The U.S. Census Bureau released its 2016 state population estimates Tuesday, and Nebraska’s population is growing at a higher rate than 32 other states, with the state exceeding 1.9 million residents for the first time.
Nebraska’s population grew by 13,351 people from last year’s estimate, a 0.7 percent increase that matched the national rate. Nebraska’s growth rate ranks 17th among states, exceeding neighboring states Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Wyoming.
Based on current growth and projections, Nebraska could top 2 million in population by 2025.
The growth also makes it very unlikely Nebraska would lose a congressional seat in 2020, said David Drozd, research coordinator at the Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Drozd said Nebraska could have zero growth the rest of the decade, and, if growth trends in other states stay the same, it would not lose a seat.
“There’s always the possibility the estimates are off, or something major could happen between now and 2020 in our state or nationally, but as of right now Nebraska is in much better position to keep the current three seats than at the beginning of the decade or even last year,” he said in an email.
Nebraska’s population has grown 4.4 percent since 2010. Births exceeded deaths by 67,000 over that period, and the loss of 9,700 Nebraska residents to other states was more than offset by increases of 24,300 people from foreign countries.
“This growth means more people than ever realize Nebraska is the best place in the world to live, work, and raise a family,” Gov. Pete Ricketts said in a statement.
But Drozd cautioned that the closing of the Fort Calhoun nuclear plant, the sale of Cabela’s and ConAgra’s decision to move its corporate headquarters from Omaha to Chicago could all have negative effects on the state’s migration patterns in the next few years.
David Drozd, M.S.
Research Coordinator
Center for Public Affairs Research (CPAR)
Nebraska State Data Center (SDC) Lead Agency
108 CPACS
University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) | cpar.unomaha.edu
402.554.2132 (office – direct line)
ddrozd@unomaha.edu
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