Utah’s population is growing, even booming

SALT LAKE CITY — There are no signs that Utah’s population growth is slowing. A new report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute estimates Utah gained nearly 56,000 new people from July 2022 to July 2023.

To put that number in perspective, Utah added more than the total population of cities like Draper and Logan in just one year.

The report estimates Utah’s population has grown to roughly 3.45 million people.

Looking at Utah’s population growth, by county

Utah County dominated the major growth statistics. The report shows it added more than 22,000 people between July 2022 and July 2023, leading all counties in new move-ins and births.

Salt Lake County gained the second-most people with almost 14,000. Davis County gained over 5,100 people. Washington County grew by over 4,500 people. Tooele County grew by more than 1,700. Weber County gained more than 1,300.

The fastest-growing county by percentage, at least among those with more than 5,000 total residents, was Iron County. According to Emily Harris, senior demographer with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, Iron County claimed that title for the third straight year.

A net positive increase in Utah births

While the majority of Utah’s growth is still coming from new move-ins, Harris said for the first time since 2013, Utah saw a net positive increase in births. It means more people were born in Utah than those who died over a year.

While the overall growth rate in Utah decreased from 1.7% last year, it didn’t decrease by much.  Utah has maintained a 1.6% growth rate since July 2022.

Utah was listed as the fastest-growing state in the country in the 2020 U.S. Census. That growth doesn’t seem to be slowing down now. Since 2015, Utah has gained nearly a half million people.

Keep reading:

• ‘Guiding our Growth’ survey helps policymakers shape Utah
• Census data: What was Utah’s fastest growing city in 2022?
• Changes at UVU anticipate growth, and students staying in Utah

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