State population rises as births outpace deaths

The state population crept up by about 10,000 residents in the 12-month period ending July 1, largely due to more births and migrants moving to the state from outside the U.S., according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau population estimates.

Figures recently released by the Census Bureau show Oklahoma with an estimated 3,932,640 residents as of July 1, an increase of 10,728 residents over the past 12 months.

The 0.3 percent increase in population for the year ranked the state 33rd nationally in growth rate, behind Vermont at 32nd and ahead of Maine at 34th.

Nevada was the fastest growing state in the nation from 2017 to 2018, increasing in population by 2.1 percent.

Oklahoma remains the 28th most populous state in the nation, sandwiched between Oregon with nearly 4.2 million residents and Connecticut with nearly 3.6 million residents.

This year marked the second consecutive year Oklahoma has experienced negative net migration, meaning the total number of people

moving out of the state has outpaced the total number moving here.

Net migration declined by 202 residents during the past year ending July 1.

Net migration for the year ending 2017 declined 6,066 residents.

Net migration is composed of the sums of population change due to international migration and domestic migration. International migration includes residents moving from locations outside the U.S. to Oklahoma or from Oklahoma to locations outside the U.S.

Domestic migration covers population change between Oklahoma and other states in the U.S.

Annual domestic migration in Oklahoma declined by 4,474 residents as of July 1, while international migration to the state increased by 4,272 residents.

Meanwhile, the 10,728 natural increase in state population from July 1, 2017, to July 1, 2018, was the lowest since 2010. The natural increase is the difference between population lost through deaths and population gained through births.

In the 12-month period ending July 1, there were an estimated 50,778 births in the state compared to 39,769 deaths.