Report: New York Metropolitan Area Population Rebounds, Approaching Pre-Pandemic Levels

According to the latest report released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday, March 13, the total population of the New York and New Jersey metropolitan areas has returned to pre-pandemic levels as of the summer of 2024. Previously, the region experienced significant population loss due to the pandemic.

The report indicates that the metropolitan area including New York City, Newark, and Jersey City ranked among the top in population growth in the United States between 2023 and 2024.

Over the past five years, the lives of New Yorkers have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in New York City, many residents began relocating to other areas within New York State or even moving out of state, leading to a significant decrease in population in the region during the early stages of the pandemic.

However, according to the latest census data, the population of the New York metropolitan area increased by 213,403 people from July 2023 to July 2024, almost reaching pre-pandemic levels.

As of the summer of 2024, the total population of the New York and New Jersey metropolitan areas has reached over 19.9 million, close to the approximately 20 million people before the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020.

Kristie Wilder, a demographer at the U.S. Census Bureau, told Gothamist that during the peak of the pandemic, over 276,000 people left the New York metropolitan area. However, as time passed, the number of residents leaving New York City gradually decreased, while the number of immigrants from overseas notably increased.

She added that if this trend continues, the population of the New York metropolitan area will soon surpass pre-pandemic levels.