PA Population On The Decline: U.S. Census Bureau

PENNSYLVANIA — Perhaps it's the high gas taxes. Maybe it's the ever-increasing turnpike tolls. Whatever the reason, tens of thousands of people recently have fled from Pennsylvania.

According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau statistics, the state lost 40,000 residents between July 2021 and July 2022. That's the fourth-largest state population decline behind New York (loss of 180,000 people), California (113,000) and Illinois (104,000).

However, Pennsylvania remains the nation's fifth-most populous state with 12.9 million residents. The state ranks behind California (39 million), Texas (30 million), Florida (22 million) and New York (19 million).

Pennsylvania was one 0f 18 states experiencing a population decline this year, compared to 15 and Washington, D.C. the prior year.

The state's 0.3 percent population decrease was tied for sixth among states losing the most people. The most: New York (0.9 percent), Illinois and Indiana (o.8 percent), West Virginia (0.6 percent), Hawaii (0.5 percent) and Oregon (0.4 percent). Other states with 0.3 percent decreases were Mississippi, Rhode Island and California.

Why is the state's population loss important?

Because it impacts how many members of the U.S. House members Pennsylvania has in Congress. That number for the incoming session stands at 17, down from 18 prior to redistricting from the 2020 census.