New York, both the city and the state, is still one of the most densely populated areas in the country. But the narrative around its population is changing.
New York State’s population hit 20,002,427 by July 1, 2025. Meanwhile, New York City held onto 8,584,629 residents. These numbers prove the state is no longer losing people at the staggering pace seen during the height of the pandemic.
Earlier reports, including the Times Union coverage of post-2020 losses, focused heavily on a massive post-2020 exodus. While New York hasn’t fully recovered to its 2020 baseline and local residents are still moving away, a mix of international immigration and a steady birth rate has balanced out the losses.
The result is a flat year for the state and a much smaller decline for the city. Between July 2024 and July 2025, New York State actually added 1,008 residents. It is a tiny gain, but it keeps the state above the 20 million mark and shows a clear shift toward stability.
Key Takeaways
- New York State population is 20,002,427 in the latest official Census Bureau estimate, dated July 1, 2025.
- New York City population is 8,584,629 in the same Census estimate, still down from April 2020 but higher than several earlier post-pandemic estimates.
- New York State added only 1,008 residents from July 2024 to July 2025 in the Vintage 2025 Census series, which means statewide growth was almost flat.
- New York City lost 12,196 residents from July 2024 to July 2025, while Mid-Hudson gained 13,285 and Long Island gained 3,916.
- Domestic migration remains the main population drag. New York State had net domestic migration of -137,586 from July 2024 to July 2025.
- International migration still helped offset losses, adding 95,634 people statewide and 65,824 people in New York City during the same period.
- New York City produced most of the state natural increase, with 36,101 more births than deaths from July 2024 to July 2025.
- The latest data still supports the broader population decline concern, but the trend is no longer a simple one-way collapse.
- Housing costs, taxes, job flexibility and affordability remain central reasons people leave New York, while jobs, education, immigration and family ties keep large numbers moving in.
Overview
- Source: Youtube/Screenshot, New York City is the state largest city
New York remains the fourth-largest state by population, behind California, Texas and Florida. Its population story in 2026 is no longer defined only by the pandemic outflow, although that period still shapes the numbers.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts page for New York, the state population estimate for July 1, 2025 is 20,002,427. The same source shows the state remains 1.0% below its April 2020 estimates base.
The city population estimate is 8,584,629. That is 2.5% below the April 2020 estimates base of 8,805,594.
Latest New York Population Snapshot For 2026
| Area | April 2020 Base | July 1, 2025 Estimate | Change Since 2020 | July 2024 To July 2025 Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York State | 20,203,696 | 20,002,427 | -201,269 (-1.0%) | +1,008 (+0.01%) |
| New York City | 8,805,594 | 8,584,629 | -220,965 (-2.5%) | -12,196 (-0.14%) |
| Long Island | 2,921,696 | 2,945,029 | +23,333 (+0.8%) | +3,916 (+0.13%) |
| Mid-Hudson | 2,399,251 | 2,454,461 | +55,210 (+2.3%) | +13,285 (+0.54%) |
| North Country | 421,678 | 409,589 | -12,089 (-2.9%) | -2,323 (-0.56%) |
The latest Cornell Program on Applied Demographics county and regional report shows why the statewide number looks stable while local trends remain uneven. Mid-Hudson gained the most residents from 2024 to 2025, while New York City still posted a small decline.
Religious Affiliations In New York
Religious data does not update as frequently as population estimates, but the latest major state-level survey comes from Pew Research Center 2023-24 data, published in 2025. The older table in many population summaries overstated some groups and missed the latest Pew breakdown.
| Religious Group | Share Of Adults In New York |
|---|---|
| Catholic | 29% |
| Evangelical Protestant | 10% |
| Mainline Protestant | 10% |
| Historically Black Protestant | 5% |
| Jewish | 6% |
| Muslim | 3% |
| Hindu | 1% |
| Buddhist | 1% |
| Religiously unaffiliated | 27% |
According to Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study data for New York, Catholic adults remain the largest single religious category at 29%. Religiously unaffiliated adults make up 27%, including atheists, agnostics and people who describe their religion as nothing in particular.
The Jewish share, at 6%, remains higher than the national average and helps explain why New York stands apart from many states in religious composition. Muslim adults account for 3% in the Pew survey, while Hindu and Buddhist adults each account for about 1%.
Age Distribution
| Category | New York State | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Persons under 5 years | 5.3% | 5.7% |
| Persons under 18 years | 20.0% | 20.2% |
| Persons 65 years and over | 18.9% | 16.6% |
| Female persons | 51.1% | 52.0% |
The age structure points to two different pressures. New York State is aging, with 18.9% of residents age 65 or older. New York City is slightly younger by that measure, with 16.6% age 65 or older, while still carrying major healthcare, housing and transit demands.
Aging is especially important outside the city. The Cornell report found that seven of the state ten economic regions recorded more deaths than births from July 2024 to July 2025. New York City and Mid-Hudson were the main exceptions, each recording a 0.42% natural increase rate.
Ethnic And Racial Composition
The official Census table separates race from Hispanic origin, so the categories below should be read carefully. Hispanic or Latino residents may be of any race.
| Race Or Ethnicity | New York State | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| White alone | 67.9% | 33.8% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 53.2% | 31.0% |
| Black alone | 17.8% | 21.9% |
| Asian alone | 10.1% | 14.7% |
| Two or more races | 2.9% | 12.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 20.2% | 28.5% |
New York City is much more diverse than the state as a whole. Non-Hispanic white residents make up 31.0% of the city, compared with 53.2% statewide. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 28.5% of the city, compared with 20.2% statewide.
Older summaries such as the World Population Review can be useful for quick reference, but the Census Bureau remains the better source for official 2026 article updates because it reflects the latest Vintage 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024 demographic data.
Migration Patterns
Migration is the main reason New York still faces population pressure. The state is not losing residents because births have collapsed below deaths statewide. The latest Census components show the opposite: New York had 42,815 more births than deaths from July 2024 to July 2025. The problem is that domestic migration remained deeply negative.
According to the Vintage 2025 Cornell analysis of Census data, New York State had net migration of -41,952 from July 2024 to July 2025. That came from net domestic migration of -137,586 and net international migration of +95,634.
Components Of New York Population Change, July 2024 To July 2025
| Area | Natural Increase | Net Domestic Migration | Net International Migration | Total Net Migration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York State | +42,815 | -137,586 | +95,634 | -41,952 |
| New York City | +36,101 | -113,718 | +65,824 | -47,894 |
| Long Island | +5,501 | -9,625 | +7,815 | -1,810 |
| Mid-Hudson | +10,210 | -6,960 | +9,892 | +2,932 |
| Western New York | -2,510 | -2,506 | +2,782 | +276 |
New York City still carries most of the domestic migration loss. The city lost 113,718 more people to other U.S. areas than it gained from them during the year. International migration offset part of that loss, but not enough to produce citywide growth.
The broader U.S. context also changed. The Census Bureau reported that national population growth slowed because net international migration dropped from 2.7 million to 1.3 million during the July 2024 to June 2025 period. That helps explain why states and cities that depend on international migration for growth saw less of a cushion in 2025.
Moving-company data still points in the same direction, although it should be treated as a consumer-moving sample rather than an official population count. A 2025 report cited by Democrat And Chronicle found that outbound moves continued to outnumber inbound moves in New York during 2024.
Housing remains one of the easiest explanations to understand. High rent, high property taxes, expensive home prices and remote-work flexibility give some households room to leave. At the same time, jobs, universities, hospitals, finance, immigration, arts and family networks keep drawing people into New York.
Climate is a smaller direct factor in current New York migration data than housing or family reasons, but it still belongs in the long-term discussion. We have also covered US climate migration and the way heat, storms, insurance costs and water stress may change where Americans choose to live.
Outbound Migration By New York Regions
| Region | Net Domestic Migration, 2024 To 2025 | Net International Migration, 2024 To 2025 | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | -113,718 | +65,824 | Large domestic outflow, partly offset by international migration |
| Long Island | -9,625 | +7,815 | Domestic losses nearly balanced by international gains |
| Mid-Hudson | -6,960 | +9,892 | International migration helped produce net migration gain |
| Capital Region | +1,936 | +2,923 | One of the few regions with positive domestic migration |
| Mohawk Valley | +130 | +497 | Small domestic gain and modest international gain |
The old pandemic story was about people leaving dense areas for more space. The 2026 story is more layered. New York City still loses residents domestically, but the surrounding Mid-Hudson region is gaining population, and several upstate areas are dealing with aging, deaths outnumbering births and small migration shifts at the same time.
Net Migration In New York City Boroughs
The older 2020-2022 borough table is no longer enough for a 2026 update. The more useful picture now comes from Census and Cornell county data through July 2025.
| Borough | Recent Pattern | What To Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | International migration helped offset domestic losses after the pandemic shock. | Office work patterns, housing costs and high-income mobility. |
| Brooklyn | Large domestic losses remain part of the post-2020 pattern. | Rent pressure, family moves and affordability. |
| Queens | Queens had one of the biggest recent domestic migration losses among counties. | International migration, rent burden and household crowding. |
| Bronx | Bronx has faced heavy domestic losses since 2020 while also gaining through international migration. | Poverty, housing costs, health access and family migration. |
| Staten Island | Smaller population base makes smaller migration shifts more visible. | Commuting, housing costs and suburban movement. |
The earlier Cornell migration report hosted by the New York State Department of Labor remains useful for the pandemic period, but the 2026 update should rely on the newer Vintage 2025 release for the current direction.
“The projections reaffirm a trend we’ve been observing for some time: without significant shifts in the state’s demographic patterns, its population will continue to decline,” said Jan Vink, lead analyst at PAD, according to Cornell. “While conservative estimates predict a population drop of 1 million by 2050, a steeper decline appears increasingly likely.”
That long-term warning still fits the updated numbers. A nearly flat year is better than a sharp annual decline, but it is not the same as a broad population rebound.
Economic Influences On Population Trends
Population trends are tied to affordability. New York can keep attracting workers, students and immigrants while still losing residents who decide that housing, taxes or commuting costs are too high.
Income And Cost Pressure
The statewide median household income was $85,974 in 2020-2024 dollars, according to the Census Bureau. In New York City, median household income was $80,483. Those numbers may sound high, but they sit beside some of the highest rents and home values in the country.
| Income And Housing Indicator | New York State | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income, 2020-2024 | $85,974 | $80,483 |
| Per capita income, 2020-2024 | $50,712 | $51,844 |
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 17.9% |
| Median gross rent, 2020-2024 | $1,621 | $1,821 |
| Median owner-occupied home value, 2020-2024 | $423,800 | $777,600 |
For assistance programs, income thresholds are often tied to state median income. The older 2025 table should be replaced for a 2026 article with FFY 2026 State Median Income guidance from the LIHEAP Clearinghouse or the latest ACF release when eligibility is being discussed.
Job Market In 2026
The labor market helps explain why New York can lose residents and remain economically important at the same time. Jobs are still concentrated in healthcare, education, finance, professional services, government, hospitality and technology, but job access does not solve affordability for every household.
According to BLS Economy at a Glance data for New York, the state unemployment rate was 4.6% in April 2026. The New York State Department of Labor reported that the New York City seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.6% in April 2026, while the statewide rate was 4.6%.
| Labor Indicator | Latest 2026 Reading | Source Context |
|---|---|---|
| New York State unemployment rate | 4.6% in April 2026 | BLS and New York State Department of Labor |
| New York City unemployment rate | 5.6% in April 2026 | New York State Department of Labor |
| NYC labor force participation | 62.7% in April 2026 | New York State Department of Labor |
| New York private sector jobs | Down 10,200 in April 2026 | State payroll survey reporting |
The older November 2024 JOLTS tables are no longer the best fit for a 2026 update, though the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics job openings data remains useful for deeper labor-market checks. For a current population article, April 2026 unemployment and sector data explain the situation more clearly.
Older local stories, including FingerLakes1 coverage and a New York Times article on college graduate job challenges, can still provide background. For 2026, the main point is simpler: New York has a functioning labor market, but the labor market alone has not stopped outbound domestic migration.
Housing Market Trends
| Metric | New York State, April 2026 | Year-Over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| Median Sale Price | $508,323 | +3.7% |
| Homes Sold | 9,913 | -9.0% |
| Median Days On Market | 40 days | +8 days |
According to Redfin New York housing market data, statewide home prices were still rising in April 2026, even as sales fell. That combination is important for population trends: affordability can worsen even when fewer homes sell.
New York City remains more expensive than the statewide market. Redfin reported that city home prices over the three months ending April 2026 were up 2.3% year over year, with a median price of $870,000. Manhattan remained in a different price tier, with a median of $1.3 million over the same period.
High prices do not push every household out, but they help explain why migration pressure is concentrated among families, renters and middle-income workers who can find cheaper housing elsewhere.
Future Projections And Concerns
National projections estimate that the U.S. population will rise to approximately 371 million by 2050, but New York faces a different question: can it hold enough residents to protect its tax base, workforce and political influence?
New York has already lost 201,269 residents since the April 2020 estimates base in the latest Census series. That is far smaller than the loss shown in older estimates, but it still leaves the state below its 2020 position.
The risk is not only population count. Population losses can reduce school enrollment, shrink local labor pools, strain rural healthcare, weaken transit demand, and affect future congressional representation.
Challenges Ahead
- Source: Youtube/Screenshot, Urban population growth strains infrastructure, housing, and services
Earlier reporting from the Empire Center said New York had the largest post-pandemic population loss in the country, dropping by 101,984 residents in one annual estimate. The newest Census vintage revised the picture, but it did not erase the underlying issue.
The 2026 challenge is balance. New York needs enough housing to retain residents, enough economic opportunity outside the city to stabilize upstate regions, enough immigration to support labor-force growth, and enough affordability to prevent middle-income households from leaving.
New York City also has a separate problem. It remains the state population engine, but its domestic migration losses are still large. International migration and natural increase help, but those gains may not fully offset high rent, housing shortages and household movement to lower-cost areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is New York State Population In 2026?
The latest official Census Bureau estimate available for a 2026 article puts New York State population at 20,002,427 as of July 1, 2025. Census population estimates for July 2026 are not yet available.
What Is New York City Population In 2026?
The latest official Census Bureau estimate puts New York City population at 8,584,629 as of July 1, 2025. That is still below the April 2020 estimates base but above several earlier post-pandemic estimates.
Is New York Growing Or Declining?
Statewide population was almost flat from July 2024 to July 2025, rising by 1,008 people in the Vintage 2025 series. New York City declined by 12,196 during the same period. Some regions, especially Mid-Hudson and Long Island, gained residents.
Why Are People Leaving New York?
The main pressures are housing costs, taxes, remote work, retirement moves, family reasons and cheaper alternatives in other states. Official Census data shows New York still has major net domestic migration losses.
What Keeps New York From Losing More Population?
International migration and natural increase help offset domestic outmigration. From July 2024 to July 2025, New York State gained 95,634 people through net international migration and had 42,815 more births than deaths.
Which New York Region Is Growing The Fastest?
Mid-Hudson gained the most residents from July 2024 to July 2025, adding 13,285 people. It also had the largest regional gain since 2020, up 55,210 residents.
Bottom Line
New York State population in the latest 2026-ready data is 20,002,427, while New York City population is 8,584,629. The state is no longer showing the sharp annual losses seen in early post-pandemic estimates, but it has not returned to clear population growth either.
The most important pattern is migration. New York still loses many residents to other states, especially from New York City, but international migration and births continue to soften the decline. Future population growth will depend on housing affordability, job access, immigration patterns, aging, and whether the state can retain families and working-age residents.
Methodology
This 2026 update uses the U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 population estimates, Census QuickFacts, Cornell Program on Applied Demographics regional analysis, Pew Research Center religious data, BLS labor data, New York State Department of Labor updates, LIHEAP income guidance and Redfin housing-market data.
Population estimates were updated to the latest official Census figures available in 2026. For year-to-year comparisons, the article uses the same Vintage 2025 Census series rather than mixing Census vintages, because the Census Bureau revises prior years whenever it releases a new estimate series.
Demographic tables were updated with Census 2020-2024 ACS data where available. Migration sections were rewritten to separate natural increase, domestic migration and international migration, because those components tell a more accurate story than population totals alone.
Older sources were kept where they still add historical context, including earlier reporting on post-2020 population loss and prior migration coverage. Outdated figures were replaced or reframed when newer official sources provided a better 2026 picture.
