Alabama Sees Population Surge Driven by Migration

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Alabama’s population is experiencing growth again, primarily due to migration. Recent estimates show the state added nearly 50,000 residents between 2023 and 2024, bringing the total to about 5.16 million.

According to the data, the 2024 growth rate is around 1%, a modest increase compared to previous years, which hovered around 0.7%. The numbers reflect 49,231 more residents in just one year, demonstrating that migration is the driving force behind the state’s population growth.

Of the new residents, approximately 26,000 moved from other states, while about 16,000 were from foreign countries. In contrast, natural growth through births remains stable, with around 58,000 births reported against approximately 59,000 deaths.

For the third consecutive year, Alabama has seen more deaths than births, a trend linked to the aging population and lasting impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts note the state would likely have flat or declining numbers without the influx of newcomers.

Madison County, which includes Huntsville, is a key area for growth, adding around 10,000 residents annually since 2019. The presence of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and Redstone Arsenal has established the region as a technology and aerospace hub, attracting skilled workers from across the nation.

In Baldwin County, known for its coastal living, the population climbed by more than 8,000 residents in 2024. This area has become a popular destination for retirees, families, and remote workers seeking lifestyle changes.

Cities like Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile, which previously faced population declines, are stabilizing. Jefferson County, in particular, gained about 3,300 new residents from other states last year.

Nyesha Black, director of demographic research at the University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Economic Research, emphasized migration’s importance. “If it were not for migration,” she stated, “the state of Alabama would not be growing.”

The 2024 estimates also highlighted a growing immigrant population. Alabama’s foreign-born residents increased by 13%, adding 27,000 new individuals and now constituting approximately 4.5% of the total population.

The growth brings not only numbers but cultural changes as well. The state is diversifying, with nearly 315,000 residents identifying as multiracial, and significant increases in Hispanic, Latino, and Asian populations. In contrast, the White population saw a slight decline of about 2,000.

Experts warn that Alabama must keep its appeal to newcomers, as reliance on migration alone could become precarious amid shifting national policies and declining birth rates. “Alabama will have to compete to remain an attractive place for people to want to migrate here,” Black noted.

Currently, the trend appears positive, with sustained migration and a gradual diversification of the population shaping the state’s future.