According to the latest U.S. Census report, the population of Minnesota experienced a modest increase of 0.4%, or 23,615 people, between July 2022 and July 2023. This growth can be attributed to normalized migration patterns and a reduction in deaths compared to the previous two years heavily affected by the pandemic.

Susan Brower, Minnesota's state demographer, noted that the state continues to face challenges with low birth rates and an aging population, in line with national trends. However, Brower also highlighted that domestic migration and immigration patterns appear to be stabilizing, offering a glimmer of hope for the state's population growth.

Brower expressed relief with the latest census data. She acknowledged that the previous years had raised concerns due to significant outflows of people domestically. In 2021, Minnesota witnessed a loss of nearly 11,000 individuals, followed by a further decrease of 22,000 in 2022.

These substantial declines in population had prompted state leaders to focus on attracting more workers to Minnesota. However, the recent findings indicate a positive shift, with Minnesota being one of the 42 states that experienced population gains this year.

The Midwest region as a whole also recorded a moderate population increase after two consecutive years of decline. The growth in Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio played significant roles in driving this upward trajectory.

Overall, while Minnesota faces ongoing challenges such as low birth rates and an aging population, the latest census data provides some hope for the state's population growth. The stabilization of migration patterns, along with gains experienced in neighboring states, suggests a positive direction for Minnesota's demographic landscape.