North Dakota’s Population Grows Due to More Births and Net In-migration

As of July 1, 2008, North Dakota’s population totaled 641,481, which is an increase of 3,577 since July 1, 2007.

This month’s “Population Bulletin,” a monthly publication from the North Dakota State Data Center at North Dakota State University, focuses on components of North Dakota’s population change (births, deaths and migration) between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, as released from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population Division.

This increase is the result of 3,665 more births than deaths between 2007 and 2008. This is the largest annual natural increase since 2000. During the same time, the state experienced an overall net in-migration of 122 people.

“This is the first year in nearly two decades that we have seen both a natural increase and net in-migration in North Dakota,” says Richard Rathge, State Data Center director. “This is a very positive sign for our state and a reflection of our strong economy.”

The Census Bureau did report net in-migration for North Dakota in 2004, but there were inconsistencies in the data.

Migration statistics consist of domestic and international movement. Between 2007 and 2008, North Dakota experienced a net domestic out-migration of 381 people leaving North Dakota for another state.

At the same time, the state experienced a net international in-migration of 503 people. The difference between domestic and foreign movement resulted in a net gain of 122 due to migration alone.

Population change also is affected by natural change (births minus deaths). Between 2007 and 2008, North Dakota reported 9,014 births and 5,349 deaths. The difference between births and deaths resulted in a natural population increase of 3,665. When net migration (122) and natural change (3,665) are combined, the result is an overall population gain of 3,787.

The reason this number (3,787) is slightly higher than the 3,577 total gain reported by the Census Bureau is a national population control must be applied to state and county population estimates to align them to the national estimate.

A natural population increase was experienced in 30 North Dakota counties between 2007 and 2008. Of these 30 natural-increase counties, 13 had net out-migration that exceeded the growth from a natural increase. This caused an overall population loss for these 13 counties. The remaining 17 natural-increase counties had an overall population growth.

In addition, one county with a natural decline had a net in-migration that exceeded the loss from natural decline, which resulted in a net population gain. As a result, 18 counties grew in total population between 2007 and 2008.

NDSU Agriculture Communication