ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The U.S. population has reached 341.8 million in 2025, with a significant decline in growth rate attributed to an immigration crackdown initiated by President Donald Trump. The U.S. Census Bureau reported a growth rate of just 0.5% for 2025, a stark contrast to the nearly 1% growth seen in 2024, primarily driven by immigration.
Data show that immigration added 1.3 million people last year, significantly down from the 2.8 million increase recorded in 2024. The Census report did not differentiate between legal and illegal immigration, highlighting the overall immigration trends in the country.
This year brings back memories of the lowest growth rates recorded in recent history; the pandemic drastically reduced immigration, which was at just 522,000 growth in 2021.
Experts are examining the impacts of the second Trump administration's immigration enforcement strategy that became a focal issue in his 2024 presidential campaign as he pursued a return to the White House.
The 2025 estimates reflect changes from July 2024 to July 2025, spanning the final days of President Joe Biden’s administration and the early months of Trump’s return to office.
These figures reflect ongoing out-migration trends, wherein the number of individuals leaving the U.S. appears to have surpassed those entering the country. Eric Jensen, a Census Bureau researcher, commented on the shifting dynamics affecting migration patterns.
While the population estimates are recalibrated using government data, the latest statistics come at a time when the Census Bureau faces challenges, including a workforce reduction of 15% in recent years owing to governmental cost-cutting measures. This raises questions about potential political influences over federal statistical data.
