Nevada is America’s fastest-growing state, report says

Nevada’s population has grown more percentagewise than any other state in the country from 1970 through 2025, according to a new report.

The Visual Capitalist study, which used U.S. Census Bureau data, has Nevada growing a whopping 572 percent over 55 years, beating out Arizona (329 percent), Florida (246 percent) and Utah (234 percent). The report outlined some of the factors believed to be the main drivers of the growth.

“The state’s transformation was largely fueled by Las Vegas evolving from a tourism-centered economy into a broader metropolitan hub with expanding healthcare, logistics, construction, and business sectors,” reads the report.

The study also looked at the shifting balance of population over that time period, outlining a clear pattern.

“America’s population shifted dramatically toward the South and West between 1970 and 2025, reshaping the country’s economic and political landscape,” reads the report. “States across the Sun Belt and Mountain West saw explosive growth as Americans moved toward lower-cost housing, warmer climates, and expanding job markets. Meanwhile, many Northeastern and Midwestern states posted comparatively modest gains.”

Only Washington, D.C. lost population over that time period; it was down 8 percent, according to the report. The states with the least amount of population growth over that time were West Virginia (1 percent), New York (10 percent) and Pennsylvania (11 percent).