Alabama’s international migration fell by roughly 60% over the past year, according to a new population analysis from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA), reflecting a broader national slowdown in immigration-driven growth.
The report, based on the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates for July 2024 through July 2025, found that international migration to Alabama declined by 13,156 people compared with the prior year. Census-based charts in the report show international arrivals declined from about 22,100 in 2024 to roughly 8,900 in 2025 — a year-over-year decrease of about three-fifths.
“Population growth in Alabama and across the country has slowed, particularly when it comes to immigrants coming from abroad,” the report states.
PARCA attributes the decline to policy and enforcement changes affecting both unauthorized and authorized immigration flows.
“After a surge of immigration in the early years of the Biden Administration, new policies drove down unauthorized crossings sharply in 2024,” the report explains. “That trend has continued and accelerated under the Trump Administration, along with a decline in authorized immigration. Thus, the current decline in international immigration is likely to continue.”
Domestic migration into Alabama also declined slightly year over year, down by 1,595 people, though the state still ranked No. 11 nationally in domestic migration rate. The report notes that in-migration remains essential to the state’s overall population stability.
“Due to an aging population and lower birth rates, deaths continue to outnumber births in the state,” the report states. “Thus, without in-migration, Alabama’s population would be declining modestly.”
Overall, Alabama’s population still grew by about 30,000 residents — roughly 1% — reaching an estimated 5.2 million people. Alabama ranked No. 15 nationally in numeric population growth and No. 20 in percentage growth over the period.
As a secondary trend, the report found Southern states continued to outpace most other regions in population growth. South Carolina ranked No. 1 in growth rate, while Texas recorded the largest numeric population gain. North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee also ranked among the top states for numeric growth.
PARCA also reports that Alabama historically ranks lower in attracting international migrants, placing No. 42 nationally in international immigration rate in the latest estimates.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
