Migration Drives Steady Growth Across Rural Communities
The population of rural America continued to grow in 2024, reaching 46.2 million people. Rural residents now represent 13.6% of the total population of the United States.
Between July 2023 and June 2024, rural areas recorded a population increase of 0.29%. While this growth was smaller than the 1.08% increase seen in urban areas, it marked another year of positive gains for rural communities.
A major reason for the increase was positive net migration. More people moved into rural areas than moved out, helping communities gain residents and support local economies. This trend has become an important driver of rural growth in recent years.
Rural areas still experienced natural population loss, meaning deaths outnumbered births. However, the difference between births and deaths became smaller in 2024, reducing the impact of population decline from natural causes.
Since 2021, rural America has shown steady population growth after nearly a decade of little or no growth. Consistent migration gains and lower natural losses have helped strengthen population trends across many rural regions.
The pace of growth has accelerated significantly in recent years. Rural population growth increased from 0.14% in 2022 to 0.37% in 2023, demonstrating stronger demographic momentum.
Historically, urban areas have expanded faster than rural regions because they benefit from both positive migration and natural population increases. Even so, recent migration patterns show that rural communities continue to attract new residents and maintain stable growth.
The latest population figures highlight the growing role of migration in shaping rural America and supporting the future of communities across the country.