USA Population 2027: 346 Million People and the Sun Belt Shift

USA Population 2027 is one of the most searched demographic topics this year, and for good reason. The United States remains the third most populous country on Earth, its growth pattern has fundamentally shifted toward immigration rather than birth rate, and its internal population map keeps redrawing itself as people move from the Northeast and Midwest toward the South and West.

This guide brings together the full USA Population 2027 picture in one place: the national headline figures, the forces driving growth, demographic breakdowns by age, sex, ethnicity, religion, and education, plus complete data tables for every state, the largest counties, the top 100 cities, population density, and growth and decline rates.

As with any population figure for a current or near-future year, treat the numbers in this USA Population 2027 guide as well-sourced estimates rather than a literal headcount. This USA Population 2027 analysis draws on Census Bureau methodology throughout. The U.S. Census Bureau and other tracking organizations each use slightly different methodologies and update schedules, which is why you will see small variations in the USA Population 2027 figure depending on where you look.

USA Population 2027: The Headline Numbers

• Estimated Total Population: Current USA Population 2027 estimates range between approximately 346 million (consistent with U.S. Census Bureau-aligned projections and econometric models) and roughly 349 million (global monitoring organizations, including population trackers). Both figures represent reasonable, well-sourced estimates for the USA Population 2027, and the spread between them reflects normal methodological variation rather than error.
• Global Rank: The United States remains the third most populous country in the world, behind only India and China, a position it has held for decades and is expected to retain throughout this decade.
• Growth Rate: USA Population 2027 is growing at an annual rate of approximately 0.51% to 0.54%, continuing a multi-year trend of modest, immigration-driven growth.
• Growth Drivers: With the national fertility rate sitting well below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, the primary driver of USA Population 2027 growth is international net migration rather than natural increase (births minus deaths).

Why USA Population 2027 Estimates Vary Between Sources

Anyone researching the USA Population 2027 figures will notice that no two sources report the same number. This is expected. The Census Bureau anchors its estimates to the most recent decennial census, then layers in annual updates from birth records, death records, and immigration data.

Population trackers blend Census Bureau data with their own continuous interpolation models, which can produce slightly higher running totals between official update cycles. Econometric forecasting services apply statistical trend models to project the USA Population 2027 forward from the latest confirmed annual figures. None of these approaches is wrong; they simply weight inputs differently, which is why a credible USA Population 2027 figure should always be read as a range rather than a single fixed digit.

10 Demographic Trends Shaping the US in 2027

1. Immigration has become the dominant growth engine

With fertility below replacement level, net international migration now accounts for the clear majority of annual U.S. population growth, a structural shift from the historical pattern where natural increase did most of the work.

2. The Sun Belt continues pulling population from the Rust Belt

Texas, Florida, Arizona, and the Carolinas keep adding residents at rates well above the national average, while several Northeastern and Midwestern states see flat or declining populations.

3. The population is aging steadily

The share of Americans aged 65 and older continues to climb as the Baby Boomer generation moves further into retirement age, placing growing pressure on Social Security and Medicare systems.

4. Fertility remains near a historic low

The national fertility rate sits around 1.6 children per woman, well below the 2.1 replacement threshold, a trend that shows no clear sign of reversing.

5. Racial and ethnic diversity continues to increase.

The Hispanic and Asian American populations are growing fastest in percentage terms, while the non-Hispanic White share of the population continues a gradual, multi-decade decline.

6. Religious affiliation keeps shifting toward “unaffiliated”

The share of Americans identifying as religiously unaffiliated has plateaued after years of rapid growth, but remains historically high compared to prior decades.

7. Urbanization keeps deepening, but unevenly

Large metro areas in the South and West keep expanding, while several Northeastern and Midwestern cities continue losing residents.

8. Household formation is slowing

Higher housing costs and delayed marriage are pushing the average age of first homeownership and first childbirth steadily later.

9. Educational attainment continues rising even as literacy challenges persist in specific population segments

While overall attainment levels climb, functional literacy gaps remain a documented concern among specific adult populations.

10. State-level population swings increasingly shape political representation

Because congressional apportionment follows population, the ongoing shift toward Sun Belt states is gradually reshaping the balance of political power across the country.

United States Population Growth by Region

Regional growth patterns are one of the most revealing parts of the broader USA Population 2027 story. The Census Bureau divides the country into four primary regions, and their growth trajectories diverge sharply. The South remains the most populous and fastest-growing region, home to nearly 40% of the national population, driven largely by Texas and Florida. The West holds the second-largest share, anchored by California despite that state’s own recent growth slowdown.

The Midwest has settled into a pattern of modest, stable growth concentrated mainly in Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan, while most smaller Midwestern states grow slowly or not at all. The Northeast continues to see the weakest regional growth of the four, with several states, including New York and parts of New England, experiencing population stagnation or outright decline as residents relocate toward the South and West.

United States Population by Age and Sex

Age structure is a core piece of any USA Population 2027 analysis, since it shapes everything from school enrollment to retirement system funding. The national median age sits at approximately 39 years, continuing a long, slow climb that reflects both declining birth rates and rising life expectancy.

Roughly 21% of the population is under 18, about 60% falls between 18 and 64, and approximately 18% is aged 65 or older, a share that keeps expanding each year as the Baby Boomer generation ages further. The national sex ratio is close to balanced overall, slightly favoring males at birth and in younger age brackets, before shifting toward a female majority among the oldest age groups, a pattern consistent with the longer average life expectancy of women.

United States Ethnicity

Racial and ethnic composition is one of the fastest-changing dimensions of USA Population 2027 demographics. The non-Hispanic White population remains the largest single group, at approximately 57% to 58% of the total population, though this share has declined steadily from roughly 69% in 2000.

Hispanic or Latino Americans, classified by the Census Bureau as an ethnicity rather than a race, make up the largest minority group at approximately 19% of the population. Black or African American residents account for roughly 13% to 14%, Asian Americans represent approximately 6%, and individuals identifying as multiracial make up an increasingly significant and fast-growing share, now approaching 4%.

American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander populations each represent smaller shares, generally under 1.5% individually, but remain demographically significant in specific states and regions.

United States Religion

Religious affiliation patterns add an important cultural layer to the USA Population 2027 picture. Christianity remains the largest religious affiliation in the country, though its share has declined substantially over the past two decades.

Current survey data places the Christian share of U.S. adults at roughly 62% to 66%, depending on methodology, down from 78% in 2007. Within that group, Protestants represent the largest subgroup at around 40%, followed by Catholics at approximately 19%.

Religiously unaffiliated Americans, sometimes called religious “nones,” account for roughly 28% to 29% of the adult population, a figure that grew rapidly for nearly two decades before plateauing in recent years. Adherents of religions other than Christianity, including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, collectively make up around 6% to 7% of U.S. adults.

Life Expectancy

Life expectancy trends are a key health indicator within the broader USA Population 2027 dataset. Average life expectancy at birth in the United States sits at approximately 79 years, with a meaningful gap between sexes: roughly 76.5 years for men and 81.4 years for women.

U.S. life expectancy continues a gradual recovery following the sharp dip recorded during the early 2020s, though it still trails several other wealthy nations. Regional and socioeconomic disparities in life expectancy remain significant, with some states and counties posting averages several years above or below the national figure.

Literacy of the Population

Literacy levels round out the educational dimension of the USA Population 2027 profile. The United States maintains a high overall literacy rate, generally cited as above 99% for basic literacy. However, functional literacy, the ability to read, interpret, and use written information effectively in daily life, tells a more complicated story.

National adult literacy assessments have repeatedly found that a meaningful share of American adults, often cited at around 20%, struggle with more complex reading and numeracy tasks, a gap that correlates closely with income, geography, and access to quality education. This distinction between basic and functional literacy remains an important, frequently overlooked dimension of the broader population picture.

Population by States in the USA (All States, Rounded & Estimated Figures)

The state-level breakdown below forms the geographic backbone of the USA Population 2027 dataset, showing exactly how unevenly the population is distributed across the country.

Rank	State	Population (Rounded)
1	California	39.5 million
2	Texas	31.3 million
3	Florida	23.3 million
4	New York	19.7 million
5	Pennsylvania	13.1 million
6	Illinois	12.6 million
7	Ohio	11.9 million
8	Georgia	11.3 million
9	North Carolina	11.1 million
10	Michigan	10.1 million
11	New Jersey	9.4 million
12	Virginia	8.9 million
13	Washington	8.1 million
14	Arizona	7.8 million
15	Tennessee	7.3 million
16	Massachusetts	7.2 million
17	Indiana	6.9 million
18	Missouri	6.3 million
19	Maryland	6.3 million
20	Wisconsin	6.0 million
21	Colorado	6.0 million
22	Minnesota	5.85 million
23	South Carolina	5.55 million
24	Alabama	5.18 million
25	Louisiana	4.6 million
26	Kentucky	4.59 million
27	Oregon	4.28 million
28	Oklahoma	4.14 million
29	Connecticut	3.68 million
30	Utah	3.55 million
31	Iowa	3.24 million
32	Nevada	3.24 million
33	Arkansas	3.08 million
34	Kansas	2.96 million
35	Mississippi	2.95 million
36	New Mexico	2.13 million
37	Idaho	2.06 million
38	Nebraska	2.01 million
39	West Virginia	1.76 million
40	Hawaii	1.44 million
41	New Hampshire	1.41 million
42	Maine	1.39 million
43	Montana	1.14 million
44	Rhode Island	1.10 million
45	Delaware	1.06 million
46	South Dakota	0.93 million
47	North Dakota	0.80 million
48	Alaska	0.735 million
49	District of Columbia	0.705 million
50	Vermont	0.65 million
51	Wyoming	0.59 million

Figures rounded. Source: U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, extrapolated to 2027 using confirmed state-level growth trajectories.

Population by Counties in the USA (Top 50 Largest Counties, Rounded)

County-level detail offers the most granular view available in this USA Population 2027 guide, useful for anyone researching specific metro areas rather than entire states.

Rank	County	State	Population (Rounded)
1	Los Angeles County	California	9.6 million
2	Cook County	Illinois	5.1 million
3	Harris County	Texas	4.9 million
4	Maricopa County	Arizona	4.6 million
5	San Diego County	California	3.3 million
6	Orange County	California	3.2 million
7	Miami-Dade County	Florida	2.75 million
8	Dallas County	Texas	2.65 million
9	Kings County	New York	2.6 million
10	Riverside County	California	2.5 million
11	Clark County	Nevada	2.4 million
12	King County	Washington	2.3 million
13	Queens County	New York	2.25 million
14	San Bernardino County	California	2.2 million
15	Tarrant County	Texas	2.2 million
16	Santa Clara County	California	1.95 million
17	Broward County	Florida	1.95 million
18	Bexar County	Texas	2.05 million
19	Wayne County	Michigan	1.7 million
20	Alameda County	California	1.7 million
21	Travis County	Texas	1.35 million
22	New York County	New York	1.65 million
23	Middlesex County	Massachusetts	1.65 million
24	Suffolk County	New York	1.5 million
25	Palm Beach County	Florida	1.6 million
26	Cuyahoga County	Ohio	1.25 million
27	Nassau County	New York	1.4 million
28	Hillsborough County	Florida	1.6 million
29	Sacramento County	California	1.6 million
30	Orange County	Florida	1.55 million
31	Fairfax County	Virginia	1.15 million
32	Allegheny County	Pennsylvania	1.25 million
33	Franklin County	Ohio	1.35 million
34	Contra Costa County	California	1.2 million
35	Salt Lake County	Utah	1.2 million
36	Bergen County	New Jersey	0.96 million
37	Oakland County	Michigan	1.27 million
38	Hennepin County	Minnesota	1.27 million
39	Mecklenburg County	North Carolina	1.2 million
40	Pima County	Arizona	1.07 million
41	Fresno County	California	1.05 million
42	Wake County	North Carolina	1.18 million
43	Davidson County	Tennessee	0.72 million
44	Denton County	Texas	0.99 million
45	El Paso County	Texas	0.87 million
46	Collin County	Texas	1.18 million
47	Westchester County	New York	1.0 million
48	Fort Bend County	Texas	0.92 million
49	Montgomery County	Maryland	1.05 million
50	Gwinnett County	Georgia	0.99 million

Figures rounded. Source: U.S. Census Bureau county population estimates, extrapolated to 2027.

100 Main Cities by Population in the USA (Rounded)

City-level rankings round out the core USA Population 2027 tables, capturing where Americans actually live day to day rather than just which state they call home.

Rank	City	State	Population (Rounded)
1	New York City	New York	8.45 million
2	Los Angeles	California	3.85 million
3	Chicago	Illinois	2.68 million
4	Houston	Texas	2.40 million
5	Phoenix	Arizona	1.69 million
6	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	1.57 million
7	San Antonio	Texas	1.53 million
8	San Diego	California	1.40 million
9	Dallas	Texas	1.34 million
10	Austin	Texas	0.99 million
11	Jacksonville	Florida	1.01 million
12	Fort Worth	Texas	0.99 million
13	San Jose	California	0.97 million
14	Columbus	Ohio	0.92 million
15	Charlotte	North Carolina	0.92 million
16	Indianapolis	Indiana	0.89 million
17	San Francisco	California	0.84 million
18	Seattle	Washington	0.78 million
19	Denver	Colorado	0.72 million
20	Oklahoma City	Oklahoma	0.70 million
21	Nashville	Tennessee	0.69 million
22	El Paso	Texas	0.68 million
23	Washington	D.C.	0.69 million
24	Boston	Massachusetts	0.66 million
25	Las Vegas	Nevada	0.66 million
26	Portland	Oregon	0.64 million
27	Detroit	Michigan	0.62 million
28	Louisville	Kentucky	0.63 million
29	Memphis	Tennessee	0.61 million
30	Baltimore	Maryland	0.57 million
31	Milwaukee	Wisconsin	0.56 million
32	Albuquerque	New Mexico	0.56 million
33	Tucson	Arizona	0.55 million
34	Fresno	California	0.54 million
35	Sacramento	California	0.53 million
36	Mesa	Arizona	0.51 million
37	Kansas City	Missouri	0.51 million
38	Atlanta	Georgia	0.51 million
39	Omaha	Nebraska	0.49 million
40	Colorado Springs	Colorado	0.49 million
41	Raleigh	North Carolina	0.49 million
42	Long Beach	California	0.46 million
43	Virginia Beach	Virginia	0.46 million
44	Miami	Florida	0.45 million
45	Oakland	California	0.43 million
46	Minneapolis	Minnesota	0.43 million
47	Tulsa	Oklahoma	0.41 million
48	Bakersfield	California	0.41 million
49	Wichita	Kansas	0.40 million
50	Arlington	Texas	0.40 million
51	Aurora	Colorado	0.40 million
52	Tampa	Florida	0.40 million
53	New Orleans	Louisiana	0.37 million
54	Cleveland	Ohio	0.36 million
55	Honolulu	Hawaii	0.35 million
56	Anaheim	California	0.35 million
57	Lexington	Kentucky	0.33 million
58	Stockton	California	0.32 million
59	Corpus Christi	Texas	0.32 million
60	Henderson	Nevada	0.33 million
61	Riverside	California	0.32 million
62	Saint Paul	Minnesota	0.31 million
63	Santa Ana	California	0.31 million
64	Cincinnati	Ohio	0.31 million
65	Irvine	California	0.31 million
66	Orlando	Florida	0.31 million
67	Pittsburgh	Pennsylvania	0.30 million
68	Greensboro	North Carolina	0.30 million
69	Lincoln	Nebraska	0.29 million
70	Durham	North Carolina	0.29 million
71	Plano	Texas	0.29 million
72	Jersey City	New Jersey	0.29 million
73	Toledo	Ohio	0.27 million
74	Chandler	Arizona	0.28 million
75	St. Petersburg	Florida	0.26 million
76	Laredo	Texas	0.26 million
77	Buffalo	New York	0.27 million
78	Norfolk	Virginia	0.24 million
79	Madison	Wisconsin	0.27 million
80	Lubbock	Texas	0.26 million
81	Chula Vista	California	0.27 million
82	Reno	Nevada	0.27 million
83	Fort Wayne	Indiana	0.27 million
84	North Las Vegas	Nevada	0.27 million
85	Gilbert	Arizona	0.27 million
86	Glendale	Arizona	0.25 million
87	Winston-Salem	North Carolina	0.25 million
88	Hialeah	Florida	0.22 million
89	Garland	Texas	0.24 million
90	Scottsdale	Arizona	0.24 million
91	Irving	Texas	0.24 million
92	Fremont	California	0.23 million
93	Boise	Idaho	0.24 million
94	Richmond	Virginia	0.23 million
95	Baton Rouge	Louisiana	0.22 million
96	Spokane	Washington	0.23 million
97	San Bernardino	California	0.22 million
98	Des Moines	Iowa	0.22 million
99	Tacoma	Washington	0.22 million
100	Modesto	California	0.22 million

Figures rounded. Source: U.S. Census Bureau city population estimates, extrapolated to 2027 using confirmed municipal growth trajectories.

Population Density by Top Cities (Rounded, People per Square Mile)

Density figures add useful texture to the USA Population 2027 picture, since a high population count alone does not capture how crowded a city actually feels.

Rank	City	Density (People per sq mi)
1	New York City	28,300
2	San Francisco	18,600
3	Jersey City	18,000
4	Boston	14,300
5	Chicago	11,700
6	Philadelphia	11,400
7	Miami	11,100
8	Washington D.C.	11,000
9	Santa Ana	10,800
10	Newark	10,700
11	Los Angeles	8,300
12	San Diego	4,400
13	Long Beach	9,200
14	Baltimore	7,500
15	Minneapolis	7,900
16	Seattle	9,300
17	Buffalo	6,000
18	Honolulu	5,500
19	Sacramento	5,400
20	Milwaukee	6,200
21	Atlanta	3,900
22	Denver	4,700
23	St. Louis	5,000
24	Las Vegas	4,500
25	Portland	4,800

Figures rounded for readability. Source: U.S. Census Bureau land area and population data, current estimates.

Growth Rate Table: Fastest-Growing States and Cities

These growth figures explain much of the regional reshuffling described earlier in this USA Population 2027 guide, particularly the ongoing shift toward the South and West.

Rank	State or City	Annual Growth Rate
1	Idaho	+1.9%
2	Utah	+1.7%
3	Texas	+1.8%
4	Florida	+1.8%
5	South Carolina	+1.4%
6	North Carolina	+1.3%
7	Georgia	+1.1%
8	Colorado	+1.1%
9	Tennessee	+1.2%
10	Delaware	+1.2%
11	Arizona	+1.5%
12	Nevada	+1.5%
13	Washington	+1.0%
14	South Dakota	+1.0%
15	Montana	+0.9%

Growth Rate Table: Fastest-Growing Cities

Rank	City	Annual Growth Rate
1	Georgetown, TX	+9.0%
2	Boise, ID	+3.5%
3	Phoenix, AZ	+4.0%
4	Austin, TX	+3.0%
5	San Antonio, TX	+2.5%
6	Charlotte, NC	+2.3%
7	Raleigh, NC	+2.2%
8	Henderson, NV	+2.1%
9	Fort Worth, TX	+2.0%
10	Gilbert, AZ	+2.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau population estimates and components of change data.

Decline Rate Table: Fastest-Shrinking States and Cities

Rank	State	Annual Decline Rate
1	West Virginia	-0.4%
2	Alaska	-0.2%
3	Mississippi	-0.1% (near flat)
4	Vermont	near flat
5	Illinois	near flat

Decline Rate Table: Fastest-Shrinking Cities

Rank	City	Annual Decline Rate
1	Jackson, MS	-1.65%
2	New York City, NY	-0.4% to -0.5% (recent years)
3	San Francisco, CA	-0.6%
4	Chicago, IL	-0.3%
5	Cleveland, OH	-0.5%
6	Detroit, MI	-0.3%
7	Pittsburgh, PA	-0.4%
8	Baltimore, MD	-0.3%
9	Memphis, TN	-0.2%
10	New Orleans, LA	-0.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau components of population change data, recent multi-year trends.

What the USA Population 2027 Picture Means Going Forward

Pulling every thread of this USA Population 2027 guide together, the overall trajectory reflects a country in demographic transition. Natural increase, the historical engine of American population growth, has slowed to a near standstill as fertility rates sit well below replacement level.

Immigration has stepped in as the primary driver of continued growth, a dependency that is likely to deepen further in subsequent years, absent a significant rebound in birth rates. Geographically, the long-running shift toward the South and West continues uninterrupted, reshaping not just where Americans live but also how political representation, infrastructure investment, and economic activity are distributed across the country.

Anyone tracking USA Population 2027 figures into future years should expect this combination, immigration-driven growth, regional rebalancing toward the Sun Belt, and a steadily aging population, to remain the dominant storyline for the rest of the decade.

Frequently Asked Questions About the USA Population 2027

What is the current USA Population 2027 estimate?

Approximately 346 to 349 million people, depending on the source and methodology used.

What rank does the United States hold globally in population?

Third, behind India and China.

What is driving the USA population growth in 2027?

International net migration, since the national fertility rate sits below the replacement level needed for natural population growth alone.

Which state has the largest population?

California, with approximately 39.5 million residents, though its growth rate has slowed considerably in recent years.

Which state is growing the fastest?

Idaho, Texas, Utah, and Florida consistently post the highest percentage growth rates among all states.

Which US city has the largest population?

New York City, with a population exceeding 8.4 million, more than double the next largest city.

What is the average life expectancy in the United States?

Approximately 79 years overall, with men averaging around 76.5 years and women around 81.4 years.

What percentage of Americans identify as religiously unaffiliated?

Roughly 28% to 29% of U.S. adults, a figure that has plateaued after years of steady growth.

This guide reflects U.S. Census Bureau data and projections, alongside other demographic tracking sources, and will be reviewed periodically as updated figures become available throughout 2027.