2017 County Population Estimates
Highlights
2016 – 2017 Highlights
New Jersey’s population grew by 27,228(0.30%) between 2016 and 2017. Seven counties had a faster rate of growth than the state between 2016 and 2017 (Ocean, Hudson, Bergen, Essex, Union, Middlesex and Somerset).
Bergen (population 948,406) was still the most populous county in New Jersey as of July 1, 2017, followed by Middlesex (842,798) and Essex (808,285). The state’s two least populated counties ̶ Salem (62,792) and Cape May (93,553) still had less than 100,000 residents.
Twelve counties gained population between 2016 and 2017, led by Bergen (6,019), Hudson (5,252), Ocean (4,999). Among the nine counties with population declines, the numeric losses ranged from (-2) in Hunterdon to (-1,376) in Cumberland.
Ocean and Hudson Counties had a 0.84% and 0.77% annual growth rate, respectively, -- the fastest in the state between 2016 and 2017. The annual rates of growth were also substantial in Bergen (0.64%) and Essex (0.55%). The over-the-year population declines were most severe in Cumberland (-0.89%), Salem (-0.58%) and Sussex (-0.43%) counties.
2010 – 2017 Highlights
Since the last decennial Census, the state’s population has grown by 213,691 (2.43%). Seven counties grew at a faster rate than the state during the current decade (Hudson, Union, Bergen, Middlesex, Somerset,Ocean and Essex).
Hudson County gained more residents (57,399) than any other counties in New Jersey since the most recent decennial Census in 2010. Other urbanized counties in the state, such as Bergen (43,259), Middlesex (32,934) and Union (27,444), also experienced substantial numeric gains in resident population since 2010.
With a 9.05% growth of population since the 2010 Census, Hudson was the state’s fastest growing county so far in this decade, followed by Union (5.12%),Bergen (4.78%), Middlesex (4.07%) and Somerset (3.71%).
Ten counties experienced population declines between 2010 and 2017. Rapid declines were found in less urbanized counties like Salem (-4.96%),Sussex (-4.84%), Cape May (-3.82%), and Cumberland (-2.61%).
The numeric decreases of resident population were most severe in Sussex (-7,204), Atlantic (-4,622), Cumberland (-4,090), Monmouth (-4,072), Cape May (-3,712) and Camden (-2,949) counties, so far in this decade.
The hefty population growth in Hudson County was due to substantial natural increment and migration. The county’s 46,665 natural increment (surplus of births over deaths, 2010~2017) was the largest in the state. However, its 10,513 net migration (more in-migration from abroad and other counties and states than out-migration) was the third largest in the state, next to Bergen’s 27,286 and Ocean County’s 13,379.
Natural increments were also substantial in Essex (32,226), Middlesex (27,383) and Passaic (24,227) counties, while Cape May and Salem were the two counties to suffer from natural decrease (-2,857) and (-278), respectively, more deaths than births between 2010 and 2017.
Every county in the state gained population from international migration. With 376,951 net gains, Hudson (74,640), Middlesex (55,393), Essex (43,385), Bergen (41,680)and Union (29,701) were the state’s major destinations of international immigrants.
Almost every county in New Jersey lost population due to domestic migration between 2010 and 2017, except Ocean which had net gain from domestic migration of 8,987. Counties with large (20,000 or more) net losses due to domestic migration were Hudson (-64,127),Essex (-51,715), Middlesex (-50,145), Passaic (41,097), Camden (28,073), Union (-22,980) and Mercer (-22,881).
Prepared by: New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Economic & Demographic Research, March 22, 2018.