Posted on: March 23, 2018

The U.S. Census just released the most recent county population estimates for 2017 (external link). These are produced every year and provide the most current county-level population numbers in the intervening years between the Decennial Censuses . Based on this release, the state of Georgia’s population in 2017 was estimated to be 10,429,379 – representing a 1.12% increase or an additional 115,759 people from the previous year.

Urban and Non-Urban Counties

At the county level, the growth rate varied considerably, with “urban” counties showing a greater increase than “non-urban” counties*. As you can see, however, on the chart below, “non-urban” counties have been steadily increasing in their rate of growth since 2012, albeit not yet to the levels exhibited in “urban” counties.

* Urban counties are defined as those part of a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Non-urban counties are not part of an MSA.

Focus on the Region

The Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had an estimated population of 5,884,736 in 2017, having gained 89,013 people from the previous year. Surpassed only by Dallas and Houston, the Atlanta Metro region is ranked 3^rd among U.S. metros in the number of people added between 2016 and 2017. Looking at the percent change in population yields a slightly different story. At 1.54%, the Atlanta MSA is ranked 69^th in percent change in population between the two years.

The chart below shows the population, change, and percent change estimates for the twelve largest U.S. metros.

Metro Area	Population, 2016	Population, 2017	Population Change, 2016-2017	National Rank, Population Change	Percent Change 2016-2017	National Rank, Percent Population Change
New York	20,275,179	20,320,876	45,697	15	0.23%	256
Los Angeles	13,328,261	13,353,907	25,646	26	0.19%	261
Chicago	9,546,326	9,533,040	-13,286	382	-0.14%	316
Dallas	7,253,424	7,399,662	146,238	1	2.02%	27
Houston	6,798,010	6,892,427	94,417	2	1.39%	80
Washington	6,150,681	6,216,589	65,908	5	1.07%	111
Miami	6,107,433	6,158,824	51,391	11	0.84%	159
Philadelphia	6,077,152	6,096,120	18,968	32	0.31%	241
Atlanta	5,795,723	5,884,736	89,013	3	1.54%	69
Boston	4,805,942	4,836,531	30,589	20	0.64%	184
Phoenix	4,648,498	4,737,270	88,772	4	1.91%	36
San Francisco	4,699,077	4,727,357	28,280	25	0.60%	191

The next chart below allows for comparison among the 10 counties in the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) area. Almost every county experienced population growth over the years displayed. The single exception was Clayton County between 2012 and 2013, when it decreased by 0.53%, from which it nonetheless rebounded – growing at rate of 1.1% over the next one year period.

Hover over the columns on the chart below to see the year-to-year percent change in population for the corresponding county. Turn off years on the legend to view county-to-county comparisons for a select set of time periods.

All counties in the 10-county Atlanta region exhibited a population increase from 2017 to 2016, with some growing faster than others. The table below shows the 2016 and 2017 population and percent change estimates for the 10 counties in the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) area.

10-County Metro Region	4,514,121	4,575,972	1.37%
	Total Population, 2016	Total Population, 2017	Percent Change, 2016 to 2017
Cherokee County	241,600	247,573	2.47%
Clayton County	280,006	285,153	1.84%
Cobb County	750,477	755,754	0.7%
DeKalb County	746,690	753,253	0.88%
Douglas County	142,021	143,882	1.31%
Fayette County	111,248	112,549	1.17%
Fulton County	1,024,248	1,041,423	1.68%
Gwinnett County	907,101	920,260	1.45%
Henry County	221,355	225,813	2.01%
Rockdale County	89,375	90,312	1.05%

Interactive Map

To explore the population and percent change estimates for all counties in the state of Georgia, use the interactive map below. Simply tap or click on a county on the map to display its population estimates for 2016 and 2017 along with the percent change between the two years.