Analysis finds immigrants play significant role in Indiana population growth

The State of Indiana had its largest increase in population last year since 2008.

Central Indiana recorded some of the largest increases with immigrants being a significant portion of that growth.

Indiana added 44,144 residents in 2024 with more than 70% from international migration. That includes foreign born people coming to the U.S., individuals migrating to and from Puerto Rico and U.S. citizens moving in and out of the country.

Matt Kinghorn is the senior demographer with the Indiana Business Research Center at IU Kelley School of Business. The center provides an annual analysis of population data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

He said Marion County saw the largest influx of immigrants in the state.

“Marion County had a net inflow of just a little over 10,000 immigrants last year,” Kinghorn said.

He said he expects immigration to be reduced in 2025.

Overall 73 out of the 92 counties in the state grew. Kinghorn said that trend reaches beyond the state’s urban areas.

“A lot of those being rural counties, or what I call mid-sized counties. And so I think that's an encouraging sign that we're seeing a little more growth,” Kinghorn said.

This is a shift from the rural population declines the state experienced in the 2010s.

Kinghorn said remote work and lower housing costs could be why some people are choosing to move to rural areas.

Contact WFYI All Things Considered newscaster and reporter Samantha Horton at shorton@wfyi.org.