Population Change and Net Migration
1960-2007
- Population growth is comprised of two major components -- the natural increase and net migration.
- The natural increase in population -- births less deaths -- is the more stable component of population growth. The natural increase hit a nadir in 1973 when the number of births in the state fell to its lowest level in the post WWII era; this has been commonly called the "Baby Bust" era.
- Migration into and out of Washington is dependent upon the economic conditions within the state relative to the rest of the nation. The Boeing Bust of the late 1960s and early 1970s resulted in probably the greatest exodus of population from Washington. Migration slowed appreciably in the last recession, but has rebounded since 2003 as the labor market strengthened.
- The poor economic climate in California resulted in out-migration of about 400,000 people per year in the early 1990s. Even though Washington's economic growth was slow during that period, it still outpaced California's, thus being a migratory magnet to many from the Golden State.
- Washington's current population growth -- an increase of 112,400 between April 1, 2006 and April 1, 2007 -- is in lock-step with the state's current economic expansion, which continues to outperform the nation as a whole.
Data Source:
Last modified: October 30, 2007
E-mail: OFM.Forecasting@ofm.wa.gov
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