Interactive Map: Population Change in New Jersey

By Colleen O'Dea, NJ Spotlight

Mapping Population Trends

(Click here to see the interactive map of New Jersey population trends)

New Jersey’s population inched close to 9 million last year, but the continuing flight of residents kept the state’s population increase lagging against others, according to the most recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The first statewide and county-by-county population estimates since the official 2010 Census show New Jersey continues to lag behind areas in the west and south, including Washington, Texas and Georgia, that have been growing much faster. New Jersey’s smaller population increases led the state to lose one of its seats in Congress come January.

According to the Census Bureau estimates, released today, New Jersey’s population rose by 29,261 between April 1, 2010 and July 1, 2011 to 8.82 million. That’s an increase of just .3 percent. Births during that time period outpaced deaths by about 44,000, but the number of people moving out of state surpassed the number of immigrants who settled here by almost 15,000.

The fastest growing county last year was Hudson, which is the state’s fourth largest, behind Bergen, Middlesex and Essex. The most sparsely populated is Salem. Population declined in seven counties -- Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Hunterdon, Salem, Sussex and Warren -- according to the Census estimates.

Cape May was the only county in which the number of deaths surpassed the number of births. Just four counties -- Bergen, Hudson, Morris and Ocean -- registered increases in net migration, which is the difference between immigrants settling in a county and those who move out.

To see all the details for any county, click on it. The population totals and change, as well as the components of the 2011 estimates -- births, deaths, immigration and migration -- are listed.