Census data shows that population growth in rural areas is due in large part to international migrants.
An analysis of U.S. Census data from the last four years by The Daily Yonder reveals that population growth in rural areas is largely driven by foreign immigration, reports Sarah Melotte.
The trend isn’t just in rural areas: “Nationwide, international immigration accounted for 84% of population growth over the past year; in rural areas, it made up 87%.”
Immigration rates vary widely based on local economies, Melotte notes. “In counties dependent on agriculture, immigration accounted for almost two-thirds of total population growth since 2020.” Texas and North Carolina saw the most rural growth, with Texas seeing a 2.15 percent overall increase in its rural population.
Despite strong immigration numbers, some rural areas still lost overall population due to low birth rates and high outmigration.
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