U.S. Census of population estimate shows most of Idaho’s counties grew in 2025

Thirty-six of Idaho’s 44 counties recorded population growth in 2025, according to annual population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The data underscores a continued trend of expansion in the Gem State, which ranked second in the nation for population growth over the past year.

The Idaho Department of Labor reported that the state’s over-the-year growth rate reached 1.4% in 2025. This figure places Idaho behind only South Carolina, which posted a 1.5% growth rate, among all 50 states. The national growth rate during the same period was 0.5%.

According to the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 population estimates, Idaho’s total population reached 2,029,733 people. This represents a significant increase from the 2020 Census baseline. Between April 1, 2020, and July 1, 2025, the state added 190,610 new residents, marking a 10.4% increase over the five-year span.

Migration Drives Growth

Net migration accounted for the majority of Idaho’s population gains. Data from the Idaho Department of Labor indicates that 76% of the state’s growth in 2025 was attributed to people moving into the state, totaling 22,063 individuals. Of those new residents, 90% arrived from other U.S. States, while the remainder came from other countries.

In contrast, natural population growth—the number of births minus deaths—accounted for just 24% of the total growth in 2025, or approximately 6,900 people. This reliance on migration distinguishes Idaho from many other regions where natural increase has traditionally played a larger role in population dynamics.

The state’s growth rate has stabilized in recent years. Idaho’s over-the-year population growth rate has ranged between 1.4% and 1.5% over the past three years. These figures are lower than the rates observed in 2021 and 2022, which were 3% and 2% respectively, but they remain robust compared to national averages.

County-Level Trends

While the statewide numbers show expansion, growth was not uniform across all jurisdictions. Five of Idaho’s urban counties added at least 1,000 new residents in 2025. Kootenai County was among this group and ranked in the top three counties for highest total growth within the state.

The city of Coeur d’Alene, located within Kootenai County, also reported population growth that exceeded the statewide rate of 1.4%. This local surge contributes to the broader pattern of urbanization and expansion in northern Idaho.

However, some areas faced challenges. Clearwater County reported consecutive population decline since 2020. Nez Perce County reported natural population decline, indicating that deaths outnumbered births in that region despite any migration gains.

Regional and National Context

The Census Bureau released its county-level estimates on March 26, 2026, noting that population growth slowed in a majority of the nation’s 3,143 counties between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025. Among the 2,066 counties that grew between 2023 and 2024, nearly 80% saw their growth slow or reverse direction in 2025.

Idaho’s performance stood out against its neighbors in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West. Contiguous states reported lower growth rates for 2025:

• Utah: 1%
• Nevada: 0.9%
• Washington: 0.9%
• Montana: 0.6%
• Wyoming: 0.3%
• Oregon: 0.2%

Other top-performing states included North Carolina at 1.3%, Texas at 1.2%, and Utah at 1%. The Census Bureau noted that diminishing population gains in metro areas highlighted a nationwide trend, with 310 of the 387 U.S. Metropolitan statistical areas experiencing slower growth between 2024 and 2025 than during the prior year.

The shifts in growth patterns were largely attributed to lower levels of net international migration, which declined nationwide. Nine out of 10 U.S. Counties experienced lower net international migration levels between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, compared to the year prior.

Despite the national slowdown, Idaho continues to attract residents at a consistently fast pace. The Idaho Department of Labor released its initial findings on the 2025 growth rates on January 30, 2026, confirming the state’s position near the top of the national list prior to the detailed county breakdowns provided by the Census Bureau in March.

For more information on the U.S. Census Bureau releases and detailed data tables, the agency directs the public to its official website.