Isle population on rise
The increase of more than 13,000 people ranks the state 18th in 2004-05 growth
Associated Press
Hawaii's population has increased by 13,070 people from July 2004 to July 2005, ranking the state 18th in the nation in growth, the U.S. Census Bureau reported this week.
The jump brought the state's total population to 1,275,194, a figure 1 percent higher than a year ago. That also places Hawaii 42nd among the 50 states in population.
Eugene Tian, research and statistics officer with the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, said Hawaii's population increase has been stable, growing at about 1 percent for the past four years after seven years of slow growth.
The islands' population has swelled by about 13,000 every year for the past five years, Tian said. He attributed the increases to more births than deaths and to some 3,400 people who migrate to Hawaii each year.
Between 1990 and 2005, the number of Hawaii residents grew at an annual rate of 0.91 percent, the Census reported.
In addition, about 6,000 more people settle each year in Hawaii from other countries than leave for overseas. But Tian said more residents, about 2,600 annually, leave Hawaii in search of lower costs of living than move here from other states.
Nationwide, population rose by 0.9 percent, adding 2.8 million people for a total of 296.4 million.
Among the states reporting the largest population growth were Nevada in first place, with 3.5 percent, followed by Arizona, Idaho, Florida, Utah, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, Delaware and Oregon.