2025 Virginia Population Estimates

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The Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service released the 2025 population estimates for Virginia and its counties and cities today. These population estimates, prepared annually by the Cooper Center, serve as the official figures for the Commonwealth of Virginia. State and local government agencies use them for revenue sharing, funding allocations, planning, and budgeting.

Virginia’s population reached 8.88 million as of July 1, 2025, an increase of more than 248,000 residents since the 2020 Census. Between 2020 and 2025, the state’s average annual growth rate was 0.5 percent, slightly below the national rate of 0.6 percent. Virginia remains the 12th most populous state and ranked 11th nationally in numeric population growth during this period.

Of the state’s population increase since 2020, natural increase (births minus deaths) contributed 78,388 people (31.5 percent), while net migration (people moving in minus people moving out) added 170,326 people (68.5 percent).

The interactive map above displays the 2025 population estimates for all 133 counties and cities in Virginia. Between 2020 and 2025:

  • 93 localities (70 percent) experienced population growth.
  • 119 localities (90 percent) had positive net migration.
  • 93 localities (70 percent) experienced a natural decrease, meaning deaths outnumbered births.

Estimates by metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural areas

Based on federal Core-Based Statistical Area definitions, the interactive map also presents estimates by metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural areas, with rural areas defined here as localities that are neither metropolitan nor micropolitan. Of Virginia’s 133 localities, 81 are part of metropolitan areas, 8 are in micropolitan areas, and 44 are rural.

In 2025, about 88 percent of Virginians lived in metropolitan areas. Metro areas collectively grew by 242,796 residents between 2020 and 2025, accounting for 97.6 percent of the state’s total population growth. All metropolitan areas experienced growth during this period except the Bristol area, which declined by 1.2 percent. Natural increase contributed 45.5 percent of metropolitan population growth.

Micropolitan areas contained nearly 3 percent of Virginia’s population in 2025. Their population declined by 6,541 residents (2.6 percent) from 2020 to 2025. This decline was driven primarily by natural decrease, as deaths exceeded births by 10,040. Positive net migration offset a portion of these losses.

Rural areas represented approximately 9 percent of Virginia’s population in 2025. Between 2020 and 2025, rural localities added 12,458 residents (1.6 percent). Although rural areas experienced 22,065 more deaths than births, they gained 34,523 residents through net migration, resulting in overall population growth.

For more information on the Cooper Center’s 2025 population estimates, visit our Population Estimates page.