economic impact

With immigration a central issue in the upcoming US presidential election on November 5, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen defended its economic benefits in an October 2024 interview on CNN’s Axe Files podcast. She highlighted how immigration contributes to labor supply, innovation, and overall economic growth.

“What we see, and this is true with more recent immigration as well, is that immigrants supply their labor, but they also demand goods and services,” Yellen said. “And on balance, it helps the economy grow without actually depriving other people of jobs.”

She also pointed out that immigration plays a vital role in maintaining workforce levels amid an aging population. “Immigration has been an important source of labor force growth at a time when we have an aging population and our labor force would otherwise be declining over time,” she noted. “It would be a loss to our society.”

Indian immigrants in the US

India remains one of the largest contributors to US immigration, with Indian-born individuals accounting for around 6% of the foreign-born population, Business Standard reported. According to a Pew Research Center study, South Asian immigrants, particularly those from India, are highly educated, with 72% holding advanced degrees. Many work in technology, healthcare, and engineering.

As of 2022, approximately 5.2 million people of Indian origin lived in the United States, forming a significant portion of the Asian American community.