5.2 Million People Now Live in Metro Atlanta, New Figures Show

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – New population estimates released Wednesday by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) show a total population of 5.2 million people spread across 11 counties.

The city of Atlanta saw the fastest growth last year, adding 10,800 residents. Cherokee County followed with 5,400 residents, followed by Henry County with 4,750 residents.

Growth in the 11-county region slowed slightly from 2022-23, the CRA said, when the region added 66,730 people. That reflected a slowdown in building permit activity and a slight moderation in job growth. High housing prices also held back population growth.

“People across the country choose metro Atlanta because of our excellent quality of life and our vibrant, diverse economy,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who also chairs the ARC Board of Directors. “Of course, our continued growth is not guaranteed. We must continue to invest in our region’s infrastructure to ensure a prosperous future.”

Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties, along with the city of Atlanta and 74 other cities, make up the 11-county metropolitan area.

The region’s growth is driven by the economy. The number of jobs in metro Atlanta has increased 6.4% since the pandemic began in early 2020. That’s the seventh-highest rate in the country among selected metro peers, behind Austin, Dallas, Las Vegas, Orlando, Houston and Miami.

Each of the 11 counties in metro Atlanta saw population growth over the past year. Fulton County, including Atlanta, added 17,400 residents, the largest increase in the region, followed by Gwinnett (14,900), Cobb (6,700) and Cherokee (5,400). Gwinnett County’s population topped 1 million for the first time, now at 1,012,112.

Douglas County saw a significant increase year-over-year, with a growth rate of 1.6%, compared to 0.9% in 2022-23. Douglas gained 2,400 residents in the past year and now has a population of 153,000.

Download our Atlanta News First app for the latest news and information.

Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.