Slow Growth Edges Region Past 5.3 Million

The Washington area's population scarcely increased last year, continuing a pattern of anemic growth since the start of this decade, according to Census Bureau estimates released today.

Between July 2006 and July 2007, the area gained 45,860 residents, a 0.9 percent increase and just under the national growth rate. Migration to and from other parts of the United States amounted to a net decrease of 35,630 Washington area residents, but that was more than offset by births and migration from other countries. Growth in the District and the Virginia suburbs was slightly ahead of growth in the Maryland suburbs.

The national trend of migration is to the south and west. From 2000 to 2007, large metropolitan areas grew by 12 percent in the South and 20 percent in the western mountain region, but by just 2 percent in the Northeast.

With a population of 5,306,565, greater Washington ranks eighth in the nation among metropolitan areas. The U.S. population reached 301.6 million last July, the Census Bureau said.