Report: Utah population grew 1.8% since 2020

SALT LAKE CITY — A new report shows some interesting, exciting, and possibly concerning trends for the population growth of Utah. The report was released Tuesday during the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s Newsmaker Breakfast. 

Population estimates for July 1, 2021, released today by the @KemGardnerInst, indicate the state added approximately 71,936 people since #2020Census, reaching an estimated 3,343,552 Utahns; net in-migration surges #utpol #utleg #utdemographics @UtahSDC https://t.co/jMH6O7T23G

— Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute (@KemGardnerInst) December 8, 2021

Utah grew by 58,729 people from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2021, according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and its annual population estimate report. That is a growth of 1.8%, the highest since 2017. 

“That’s about the size of Taylorsville,” says Director Natalie Gochnour. “Or, if I want to put it in Davis County terms, it’s more people than Bountiful [and] less people than Layton.” 

The report shows an estimated population of 3,343,552 in Utah. 

Utah population growth by births

The state has seen a drop in what’s referred to as ‘natural increase.’ Put simply, this is the number of births minus the number of deaths. According to the report, the total fertility rate in Utah is lower now than the previous decade. The number of dead from COVID-19 also resulted in an unexpected spike in the number of deaths for the year. The natural increase from 2020 to 2021 was the lowest on record since 1978. 

“For births, we had around 45,000,” explains Emily Harris, senior demographer for the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and author of this year’s report. “That’s the lowest number we’ve had since 1998.” 

As of Tuesday afternoon, 3,606 people died from COVID-19 in Utah since the start of the pandemic. 

Growth by migration

The 2021 net migration was estimated at 34,858, the highest since 2005. ‘Net migration’ is defined as the number of people who come to Utah from other states minus those who move to other states. 

Growth by county 

The report shows Utah County had the highest natural increase, net migration, and population growth. It also contributed roughly one-third of statewide growth. 

Salt Lake County grew by less than 1% since 2020. The largest of Utah’s 29 counties contributed nearly 16% of statewide growth. 

Iron County grew the fastest at 6.2%. Garfield was the only county to lose population. 

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