Virginia's Economic Forecast, May 2026
A quarterly economic forecast for the Commonwealth of Virginia, created by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.
Good governance and resilience in every Virginia community
The Cooper Center provides valuable data and services to communities, governments, and public sector leaders.
Research
Virginia School Enrollment Projections: 2026-2030
On February 25th, the Demographics Research Group released public K-12 school enrollment projections for Virginia’s 131 school divisions for the next five school years (2026-2030), as well as projections of public school graduates and completers.
2025 Virginia Population Estimates
Virginia’s population reached 8.88 million as of July 1, 2025, an increase of more than 248,000 residents since the 2020 Census. Virginia remains the 12th most populous state and ranked 11th nationally in numeric population growth during this period.
In The News
Certified Public Manager Program Informational Webinar
Join us on Tuesday, June 16 at 12:00 PM ET to learn more about Virginia's only Certified Public Manager Program.
Most States' Population Growth Slowed in 2025 as International Migration Declined
According to Cooper Center data, with populations aging and birth rates near record lows, states are increasingly dependent on both domestic and international migration for growth.
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Ohio Needs Power For Its Data Centers. Lawmakers Want to Redefine ‘Clean Energy’ to Get It
Cooper Center figures cited as Ohio lawmakers consider legislation that will support data center growth.
Circle of Blue
Ohio's data center building boom
Big tech has expanded across Central Ohio in a big way.
CW Columbus
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