Today the Census Bureau released population estimates for 2005 that again show Pennsylvania’s population growing more slowly than the nation as a whole. As of July 1, 2005,
Pennsylvania’s population was 12,429,616, up 35,145 (+0.3 percent) from 2004. California was the nation’s most populous state in 2005 (36,132,147), and Pennsylvania ranked 6th nationally behind Illinois (12,763,731). Since 2000, the commonwealth’s population has grown by 148,562, an average
annual increase of 29,712. The nation as a whole grew by 5.3 percent during this period, but Pennsylvania’s population increased just 1.2 percent. In terms of numeric growth, the commonwealth ranked 20th among the states from 2004-2005, and 24th from 2000-2005. In population percent increase, Pennsylvania ranked 43rd and 46th nationally over the 2004-2005 and 2000-2005 periods.