Washington now 13th-largest state

Driven in large part by migration — from other states and overseas — Washington added more than 655,000 new residents since the decade began, rising two notches to become the nation's 13th-largest state.

New census figures released Monday put the state's estimated population at 6,549,224 in July this year, up from 5,894,143 in April 2000. The addition of 655,081 new residents was the eighth-highest population increase among the states so far this decade.

Demographers credit a relatively strong state economy over the past four years.

"It took us about three years to get out of the recession earlier in this decade," said King County demographer Chandler Felt. "But since 2004, the state and the Puget Sound region have seen strong growth and a strong economy compared to the rest of the nation."

Nationwide, the U.S. added more than 22 million people so far this decade, breaking through the 300 million mark in October 2006. The nation's population in July stood at an estimated 304 million people.

Population rises or declines through natural growth (births minus deaths) and net migration. So far this decade, Washington added a net 166,300 residents from overseas and 198,700 from other states.

Those newcomers helped the state surpass Indiana and Massachusetts to become the nation's 13th largest.

Meanwhile, neighboring Oregon added 368,600 new residents in the past eight years, increasing its national ranking from 28th to 27th.

California remained the nation's most populous state, with about 36.8 million people in July. Rounding out the top five states were Texas (24.3 million), New York (19.5 million), Florida (18.3 million) and Illinois (12.9 million).

Only two states lost population during the decade — Rhode Island with a loss of 2.2 percent and Michigan with a loss of 4.6 percent.

Lornet Turnbull: 206-464-2420 or lturnbull@seattletimes.com