Washington’s population grew from 4.1 million in 1980 to 6.4 million in 2006 (average annual growth rate of 1.02%) and is expected to reach 8.6 million by 2030 (projected average annual growth rate of 1.01%).
Washington State Total Population
Source: Washington State Office of Financial Management
Washington State Annual Rate of Population Growth
For comparison, the U.S. annual population growth rate from 1980 to 2003 was 1.01% and is projected to continue that annual population growth rate through to 2030.
Washington State and U.S. Annual Rates of Population Growth
For comparison, the experiences of Oregon, Idaho and California in the same time period (1980 to 2003) varied from about .098% to 1.03%. The average annual population growth rate for Oregon and Idaho is projected to be about 1.01% through to 2030. California's average annual population growth rate is projected to be slightly higher at 1.02% to 2030.
Washington State, California, Idaho, and Oregon Annual Rates of Population Growth
Historical Population and Growth Rates for the U.S. and Washington (1980 to 2003)
United States Historical = U.S. Census Bureau Estimates 1980 to 2003
Washington State Historical = Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM), published November 2003
Projected Population and Growth Rates for the U.S. and Washington (2004 to 2030)
United States Projection = U.S. Census Bureau Projections 2004 to 2030
Washington State Projection = Washington State Office of Financial Management, (published November 2003)
Historical Population and Growth Rates for Oregon, Idaho and California (1980 to 2003)
Oregon, Idaho, and California Historical = U.S. Census Bureau Estimates 1980 to 2003
Projected Population and Growth Rates for Oregon, Idaho and California (2004 to 2030)
Oregon, Idaho, and California projection = U.S. Census Bureau Projections 2004 to 2030
NOTES:
-- Washington State data from Washington State Office of Financial Management, all other data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau.
-- U.S. Census Year data is in bold above.
-- U.S. Census Bureau refers to estimates as population figures for all years present and past. Projections are for all future years.
-- The U.S. Census Bureau’s estimates for years 2000 to 2003 were updated and released December 18, 2003.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s projections for years 2004 to 2025 were last revised August 2, 2002.
As a result there is a lack of synchronization between the last estimate year (2003) and the
first projection year (2004). The published estimates appear in the tables below, but the graphs above
reflect a natural linear extrapolation from 2003 to 2004.
Source Web sites: U.S. Census Bureau and Washington State Office of Financial Management