Each year, the country's overall population changes. While the change is generally positive, with more births than deaths, a few states had more deaths than births, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
» RELATED: Short-term exposure to air pollution can lead to 20,000 extra deaths
The bureau recently released its 2016-2017 estimates of populations for the 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, revealing the factors that contributed to the results. Those components included international and national migration and "natural population change," the net births minus deaths.
After analyzing the results, analysts discovered that Maine and West Virginia saw more deaths than births. Maine’s natural population went down by 0.9 residents per 1,000, while West Virginia’s dropped by 1.7 residents per 1,000.
» RELATED: Opioid epidemic: CDC opioid deaths, US life expectancy
On the other hand, researchers found that Utah had the biggest natural increase, with a net change of 11.5 per 1,000 residents. It was also the No. 3 fastest-growing state, overall, with a 2.0 percent rise. Idaho was No. 1, with a 2.2 percent hike, and Nevada was No. 2, with a 2 percent increase.
“Domestic migration drove change in the two fastest-growing states, Idaho and Nevada, while an excess of births over deaths played a major part in the growth of the third fastest-growing state, Utah,” said Luke Rogers, chief of the population estimates branch.
Overall, the southern and western regions led America’s population growth. In 2017, 38 percent of the nation’s population were in the South and 23.8 percent lived in the West.
Want to learn more about the findings? Take a look here.
» RELATED: Why Georgia is one of the worst states to have a baby
About the Author
