Clark County is Washington’s second fastest growing county according to recent growth figures – ClarkCountyToday.com

The state’s population is steadily increasing, exceeding 7.7 million residents in 2021

Washington’s population growth rose steadily by 61,600 people in 2021, bringing the state into one of its most unique population estimation years due to delayed census data and COVID-19 impacts. As of April 2021, Washington has 7,766,925 residents, with most of the growth being concentrated in larger cities across the state.

The Office of Financial Management originally estimated a population increase of 61,600 people (from births, deaths and net migration). However, the resident population census data in 2020 showed a higher number in 2020. To account for this, we adjusted the population change estimate from 61,600 to 110,700 – an increase of 49,100 people for a total of 7.7 million Inhabitants.

In percentage terms, Ridgefield was by far the top city in the state, growing 18.32 percent last year, according to the State Office of Financial Management. File photo

The unadjusted population growth of 0.8 percent is significantly slower than in the previous year (1.5 percent). Detailed census data for 2020 will be released at the end of August so that we can make more detailed comparisons for counties and cities. Until then, we have used our estimates for 2020 for comparison.

As we expected, the COVID-19 crisis has dramatically affected the estimates for 2021. The results show a decrease in births, an increase in deaths, a dramatic decrease in migration and the population living in group roosts. Many of the changes in group roosts were big enough to cause population decline, especially in areas with student dormitories. We anticipate that some of these changes will be temporary and that once the effects of the pandemic wear off, the population will recover.

Despite a decline in migration due to COVID-19, migration remains the main driver of population growth. From 2020 to 2021, net migration (move-in minus move-out) to Washington was 37,100, which is 46,600 fewer than in the previous year. Net migration accounted for 60 percent of the state’s population growth, with natural increases (births minus deaths) accounting for the other 40 percent.

As in previous years, over 70 percent of the state’s population growth occurred in the five largest metropolitan areas: Clark, King, Pierce, Snohomish and Spokane. The eight counties with inhabitants between 100,000 and 300,000 recorded 18 percent of the state growth, followed by smaller counties with a share of 8 percent. Franklin was the fastest growing county between 2020 and 2021 with 2.8 percent growth, followed by Clark with 2.7 percent and Chelan with 2.4 percent.

The population estimate for Washington’s incorporated cities and towns is 5,064,200 as of April 1, 2021, an increase of 1.5 percent from the previous year. The top 10 cities for numerical change in descending order are: Seattle, Vancouver, Pasco, Auburn, Everett, Kent, Lacey, Yakima, Bellevue, and Ridgefield. Seattle’s population rose by 8,400 people to a total of 769,500.

In percentage terms, Ridgefield was slightly ahead with growth of 18.32 percent last year.

Washington’s population has grown by 1,042,400 people since the ten-year census on April 1, 2010. The state has grown by an average of 94,800 people per year over the past decade, beating 83,000 in the previous decade. King County is the largest contributor to this, with an average growth of 32,900 people per year over 11 years, compared to an average of 19,400 people per year between 2000 and 2010.

Last year the country added 46,700 residential units, 2,350 fewer than last year. Of all the units built last year, 57 percent were apartment buildings. The country’s housing stock has grown by an average of 34,700 units per year since 2010, around 80 percent of the decade’s average of 43,500 units per year. More than 71 percent of all new housing units this decade were built in one of the five largest metropolitan areas in the state. King County tops all counties with 15,250 new housing units this year, 36 percent of the state’s total since 2010.