According to population estimates released March 26 by the US Census Bureau and analyzed by the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, population growth rates have slowed in many Indiana communities in 2014.

Statewide, Indiana added approximately 26,140 residents in 2014, a 0.4 percent increase from 2013. In comparison, Indiana added 33,100 residents in 2013 and grew by an average of 40,000 per year from 2000 to 2010.

Indiana was ranked 29th in fastest growing states last year, with population growth in the Hoosier state larger than its surrounding neighbors. With roughly 6.6 million residents in 2014, Indiana is the nation’s 16th most populous state.

Indianapolis suburb communities took the top three spots among Indiana counties for growth rate in 2014. Boone county was the state’s fastest growing with a 2.3 percent increase, followed by Hamilton county at 2.0 percent and Hendricks county at 1.6 percent. Southwestern Daviess and Clark counties in the Louisville metro area each had 1.3 percent growth and rounded out the top five fastest growing for 2014.

A total of 44 of Indiana’s 92 counties lost population in 2014. Fayette county had the most population loss with a 1.6 percent decline. Fountain county population declined 1.2 percent, Tipton 1.1 percent, Vermillion 1.0 percent and Jennings 1.0 percent also posted significant population losses.

Source: Indiana University