Hawaii’s Population Declines For The First Time In Several Years

Hawaii was one of eight states, plus Puerto Rico, that saw a net decline.

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Hawaii’s population shrank by more than 1,100 people last fiscal year, according to new estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

About 13,500 more Hawaii residents moved to the mainland than vice versa in fiscal year 2017, which ran from July 2016 to June 2017. That’s up from the previous fiscal year, when a net of 10,000 Hawaii residents left for another state.

This year, a net of 6,700 international immigrants moved to the Aloha State.

Scores of people cross the street to Kekaulike Mall along Hotel street in Chinatown, Honolulu. 12 sept 2016
Pedestrians walk along Hotel Street in Chinatown. Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2016

Just seven other states and Puerto Rico also saw an overall decrease in population last fiscal year.

 

This is the first year in some time where the isles have seen a decrease in population.

In FY 2016, the state’s population had a net increase of 3,400 people. There was an increase of 11,300 people in FY 2015.

 

More than 18,000 births and 12,000 deaths occurred in the last fiscal year, according to Census data. Since 2010, the bureau estimates that Hawaii’s population has increased by five percent.

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