Pierce County vs. Washington
Comparative Trends Analysis:
Population Growth and Change, 1969-2022
Introduction
Pierce County vs. Washington
Pierce County:
2022 Population = 927,380
2022 Percent of State = 11.91%
Washington:
2022 Population = 7,785,786
2022 Percent of U.S. = 2.34%
Attracting and retaining people to live, work, raise a family, and retire underlies the economic vitality of any region. Population growth is both a cause--and a consequence--of economic growth. Patterns of population growth and change reflect differences among regions to attract and retain people both as producers and consumers in their economy.
The following graphs offer a broad overview of trends in the pattern of population growth and change of Pierce County with comparisons to Washington and the nation at large. This analysis features alternative approaches toward discussing, diagnosing and comparing Pierce County vs. Washington's population growth over 1969-2022. The data used are those compiled by the Regional Income and Product Divisions of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce.
Population, 1969-2022
Population, 1969-2022
Figure 1.
Figure 1 tracks Pierce County's annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, Pierce County's population rose from 405,452 in 1969 to 927,380 in 2022, for a net gain of 521,928, or 128.73%.
NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities.
Population, 1969-2022
Population, 1969-2022
Figure 2.
Figure 2 tracks Washington's annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, Washington's population rose from 3,343,000 in 1969 to 7,785,786 in 2022, for a net gain of 4,442,786, or 132.90%.
NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities.
Population Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Population Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Figure 3.
Figure 3 portrays Pierce County's population growth in a broader context by offering direct comparisons across time with Washington, the United States. The growth indices shown here express each region's population in 1969 as a base figure of 100, and the populations in later years as a percentage of the 1969 base figure. This method allows for more direct comparison of differences in population growth between regions that may differ vastly in size.
Pierce County's overall population growth was 128.73% over 1969-2022 trailed Washington's increase of 132.90%, and topped the United States' increase of 65.57%.
Population as a Percent of the Washington Total: 1969-2022
Population as a Percent of the Washington Total: 1969-2022
Figure 4.
Another interesting and insightful way of highlighting the population growth of Pierce County is to compare its individual percentage contributions to Washington's statewide population over time, as shown in Figure 4. A rising share means a region's population grew faster, or declined less, than Washington's population, while a declining share shows it grew more slowly.
In 1969, Pierce County's population comprised 12.13% of Washington's population, while in 2022 it totaled 11.91% thereby yielding a -0.22% share-shift.
   
 
Population Share-Shift
2022 vs. 1969
 
Share-
Shift*
 
2022
vs.
1969
-0.22%
=
11.91%
-
12.13%
 
   
Pierce County Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Pierce County Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Figure 5.
Figure 5 highlights the short-run pattern of Pierce County's population growth by tracking the year-to-year percent change over 1970-2022. The average annual percent change for the entire 53-year period is also illustrated on this chart to provide a benchmark for gauging periods of relative high--and relative low--growth against the backdrop of the long-term average.
On average, Pierce County's population grew at an annual rate of 1.58% over 1970-2022. The county posted its highest growth in 1974 (4.83%) and recorded its lowest growth in 1972 (-3.13%). In 2022, Pierce County's population grew by 0.02%
Pierce County Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Pierce County Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Figure 6.
Over the past five decades some counties have experienced extreme swings in growth, and often such swings have tended to coincide with the decades themselves. Figure 6 again depicts the annual percent change in Pierce County's population since 1970, but this time they are overlayed with average growth rates for the decade of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020-2022.
During the 1970s, Pierce County's annual population growth rate averaged 1.59%. It averaged 1.89% in the 1980s, 1.96% in the 1990s, 1.41% in the 2000s, 1.39% throughout the 2010s, 0.49% thus far this decade (2020-2022).
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Figure 7.
Figure 7 compares the decade average growth rates for Pierce County noted in the previous graph with the corresponding decade averages for Washington and the nation. As the chart reveals, Pierce County's average annual population growth posted below Washington's average during the 1970s (1.59% vs. 1.85%), outpaced Washington's average in the 1980s (1.89% vs. 1.70%), lagged Washington's average in the 1990s (1.96% vs. 2.10%), recorded above Washington's average in the 2000s (1.41% vs. 1.33%), recorded above Washington's average in the 2010s (1.39% vs. 1.37%), and amounted to less than Washington's average over the 3 year period of the current decade, 2020-2022 (0.49% vs. 0.64%).
Finally, relative to nationwide population growth trends, Pierce County topped the nation throughout the 1970s (1.59% vs. 1.10%), outgained the nation during the 1980s (1.89% vs. 0.95%), outpaced the nation throughout the 1990s (1.96% vs. 1.23%), exceeded the nation during the 2000s (1.41% vs. 0.95%), topped the nation over the 2010s (1.39% vs. 0.74%), and outpaced the nation over 2020-2022 (0.49% vs. 0.31%).
   
 
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change
 
 
 
1.58
1.59
1.89
1.96
1.41
1.39
0.49
0.02
 
1.61
1.85
1.70
2.10
1.33
1.37
0.64
0.58
 
0.96
1.10
0.95
1.23
0.95
0.74
0.31
0.38
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
Pierce County:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
405,452
100.0
N
12.13
1970
 
412,738
101.8
1.80
12.08
1971
 
417,622
103.0
1.18
12.12
1972
 
404,534
99.8
-3.13
11.74
1973
 
395,976
97.7
-2.12
11.39
1974
 
415,098
102.4
4.83
11.70
1975
 
431,972
106.5
4.07
11.94
1976
 
439,150
108.3
1.66
11.90
1977
 
447,020
110.3
1.79
11.85
1978
 
461,709
113.9
3.29
11.88
1979
 
473,189
116.7
2.49
11.79
1980
 
488,754
120.5
3.29
11.76
1981
 
500,132
123.4
2.33
11.81
1982
 
509,976
125.8
1.97
11.92
1983
 
511,842
126.2
0.37
11.90
1984
 
519,868
128.2
1.57
11.97
1985
 
528,270
130.3
1.62
12.01
1986
 
534,606
131.9
1.20
12.01
1987
 
545,019
134.4
1.95
12.03
1988
 
560,916
138.3
2.92
12.09
1989
 
570,569
140.7
1.72
12.02
1990
 
590,519
145.6
3.50
12.04
1991
 
604,759
149.2
2.41
12.03
1992
 
619,060
152.7
2.36
12.00
1993
 
630,334
155.5
1.82
11.94
1994
 
638,397
157.5
1.28
11.88
1995
 
648,820
160.0
1.63
11.84
1996
 
656,246
161.9
1.14
11.78
1997
 
665,132
164.0
1.35
11.72
1998
 
679,000
167.5
2.08
11.77
1999
 
692,662
170.8
2.01
11.86
2000
 
703,993
173.6
1.64
11.91
2001
 
716,447
176.7
1.77
11.97
2002
 
728,091
179.6
1.63
12.03
2003
 
733,969
181.0
0.81
12.02
2004
 
740,137
182.5
0.84
11.98
2005
 
748,148
184.5
1.08
11.96
2006
 
763,408
188.3
2.04
11.98
2007
 
772,484
190.5
1.19
11.96
2008
 
785,400
193.7
1.67
11.97
2009
 
796,483
196.4
1.41
11.95
2010
 
795,595
196.2
-0.11
11.80
2011
 
808,715
199.5
1.65
11.84
2012
 
817,572
201.6
1.10
11.84
2013
 
823,925
203.2
0.78
11.81
2014
 
836,582
206.3
1.54
11.84
2015
 
848,669
209.3
1.44
11.82
2016
 
869,317
214.4
2.43
11.88
2017
 
887,034
218.8
2.04
11.91
2018
 
902,227
222.5
1.71
11.95
2019
 
913,967
225.4
1.30
11.96
2020
 
923,524
227.8
1.05
11.96
2021
 
927,199
228.7
0.40
11.98
2022
 
927,380
228.7
0.02
11.91
Source: Calculations by the Washington Regional Economic Analysis Project (WA-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
Washington:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
3,343,000
100.0
N
1.66
1970
 
3,417,362
102.2
2.22
1.68
1971
 
3,446,958
103.1
0.87
1.67
1972
 
3,446,815
103.1
0.00
1.65
1973
 
3,477,227
104.0
0.88
1.65
1974
 
3,547,877
106.1
2.03
1.66
1975
 
3,618,824
108.3
2.00
1.68
1976
 
3,690,561
110.4
1.98
1.70
1977
 
3,772,360
112.8
2.22
1.72
1978
 
3,886,191
116.2
3.02
1.75
1979
 
4,012,831
120.0
3.26
1.79
1980
 
4,154,678
124.3
3.53
1.83
1981
 
4,235,728
126.7
1.95
1.85
1982
 
4,276,551
127.9
0.96
1.85
1983
 
4,300,269
128.6
0.55
1.84
1984
 
4,343,657
129.9
1.01
1.84
1985
 
4,400,096
131.6
1.30
1.85
1986
 
4,452,724
133.2
1.20
1.85
1987
 
4,531,903
135.6
1.78
1.87
1988
 
4,639,894
138.8
2.38
1.90
1989
 
4,746,315
142.0
2.29
1.92
1990
 
4,903,043
146.7
3.30
1.96
1991
 
5,025,624
150.3
2.50
1.99
1992
 
5,160,757
154.4
2.69
2.01
1993
 
5,278,842
157.9
2.29
2.03
1994
 
5,375,161
160.8
1.82
2.04
1995
 
5,481,027
164.0
1.97
2.06
1996
 
5,569,753
166.6
1.62
2.07
1997
 
5,674,747
169.8
1.89
2.08
1998
 
5,769,562
172.6
1.67
2.09
1999
 
5,842,564
174.8
1.27
2.09
2000
 
5,910,512
176.8
1.16
2.09
2001
 
5,985,722
179.1
1.27
2.10
2002
 
6,052,349
181.0
1.11
2.10
2003
 
6,104,115
182.6
0.86
2.10
2004
 
6,178,645
184.8
1.22
2.11
2005
 
6,257,305
187.2
1.27
2.12
2006
 
6,370,753
190.6
1.81
2.14
2007
 
6,461,587
193.3
1.43
2.15
2008
 
6,562,231
196.3
1.56
2.16
2009
 
6,667,426
199.4
1.60
2.17
2010
 
6,743,597
201.7
1.14
2.18
2011
 
6,830,460
204.3
1.29
2.19
2012
 
6,904,030
206.5
1.08
2.20
2013
 
6,974,173
208.6
1.02
2.20
2014
 
7,068,026
211.4
1.35
2.21
2015
 
7,180,454
214.8
1.59
2.23
2016
 
7,315,935
218.8
1.89
2.26
2017
 
7,446,807
222.8
1.79
2.28
2018
 
7,548,537
225.8
1.37
2.30
2019
 
7,638,689
228.5
1.19
2.31
2020
 
7,724,031
231.1
1.12
2.33
2021
 
7,740,745
231.6
0.22
2.33
2022
 
7,785,786
232.9
0.58
2.34
Source: Calculations by the Washington Regional Economic Analysis Project (WA-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
United States:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
201,298,000
100.0
N
1970
 
203,798,722
101.2
1.24
1971
 
206,817,509
102.7
1.48
1972
 
209,274,882
104.0
1.19
1973
 
211,349,205
105.0
0.99
1974
 
213,333,635
106.0
0.94
1975
 
215,456,585
107.0
1.00
1976
 
217,553,859
108.1
0.97
1977
 
219,760,875
109.2
1.01
1978
 
222,098,244
110.3
1.06
1979
 
224,568,579
111.6
1.11
1980
 
227,224,719
112.9
1.18
1981
 
229,465,744
114.0
0.99
1982
 
231,664,432
115.1
0.96
1983
 
233,792,014
116.1
0.92
1984
 
235,824,907
117.2
0.87
1985
 
237,923,734
118.2
0.89
1986
 
240,132,831
119.3
0.93
1987
 
242,288,936
120.4
0.90
1988
 
244,499,004
121.5
0.91
1989
 
246,819,222
122.6
0.95
1990
 
249,622,814
124.0
1.14
1991
 
252,980,941
125.7
1.35
1992
 
256,514,224
127.4
1.40
1993
 
259,918,588
129.1
1.33
1994
 
263,125,821
130.7
1.23
1995
 
266,278,393
132.3
1.20
1996
 
269,394,284
133.8
1.17
1997
 
272,646,925
135.4
1.21
1998
 
275,854,104
137.0
1.18
1999
 
279,040,168
138.6
1.15
2000
 
282,162,411
140.2
1.12
2001
 
284,968,955
141.6
0.99
2002
 
287,625,193
142.9
0.93
2003
 
290,107,933
144.1
0.86
2004
 
292,805,298
145.5
0.93
2005
 
295,516,599
146.8
0.93
2006
 
298,379,912
148.2
0.97
2007
 
301,231,207
149.6
0.96
2008
 
304,093,966
151.1
0.95
2009
 
306,771,529
152.4
0.88
2010
 
309,378,433
153.7
0.85
2011
 
311,841,632
154.9
0.80
2012
 
314,344,331
156.2
0.80
2013
 
316,735,375
157.3
0.76
2014
 
319,270,047
158.6
0.80
2015
 
321,829,327
159.9
0.80
2016
 
324,367,742
161.1
0.79
2017
 
326,623,063
162.3
0.70
2018
 
328,542,157
163.2
0.59
2019
 
330,233,102
164.1
0.51
2020
 
331,511,512
164.7
0.39
2021
 
332,031,554
164.9
0.16
2022
 
333,287,557
165.6
0.38
Source: Calculations by the Washington Regional Economic Analysis Project (WA-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PN
 
   
Copyright © 2024. Pacific Northwest Regional Economic Analysis Project (PNREAP). All Rights Reserved.

Please stay tuned...
while your request is processing:

Please wait while your request is being processed...
To offer the most comprehensive set of interactive options in support of your research, WA-REAP calculates and crunches most of the data and generates the narrative and graphic analysis on demand in response to your request.
Your request will soon be available.
Just a few more seconds....Your request has been generated and is now loading the results.