North Dakota experienced an overall net out-migration of 1,277 people between 2005 and 2006. However, during the same period, the state experienced 2,494 more births than deaths (a natural increase).

Because North Dakota's natural increase was larger than the net out-migration, the overall population for the state increased by 1,262 people between 2005 and 2006.

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, 2005 and July 1, 2006 as released from the U.S. Census Bureau's Population Division.

As of July 1, 2006, the state's population totaled 635,867, an increase of 1,262 people since July 1, 2005 (634,605 people). Migration statistics comprises domestic and international movement. North Dakota's net out-migration of 1,277 people between 2005 and 2006 largely was the result of domestic movement. During the period, the state experienced net domestic out-migration of 2,113 people leaving North Dakota for another state. At the same time, the state experienced a net international in-migration of 836 people. The difference between domestic and foreign movement resulted in a net loss of 1,277 North Dakota residents.

Population change also is affected by natural change (births minus deaths). Between 2005 and 2006, North Dakota reported 8,380 births and 5,886 deaths. The difference between births and deaths resulted in a natural population increase of 2,494 residents. When net migration (minus 1,277) and natural change (plus 2,494) are combined, the result is an overall population gain of 1,217 people.

The reason this number (1,217) is slightly lower than the 1,262 total gain reported by the Census Bureau is because a national population control must be applied to state and county population estimates to align them to the national estimate.

A natural increase was experienced in 23 North Dakota counties between 2005 and 2006. Of these 23 natural-increase counties, nine had a net out-migration that exceeded the growth from a natural increase, resulting in an overall net population loss for these nine counties.

The remaining 14 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 a natural decline, resulting in a net population gain. As a result, 15 counties had an increase in total population between 2005 and 2006.

""I think the most promising aspect from this latest data is the fact that the majority of net in-migration counties in our state are western counties,"" says Richard Rathge, State Data Center director. ""This is very encouraging news and, hopefully, we can expand these numbers in the future."

NDSU Agriculture Communication