Utah population still growing, just not as fast

The Utah Population Committee (UPC) at the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute has released its 2018 population estimates for Utah and each of its 29 counties. The committee estimates Utah’s total population at 3,166,647, an increase of approximately 402,000 people since April 1, 2010.

From 2017 to 2018, the population grew by 52,664 people, the committee said. This is an annual growth rate of 1.69 percent, a deceleration from the previous year’s 1.93 percent.{mprestriction ids="1,3"}

The 2018 estimates indicate that Utah’s rapid growth over the past few years is moderating, according to the UPC. Utah’s total components of population change, the sum of natural increase and net migration, remains positive, but declined by 6,325 compared to last year. While Utah’s population growth slowed, it remains positive.

“Utah’s strong demographic growth is related to continued economic growth as well as positive natural increase,” said Pamela Perlich, director of demographic research at the Gardner Policy Institute. “Utah County leads the way in the Wasatch metropolitan area, while growth in southwestern Utah continues to surge.”

Other highlights from the new report include:

Net migration remains healthy. After increasing each year since 2012, Utah’s net migration decreased in 2018 to 23,248, below last year’s estimate by 3,843 or 14.2 percent. This is still significant in-migration to the state, the report said.

Declining natural increase. Declining births is a recent national and Utah trend beginning in 2008. Utah’s 47,310 births are at the lowest level since 2000. Utah maintains one of the highest fertility rates in the nation; however, Utah’s total fertility rate (2.12 in 2017) is currently second to South Dakota (2.23 in 2017). Deaths are also increasing due to Utah’s aging population.

Strong growth in Utah County: Utah County experienced the highest numeric annual increase this year, with 15,847 new residents or 2.57 percent growth. This increase is 2,041 higher than Salt Lake County’s 13,806 population increase (or 1.22 percent growth).

Highest percent growth concentrated in Southwest Utah: Iron County experienced the highest percent annual increase this year with 3.58 percent growth, or 1,873 new residents. Washington County showed similar but slightly less percent growth with a 3.29 percent increase or 5,449 new residents.

The UPC emphasized that its estimating process becomes less straightforward the farther way the most recent census is. The next nationwide census is scheduled for 2020. {/mprestriction}