New Census estimates show Seattle added more than 11,500 residents last year, while international migration helped offset domestic population losses.
SEATTLE — Seattle posted one of the nation’s largest population gains last year even as King County continued to lose residents to other parts of the United States, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
The Census Bureau estimates Seattle gained 11,572 residents between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, bringing the city’s population to 784,777. The increase ranked fifth nationally in numeric growth among cities with populations of at least 20,000.
Charlotte, North Carolina; Fort Worth, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; and Celina, Texas ranked above Seattle. Seattle was the only West Coast city among the top ten cities for numeric population growth.
The figures come as Census officials report slowing growth among many of the nation’s largest cities.
“Big-city growth slowed significantly between 2024 and 2025, with some major hubs even seeing small declines,” said Matt Erickson, a statistician in the Census Bureau’s Population Division. “In contrast, midsized cities found a ‘Goldilocks zone’ where domestic and international migration, paired with new housing, helped prevent the sluggish growth seen in small towns and larger metropolitan centers.”
The growth comes amid a broader population trend playing out across western Washington.
King County added 26,980 residents during the same period, but the growth was driven largely by international migration. Census estimates show King County gained 28,428 residents through international migration while losing 9,070 residents through domestic migration.
A similar pattern emerged in Snohomish County, which gained 6,325 residents through international migration while losing 525 through domestic migration.
Pierce County was the exception, gaining residents through both international and domestic migration.
The figures suggest population growth in the region is continuing despite ongoing domestic out-migration from some counties.
Sara Curran, sociology professor with the University of Washington, told KING 5 that the boosted international migration in western Washington is directly caused by “labor demand, especially in the tech industry during 2023-2025.”
Mike Mohrman, Washington’s state demographer, told KING 5 that migration remains one of the most difficult components of population forecasting. He said the state’s models continue to show growth and rely heavily on employment trends.
Mohrman noted that the state’s forecasting models do not distinguish between international and domestic migration in the same way as the Census Bureau’s estimates.
“It all has to do with job opportunity,” Mohrman said.
Mohrman said Washington continues to add jobs, noting that migration patterns tend to ebb and flow over time and that it is not realistic to expect a steady rate of growth from year to year.
Since the 2020 Census, King County has lost an estimated 95,386 residents through domestic migration while gaining 132,211 residents through international migration, resulting in a net migration gain of 36,825.
Snohomish County lost 3,856 residents through domestic migration while gaining 28,268 through international migration.
Pierce County lost 4,517 residents through domestic migration but gained 14,414 through international migration.
Nationally, Census officials found average growth rates among the nation’s largest cities fell by at least half in every region compared with the previous year, even as some cities continued to post substantial numeric gains.
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