Indiana’s population growth nears pre-pandemic levels
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
Indiana’s population growth in 2023 is nearly at its pre-pandemic average, according to an analysis from the Indiana Business Research Center at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business.
The state added over 29,000 residents last year, U.S. Census data shows. In comparison, the state added fewer than 20,000 people in 2022. About 7 million people call the state home.
“Indiana’s growth was fueled by another year of exceptionally high net in-migration,” Matt Kinghorn, senior demographer at IBRC, said in a news release. “The state had a net inflow of nearly 22,500 residents last year, which is the third consecutive year this measure topped the 20,000-residents mark.”
Higher birth rates also offset the natural population decrease caused by deaths in the state. Over 7,500 babies were born, a significant increase from the COVID era, but still under pre-pandemic numbers, Kinghorn noted. Indiana had an average natural increase of roughly 21,150 residents per year from 2010 to 2019.
Population growth is now more evenly distributed across metro and rural areas in the state, IU said. The 23 rural counties saw a 0.2% boost in 2023, compared to a 2.3% decline from 2010 to 2020.
In all, 66 of Indiana’s 92 counties posted a population gain in 2023.
Hancock County was the fastest-growing county with a 3.7% population gain in 2023, followed by Boone (2.4%), Hendricks (1.8%), Hamilton (1.7%), Morgan (1.3%) and Johnson (1.3%) counties. Rush, White, Clark and Warrick counties round out the top 10, each with a growth rate of 1% in 2023.
The growth rate for the Indianapolis metropolitan area, which represents 31% of the states’ population, matched Columbus, Ohio at the rate of 0.8% but surpassed Cincinnati (0.6%), Louisville (0.3%), Cleveland (-0.1%), Detroit (-0.1%) and Chicago (-0.2%).