Births, international immigration key to Iowa’s slow population growth

Low birthrate and low immigration means Iowa will lose a congressional seat. - - Donna Poisl

By Lynda Waddington

From July 2008 to July 2009 Iowa’s population increased by only 13,869 residents, most of them newly born Iowans or immigrants from abroad, according to new estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Politically, this spells bad news for the Hawkeye State, as it stands to lose one of its five congressional seats during the 2010 redistricting that follows the census.

Despite the fact that Iowa is growing, its rate is slower than the U.S. overall and most other states. Nevada, the fastest growing state, is estimated to have a 32.3 percent increase since the census. Iowa, with its current state estimated population of just over 3 million, increased by only 2.8 percent.
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