Wyoming Gains Population in 2021

The State of Wyoming gained population in 2021, increasing by 1,536 from July 2020 to July 2021 to total 578,803 for an annual increase of 0.3 percent, higher than the national average of 0.1 percent.

According to a release from the State of Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, fifteen of Wyoming’s 23 counties saw population increases during the same period.

Lincoln County had the highest growth rate at 2.4%, followed by Sheridan County at 2.1% and Johnson County at 1.9%.

Campbell County’s population decreased by 1.5%.

Laramie County, the largest in the state, grew by 0.2 percent, while Natrona, the second largest, lost 674 residents.

Two factors contributed to the change in population, according to the release. Natural change, which is the difference between births and deaths, and net migration, the difference between people moving into and out of an area.

At the state level, the net migration was 1,368, meaning that 1,368 more people moved into Wyoming than moved out between July 2020 and July 2021.

The natural change accounted for only 171 (6,213 births less 6,042 deaths).

During the last decade the decline in energy prices and the economic downturn in Wyoming forced many residents to leave, and the state experienced consecutive years of negative net migration between 2014 and 2019.

The direction of net migration reversed in both 2020 and 2021.

To read the full report, we have provided a link to the Wyoming Department of Administration & Information website here:

http://eadiv.state.wy.us/pop/CO-21EST.pdf