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North Dakota’s Population Grows Due to More Births and Less Out-migration

As of July 1, 2007, the state’s population totaled 639,715, up from 637,460 in July 1, 2006.

North Dakota experienced 2,998 more births than deaths between 2006 and 2007, which is the largest annual natural increase since 2000.

During the same time, the state experienced an overall net out-migration of 696 people, one-fourth the out-migration from two years ago. Because North Dakota’s natural increase was larger than net out-migration, the overall population for the state increased by 2,255 between 2006 and 2007.

“Much of this population growth we are experiencing is due to North Dakota’s robust economy, especially in agriculture and energy development,” says Richard Rathge, North Dakota State Data Center director. “This is reflected in the increasing number of western counties that are net importers of people.”

This month’s “Population Bulletin,” a monthly publication from the State Data Center at North Dakota State University, focuses on components of North Dakota’s population change (births, deaths and migration) between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, as released from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population Division.

As of July 1, 2007, the state’s population totaled 639,715, up from 637,460 in July 1, 2006. Migration statistics consist of domestic and international movement. North Dakota’s net out-migration between 2006 and 2007 largely was the result of domestic movement.

During this period, the state experienced a net domestic out-migration of 1,136 people leaving North Dakota for another state. At the same time, the state experienced a net international in-migration of 440 people. The difference between domestic and foreign movement resulted in a net loss of 696 North Dakota residents due to migration alone.

Population change also is affected by natural change (births minus deaths). Between 2006 and 2007, North Dakota reported 8,572 births and 5,574 deaths, which resulted in the natural population increase of 2,998 residents. When net migration (minus 696) and natural change (plus 2,998) are combined, the result is an overall population gain of 2,302. The reason this number is slightly higher than the 2,255 total gain reported by the Census Bureau is a national population control model must be applied to state and county population estimates to align them to the national estimate.

A natural population increase was experienced in 26 North Dakota counties between 2006 and 2007. Of these 26 counties, 14 had net out-migration that exceeded the growth from the natural increase, which resulted in an overall population loss for these 14 counties. The remaining 12 natural-increase counties had an overall population growth.

In addition, three counties with a natural decline had a net in-migration that exceeded the loss from natural decline, resulting in a net population gain. As a result, 15 counties grew in total population between 2006 and 2007.


NDSU Agriculture Communication

Source:Richard Rathge, (701) 231-8621, richard.rathge@ndsu.edu
Editor:Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, richard.mattern@ndsu.edu

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