Migration slump slows U.S. county growth as immigration plummets
New Census Bureau data show international migration fell in about 9 out of 10 U.S. counties from 2024-25, dampening growth in large counties such as Los Angeles County, which lost roughly 54,000 people (-0.6%) to about 9.7 million; the national growth slowed to 0.5% as births minus deaths stayed steady and international migration plunged from about 2.8 million to 1.3 million (roughly a 55% drop). The fastest‑growing metros over 2024-45 were Ocala, Fla.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and Spartanburg, S.C.
