South Central (WDA 9) vs. Washington
Comparative Trends Analysis:
Population Growth and Change, 1969-2022
Introduction
South Central (WDA 9) vs. Washington
South Central (WDA 9):
2022 Population = 337,921
2022 Percent of State = 4.34%
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 South Central (WDA 9) with comparisons to Washington and the nation at large. This analysis features alternative approaches toward discussing, diagnosing and comparing South Central (WDA 9) 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 South Central (WDA 9)'s annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, South Central (WDA 9)'s population rose from 183,633 in 1969 to 337,921 in 2022, for a net gain of 154,288, or 84.02%.
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 shows South Central (WDA 9)'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.
South Central (WDA 9)'s overall population growth was 84.02% 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 contrasting the population growth of South Central (WDA 9) 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, South Central (WDA 9)'s population totaled 5.49% of Washington's population, while in 2022 it comprised 4.34% thereby yielding a -1.15% share-shift.
   
 
Population Share-Shift
2022 vs. 1969
 
Share-
Shift*
 
2022
vs.
1969
-1.15%
=
4.34%
-
5.49%
 
   
South Central (WDA 9) Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
South Central (WDA 9) Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Figure 5.
Figure 5 displays the short-run pattern of South Central (WDA 9)'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 traced 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, South Central (WDA 9)'s population grew at an annual rate of 1.16% over 1970-2022. South Central (WDA 9) recorded its highest growth in 1970 (2.79%) and posted its lowest growth in 1986 (-0.37%). In 2022, South Central (WDA 9)'s population grew by 0.36%
South Central (WDA 9) Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
South Central (WDA 9) Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Figure 6.
Over the past five decades some workforce development areas have experienced extreme swings in growth, and often such swings have tended to coincide with the decades themselves. Figure 6 again traces the annual percent change in South Central (WDA 9)'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, South Central (WDA 9)'s annual population growth rate averaged 1.66%. It averaged 0.97% throughout the 1980s, 1.74% throughout the 1990s, 0.95% throughout the 2000s, 0.72% throughout the 2010s, 0.37% 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 South Central (WDA 9) noted in the previous graph with the corresponding decade averages for Washington and the nation. As the chart reveals, South Central (WDA 9)'s average annual population growth posted below Washington's average throughout the 1970s (1.66% vs. 1.85%), recorded under Washington's average during the 1980s (0.97% vs. 1.70%), posted below Washington's average during the 1990s (1.74% vs. 2.10%), fell below Washington's average in the 2000s (0.95% vs. 1.33%), trailed Washington's average throughout the 2010s (0.72% vs. 1.37%), and trailed Washington's average over the 3 year period of the current decade, 2020-2022 (0.37% vs. 0.64%).
Finally, relative to nationwide population growth trends, South Central (WDA 9) registered above the nation during the 1970s (1.66% vs. 1.10%), outpaced the nation during the 1980s (0.97% vs. 0.95%), topped the nation during the 1990s (1.74% vs. 1.23%), posted below the nation throughout the 2000s (0.95% vs. 0.95%), recorded underneath the nation throughout the 2010s (0.72% vs. 0.74%), and outperformed the nation over 2020-2022 (0.37% vs. 0.31%).
   
 
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change
 
 
 
1.16
1.66
0.97
1.74
0.95
0.72
0.37
0.36
 
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.

   
 
South Central (WDA 9):
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
183,633
100.0
N
5.49
1970
 
188,757
102.8
2.79
5.52
1971
 
191,895
104.5
1.66
5.57
1972
 
196,793
107.2
2.55
5.71
1973
 
196,440
107.0
-0.18
5.65
1974
 
200,784
109.3
2.21
5.66
1975
 
204,149
111.2
1.68
5.64
1976
 
206,795
112.6
1.30
5.60
1977
 
209,328
114.0
1.22
5.55
1978
 
212,667
115.8
1.60
5.47
1979
 
216,388
117.8
1.75
5.39
1980
 
221,902
120.8
2.55
5.34
1981
 
224,581
122.3
1.21
5.30
1982
 
225,869
123.0
0.57
5.28
1983
 
228,770
124.6
1.28
5.32
1984
 
229,536
125.0
0.33
5.28
1985
 
230,811
125.7
0.56
5.25
1986
 
229,956
125.2
-0.37
5.16
1987
 
231,002
125.8
0.45
5.10
1988
 
234,863
127.9
1.67
5.06
1989
 
238,310
129.8
1.47
5.02
1990
 
241,304
131.4
1.26
4.92
1991
 
246,892
134.4
2.32
4.91
1992
 
252,779
137.7
2.38
4.90
1993
 
259,559
141.3
2.68
4.92
1994
 
265,633
144.7
2.34
4.94
1995
 
270,308
147.2
1.76
4.93
1996
 
273,756
149.1
1.28
4.92
1997
 
277,505
151.1
1.37
4.89
1998
 
280,728
152.9
1.16
4.87
1999
 
283,190
154.2
0.88
4.85
2000
 
285,251
155.3
0.73
4.83
2001
 
285,751
155.6
0.18
4.77
2002
 
287,325
156.5
0.55
4.75
2003
 
290,175
158.0
0.99
4.75
2004
 
293,669
159.9
1.20
4.75
2005
 
295,689
161.0
0.69
4.73
2006
 
299,581
163.1
1.32
4.70
2007
 
302,575
164.8
1.00
4.68
2008
 
306,340
166.8
1.24
4.67
2009
 
311,189
169.5
1.58
4.67
2010
 
316,744
172.5
1.79
4.70
2011
 
319,373
173.9
0.83
4.68
2012
 
319,669
174.1
0.09
4.63
2013
 
320,611
174.6
0.29
4.60
2014
 
321,837
175.3
0.38
4.55
2015
 
323,431
176.1
0.50
4.50
2016
 
327,389
178.3
1.22
4.48
2017
 
329,822
179.6
0.74
4.43
2018
 
332,199
180.9
0.72
4.40
2019
 
334,163
182.0
0.59
4.37
2020
 
336,177
183.1
0.60
4.35
2021
 
336,720
183.4
0.16
4.35
2022
 
337,921
184.0
0.36
4.34
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.

   
 
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 © 2023. Pacific Northwest Regional Economic Analysis Project (PNREAP). All Rights Reserved.

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