Several U.S. states, including California, New York, and Illinois, are losing population due to domestic outmigration, often driven by high living costs. Despite maintaining higher birth rates than deaths, these states rely on international immigration for population growth.
Some states, like Michigan and Ohio, face declining birth rates and net domestic migration but grow due to international arrivals. States like Massachusetts, Maryland, and New Jersey counteract domestic outmigration with significant international migration.
Meanwhile, places like New Hampshire and Maine depend on domestic migration for growth. Vermont uniquely relies on both domestic and international migration to maintain growth.
The following chart looks at 12 states that would shrink without international migration.
Original source: https://www.statista.com/chart/33137/-hypothetical–population-decline-immigration/
