New York, both the city and the state, remains one of the most densely populated parts of the country, but the latest Census figures show a population trend that looks very different from the sharp post-pandemic losses reported only a few years ago.
New York State’s population reached 20,002,427 on July 1, 2025 under the Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimate, while New York City had 8,584,629 residents.
The statewide change during the latest estimate year was tiny but important. New York added 1,008 residents between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025, which left the population almost completely flat after several years dominated by decline.
Earlier reports, including Times Union coverage of the post-2020 losses, focused on a much steeper exodus. New York has still not returned to its April 2020 population base, although the latest year suggests that the speed of decline has changed substantially.
Key Takeaways
- New York State had 20,002,427 residents in the latest Census Vintage 2025 estimate.
- The state gained 1,008 residents between July 2024 and July 2025.
- Net domestic migration was -137,586, while international migration added 95,634 residents.
- Natural increase remained positive, with 42,815 more births than deaths.
- New York City continued to lose residents domestically, while Mid-Hudson and Long Island recorded overall gains.
- Housing prices remain one of the clearest economic pressures affecting households considering a move.
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. The state is still 201,269 residents below its April 2020 estimates base of 20,203,696, so one nearly flat year does not erase the losses accumulated since the beginning of the decade.
Latest New York Population Snapshot For 2026
| Area | April 2020 Base | July 1, 2025 Estimate | Change Since 2020 | July 2024 To July 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York State | 20,203,696 | 20,002,427 | -201,269 (-1.0%) | +1,008 |
| New York City | 8,805,594 | 8,584,629 | -220,965 (-2.5%) | -12,196 |
| Long Island | 2,921,696 | 2,945,029 | +23,333 (+0.8%) | +3,916 |
| Mid-Hudson | 2,399,251 | 2,454,461 | +55,210 (+2.3%) | +13,285 |
| North Country | 421,678 | 409,589 | -12,089 (-2.9%) | -2,323 |
The latest Cornell Program on Applied Demographics county and regional analysis shows how uneven the statewide picture remains. Mid-Hudson recorded the strongest gain during the latest year, while New York City continued to decline slightly.
Data note: Population and migration figures cover July 2024 through July 2025 because Vintage 2025 contains the latest official Census population estimates currently available. Labor and housing indicators update faster, so sections covering the economy use 2026 data instead of treating the two datasets as if they describe the same month.
Age, Race and Religion in New York
New York State is getting older, with 18.9% of residents age 65 or older, compared with 16.6% in New York City. Cornell also found that seven of the state’s ten economic regions recorded more deaths than births during the latest estimate year, while New York City and Mid-Hudson recorded natural increase rates of about 0.42%.
The racial and ethnic composition differs sharply between the state and the city. Non-Hispanic white residents account for 53.2% of the statewide population and 31.0% of New York City. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 20.2% statewide and 28.5% in the city.
Older summaries such as World Population Review remain useful for quick comparisons, although Census data provides the official demographic figures used for the current update.
Religion comes from a separate survey. According to the Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study, 29% of adults in New York identify as Catholic and 27% are religiously unaffiliated. Jewish adults account for 6%, Muslims 3%, while Hindu and Buddhist adults each represent about 1%.
Migration Is Still New York’s Main Population Pressure
New York recorded 42,815 more births than deaths between July 2024 and July 2025, so natural population change remained positive. Migration tells a very different story.
According to the Cornell analysis of Census Vintage 2025 data, net domestic migration reached -137,586, while net international migration added 95,634 residents. Combined net migration therefore stood at -41,952.
| Area | Natural Increase | Domestic Migration | International Migration |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York State | +42,815 | -137,586 | +95,634 |
| New York City | +36,101 | -113,718 | +65,824 |
| Long Island | +5,501 | -9,625 | +7,815 |
| Mid-Hudson | +10,210 | -6,960 | +9,892 |
New York City had net domestic migration of -113,718 between July 2024 and July 2025, meaning 113,718 more residents were lost to other parts of the United States than gained from them. International migration added 65,824 people, while natural increase added another 36,101.
The numbers leave New York in a narrow position between stabilization and renewed decline. If domestic losses remain near current levels, continued international migration will be important for keeping the state close to 20 million residents, especially after the Census Bureau reported a national drop in international migration from 2.7 million to 1.3 million during the latest estimate period.
Moving-company data points in the same general direction but should not be treated as an official population count. A report cited by the Democrat and Chronicle found that outbound moves continued to exceed inbound moves in New York during 2024.
The older Cornell migration report hosted by the New York State Department of Labor provides useful context for the pandemic period, while our coverage of U.S. climate migration looks at how heat, storms, insurance costs and housing pressures are influencing longer-term interstate movement.
Housing Costs Help Explain Why Residents Keep Looking Elsewhere
Housing does not explain every move, but the price gap is large enough to influence household decisions. Redfin reported a statewide median sale price above $500,000 during 2026, far above the national median, while New York City remained substantially more expensive.
According to Redfin’s New York housing market data, the median statewide sale price was $508,323 in April 2026, up 3.7% from a year earlier. New York City was considerably more expensive, with a median price near $870,000 over the three months ending in April, while Manhattan remained around $1.3 million.
Income levels soften part of the pressure but do not erase the housing gap. Census data places statewide median household income at $85,974 in 2020-2024 dollars, while the city’s median was $80,483. For assistance-program comparisons, the FFY 2026 State Median Income guidance from the LIHEAP Clearinghouse provides the current eligibility reference.
The Job Market Has Not Stopped Domestic Outmigration
New York still has one of the country’s largest labor markets, with employment concentrated in healthcare, education, finance, professional services, government, hospitality and technology. According to BLS Economy at a Glance data, the statewide unemployment rate was 4.6% in April 2026, while the New York State Department of Labor reported a 5.6% rate for New York City.
The BLS job openings and labor turnover series provides additional context on hiring conditions. Earlier FingerLakes1 coverage and a New York Times report on employment challenges for college graduates remain useful background for understanding the weaker hiring environment that followed the early post-pandemic recovery.
Employment opportunities continue to attract workers, students and international migrants, but the persistence of large domestic migration losses shows that access to jobs has not been enough to offset housing costs and other household expenses.
New York Could Still Lose Around 1 Million Residents by 2050
“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.”
The projection puts the latest 1,008-person gain into perspective because a single flat year does not change the long-term direction on its own. New York remains 201,269 residents below its April 2020 estimates base, and domestic migration continues to remove far more people than the statewide population gained during the latest year.
- Source: Youtube/Screenshot, Urban population growth strains infrastructure, housing, and services
Earlier Empire Center analysis documented much larger post-pandemic losses, while national projections discussed by the University of Virginia point toward continued U.S. population growth through 2050. New York therefore faces a different challenge from the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is New York State Population in 2026?
The latest official Census estimate available in 2026 puts New York State at 20,002,427 residents as of July 1, 2025. A July 1, 2026 estimate has not yet been released.
What Is New York City Population in 2026?
The latest official estimate puts New York City at 8,584,629 residents as of July 1, 2025, which remains below its April 2020 estimates base of 8,805,594.
Is New York Growing or Declining?
New York added 1,008 residents from July 2024 to July 2025, leaving the state almost flat for the year. The longer trend still shows a decline of 201,269 residents from the April 2020 estimates base.
Why Are People Leaving New York?
No single dataset gives one definitive reason for every move, although high housing costs, taxes, retirement, family decisions and job flexibility regularly appear in relocation research. Census data confirms the outcome more clearly than the motivation: New York continues to experience substantial net domestic migration losses.
What Keeps New York From Losing More Population?
International migration and natural increase offset most of the domestic migration loss during the latest estimate year. International migration added 95,634 residents, while births exceeded deaths by 42,815.
Methodology
The population and migration sections use U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates and the Cornell Program on Applied Demographics regional analysis. Demographic figures use Census and Pew Research Center data, labor figures come from BLS and New York State labor releases, and housing figures use Redfin.
Year-to-year population comparisons use the same Census vintage because the Bureau revises earlier estimates when a new vintage is released. Older sources remain where they provide useful historical context, while current population totals and migration components rely on the latest primary data available.
Bottom Line
New York’s latest population estimate is more encouraging than the sharp declines recorded earlier in the decade, but the numbers do not yet support calling it a sustained recovery. The state gained only 1,008 residents in the latest year while net domestic migration remained deeply negative at -137,586.
International migration and natural increase were large enough to offset almost all of that loss, which is why the next several Census releases will be more revealing than a single year near zero. If domestic outmigration eases, New York has a realistic path back to population growth; if international inflows weaken while residents continue moving to other states at the current pace, the statewide total will begin falling again.
