Jefferson County vs. Alabama
Comparative Trends Analysis:
Population Growth and Change, 1969-2022
Introduction
Jefferson County vs. Alabama
Jefferson County:
2022 Population = 665,409
2022 Percent of State = 13.11%
Alabama:
2022 Population = 5,074,296
2022 Percent of U.S. = 1.52%
Attracting and retaining people to live, work, raise a family, and retire underlies the economic vitality of any region. Population growth is both a cause--and a consequence--of economic growth. Patterns of population growth and change reflect differences among regions to attract and retain people both as producers and consumers in their economy.
The following graphs offer a broad overview of trends in the pattern of population growth and change of Jefferson County with comparisons to Alabama and the nation at large. This analysis features alternative approaches toward discussing, diagnosing and comparing Jefferson County vs. Alabama's population growth over 1969-2022. The data used are those compiled by the Regional Income and Product Divisions of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce.
Population, 1969-2022
Population, 1969-2022
Figure 1.
Figure 1 traces Jefferson County's annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, Jefferson County's population rose from 628,116 in 1969 to 665,409 in 2022, for a net gain of 37,293, or 5.94%.
NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities.
Population, 1969-2022
Population, 1969-2022
Figure 2.
Figure 2 tracks Alabama's annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, Alabama's population rose from 3,440,000 in 1969 to 5,074,296 in 2022, for a net gain of 1,634,296, or 47.51%.
NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities.
Population Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Population Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Figure 3.
Figure 3 portrays Jefferson County's population growth in a broader context by offering direct comparisons across time with Alabama, the United States. The growth indices shown here express each region's population in 1969 as a base figure of 100, and the populations in later years as a percentage of the 1969 base figure. This method allows for more direct comparison of differences in population growth between regions that may differ vastly in size.
Jefferson County's overall population growth was 5.94% over 1969-2022 trailed Alabama's increase of 47.51%, and fell below the United States' increase of 65.57%.
Population as a Percent of the Alabama Total: 1969-2022
Population as a Percent of the Alabama Total: 1969-2022
Figure 4.
Another interesting and insightful way of comparing the population growth of Jefferson County is to compare its individual percentage contributions to Alabama's statewide population over time, as shown in Figure 4. A rising share means a region's population grew faster, or declined less, than Alabama's population, while a declining share shows it grew more slowly.
In 1969, Jefferson County's population comprised 18.26% of Alabama's population, while in 2022 it equated to 13.11% thereby yielding a -5.15% share-shift.
   
 
Population Share-Shift
2022 vs. 1969
 
Share-
Shift*
 
2022
vs.
1969
-5.15%
=
13.11%
-
18.26%
 
   
Jefferson County Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Jefferson County Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Figure 5.
Figure 5 displays the short-run pattern of Jefferson County's population growth by tracking the year-to-year percent change over 1970-2022. The average annual percent change for the entire 53-year period is also traced on this chart to provide a benchmark for gauging periods of relative high--and relative low--growth against the backdrop of the long-term average.
On average, Jefferson County's population grew at an annual rate of 0.11% over 1970-2022. The county posted its highest growth in 1970 (2.71%) and posted its lowest growth in 1982 (-0.81%). In 2022, Jefferson County's population declined by -0.68%
Jefferson County Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Jefferson County Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Figure 6.
Over the past five decades some counties have experienced extreme swings in growth, and often such swings have tended to coincide with the decades themselves. Figure 6 again depicts the annual percent change in Jefferson County's population since 1970, but this time they are displayed with average growth rates for the decade of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020-2022.
During the 1970s, Jefferson County's annual population growth rate averaged 0.68%. It averaged -0.28% throughout the 1980s, 0.14% in the 1990s, -0.07% throughout the 2000s, 0.25% during the 2010s, -0.49% thus far this decade (2020-2022).
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Figure 7.
Figure 7 compares the decade average growth rates for Jefferson County noted in the previous graph with the corresponding decade averages for Alabama and the nation. As the chart reveals, Jefferson County's average annual population growth trailed Alabama's average in the 1970s (0.68% vs. 1.18%), recorded under Alabama's average in the 1980s (-0.28% vs. 0.41%), recorded under Alabama's average in the 1990s (0.14% vs. 0.95%), recorded under Alabama's average during the 2000s (-0.07% vs. 0.72%), recorded under Alabama's average in the 2010s (0.25% vs. 0.50%), and posted below Alabama's average over the 3 year period of the current decade, 2020-2022 (-0.49% vs. 0.47%).
Finally, relative to nationwide population growth trends, Jefferson County fell below the nation over the 1970s (0.68% vs. 1.10%), fell under the nation in the 1980s (-0.28% vs. 0.95%), trailed the nation over the 1990s (0.14% vs. 1.23%), posted below the nation over the 2000s (-0.07% vs. 0.95%), fell below the nation during the 2010s (0.25% vs. 0.74%), and posted below the nation over 2020-2022 (-0.49% vs. 0.31%).
   
 
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change
 
 
 
0.11
0.68
-0.28
0.14
-0.07
0.25
-0.49
-0.68
 
0.74
1.18
0.41
0.95
0.72
0.50
0.47
0.48
 
0.96
1.10
0.95
1.23
0.95
0.74
0.31
0.38
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
Jefferson County:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
628,116
100.0
N
18.26
1970
 
645,157
102.7
2.71
18.70
1971
 
649,821
103.5
0.72
18.58
1972
 
647,115
103.0
-0.42
18.28
1973
 
650,646
103.6
0.55
18.17
1974
 
648,808
103.3
-0.28
17.88
1975
 
655,348
104.3
1.01
17.81
1976
 
661,309
105.3
0.91
17.70
1977
 
663,616
105.7
0.35
17.54
1978
 
667,420
106.3
0.57
17.41
1979
 
671,710
106.9
0.64
17.36
1980
 
670,934
106.8
-0.12
17.20
1981
 
667,790
106.3
-0.47
17.04
1982
 
662,404
105.5
-0.81
16.88
1983
 
660,835
105.2
-0.24
16.80
1984
 
659,571
105.0
-0.19
16.69
1985
 
658,988
104.9
-0.09
16.59
1986
 
657,905
104.7
-0.16
16.48
1987
 
657,665
104.7
-0.04
16.38
1988
 
655,628
104.4
-0.31
16.29
1989
 
653,400
104.0
-0.34
16.21
1990
 
652,239
103.8
-0.18
16.10
1991
 
656,878
104.6
0.71
16.02
1992
 
660,713
105.2
0.58
15.91
1993
 
663,178
105.6
0.37
15.74
1994
 
665,429
105.9
0.34
15.62
1995
 
666,106
106.0
0.10
15.50
1996
 
665,943
106.0
-0.02
15.38
1997
 
664,268
105.8
-0.25
15.21
1998
 
664,457
105.8
0.03
15.09
1999
 
662,845
105.5
-0.24
14.96
2000
 
662,033
105.4
-0.12
14.87
2001
 
660,197
105.1
-0.28
14.78
2002
 
657,518
104.7
-0.41
14.68
2003
 
657,513
104.7
0.00
14.60
2004
 
656,023
104.4
-0.23
14.48
2005
 
654,919
104.3
-0.17
14.33
2006
 
655,893
104.4
0.15
14.17
2007
 
655,163
104.3
-0.11
14.02
2008
 
656,510
104.5
0.21
13.91
2009
 
658,441
104.8
0.29
13.84
2010
 
658,682
104.9
0.04
13.76
2011
 
660,433
105.1
0.27
13.72
2012
 
662,251
105.4
0.28
13.68
2013
 
665,314
105.9
0.46
13.68
2014
 
667,877
106.3
0.39
13.67
2015
 
670,222
106.7
0.35
13.66
2016
 
671,814
107.0
0.24
13.63
2017
 
672,991
107.1
0.18
13.59
2018
 
674,571
107.4
0.23
13.56
2019
 
675,214
107.5
0.10
13.50
2020
 
674,675
107.4
-0.08
13.41
2021
 
669,997
106.7
-0.69
13.27
2022
 
665,409
105.9
-0.68
13.11
Source: Calculations by the Alabama Regional Economic Analysis Project (AL-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
Alabama:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
3,440,000
100.0
N
1.71
1970
 
3,449,846
100.3
0.29
1.69
1971
 
3,497,452
101.7
1.38
1.69
1972
 
3,540,080
102.9
1.22
1.69
1973
 
3,580,769
104.1
1.15
1.69
1974
 
3,627,805
105.5
1.31
1.70
1975
 
3,680,533
107.0
1.45
1.71
1976
 
3,737,204
108.6
1.54
1.72
1977
 
3,782,736
110.0
1.22
1.72
1978
 
3,834,120
111.5
1.36
1.73
1979
 
3,869,444
112.5
0.92
1.72
1980
 
3,900,368
113.4
0.80
1.72
1981
 
3,918,533
113.9
0.47
1.71
1982
 
3,925,263
114.1
0.17
1.69
1983
 
3,934,100
114.4
0.23
1.68
1984
 
3,951,824
114.9
0.45
1.68
1985
 
3,972,520
115.5
0.52
1.67
1986
 
3,991,569
116.0
0.48
1.66
1987
 
4,015,262
116.7
0.59
1.66
1988
 
4,023,842
117.0
0.21
1.65
1989
 
4,030,219
117.2
0.16
1.63
1990
 
4,050,055
117.7
0.49
1.62
1991
 
4,099,156
119.2
1.21
1.62
1992
 
4,154,014
120.8
1.34
1.62
1993
 
4,214,202
122.5
1.45
1.62
1994
 
4,260,229
123.8
1.09
1.62
1995
 
4,296,800
124.9
0.86
1.61
1996
 
4,331,102
125.9
0.80
1.61
1997
 
4,367,935
127.0
0.85
1.60
1998
 
4,404,701
128.0
0.84
1.60
1999
 
4,430,141
128.8
0.58
1.59
2000
 
4,452,173
129.4
0.50
1.58
2001
 
4,467,634
129.9
0.35
1.57
2002
 
4,480,089
130.2
0.28
1.56
2003
 
4,503,491
130.9
0.52
1.55
2004
 
4,530,729
131.7
0.60
1.55
2005
 
4,569,805
132.8
0.86
1.55
2006
 
4,628,981
134.6
1.29
1.55
2007
 
4,672,840
135.8
0.95
1.55
2008
 
4,718,206
137.2
0.97
1.55
2009
 
4,757,938
138.3
0.84
1.55
2010
 
4,787,998
139.2
0.63
1.55
2011
 
4,812,138
139.9
0.50
1.54
2012
 
4,839,261
140.7
0.56
1.54
2013
 
4,864,399
141.4
0.52
1.54
2014
 
4,886,793
142.1
0.46
1.53
2015
 
4,908,162
142.7
0.44
1.53
2016
 
4,930,595
143.3
0.46
1.52
2017
 
4,952,202
144.0
0.44
1.52
2018
 
4,976,395
144.7
0.49
1.51
2019
 
5,003,418
145.4
0.54
1.52
2020
 
5,031,362
146.3
0.56
1.52
2021
 
5,049,846
146.8
0.37
1.52
2022
 
5,074,296
147.5
0.48
1.52
Source: Calculations by the Alabama Regional Economic Analysis Project (AL-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
United States:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
201,298,000
100.0
N
1970
 
203,798,722
101.2
1.24
1971
 
206,817,509
102.7
1.48
1972
 
209,274,882
104.0
1.19
1973
 
211,349,205
105.0
0.99
1974
 
213,333,635
106.0
0.94
1975
 
215,456,585
107.0
1.00
1976
 
217,553,859
108.1
0.97
1977
 
219,760,875
109.2
1.01
1978
 
222,098,244
110.3
1.06
1979
 
224,568,579
111.6
1.11
1980
 
227,224,719
112.9
1.18
1981
 
229,465,744
114.0
0.99
1982
 
231,664,432
115.1
0.96
1983
 
233,792,014
116.1
0.92
1984
 
235,824,907
117.2
0.87
1985
 
237,923,734
118.2
0.89
1986
 
240,132,831
119.3
0.93
1987
 
242,288,936
120.4
0.90
1988
 
244,499,004
121.5
0.91
1989
 
246,819,222
122.6
0.95
1990
 
249,622,814
124.0
1.14
1991
 
252,980,941
125.7
1.35
1992
 
256,514,224
127.4
1.40
1993
 
259,918,588
129.1
1.33
1994
 
263,125,821
130.7
1.23
1995
 
266,278,393
132.3
1.20
1996
 
269,394,284
133.8
1.17
1997
 
272,646,925
135.4
1.21
1998
 
275,854,104
137.0
1.18
1999
 
279,040,168
138.6
1.15
2000
 
282,162,411
140.2
1.12
2001
 
284,968,955
141.6
0.99
2002
 
287,625,193
142.9
0.93
2003
 
290,107,933
144.1
0.86
2004
 
292,805,298
145.5
0.93
2005
 
295,516,599
146.8
0.93
2006
 
298,379,912
148.2
0.97
2007
 
301,231,207
149.6
0.96
2008
 
304,093,966
151.1
0.95
2009
 
306,771,529
152.4
0.88
2010
 
309,378,433
153.7
0.85
2011
 
311,841,632
154.9
0.80
2012
 
314,344,331
156.2
0.80
2013
 
316,735,375
157.3
0.76
2014
 
319,270,047
158.6
0.80
2015
 
321,829,327
159.9
0.80
2016
 
324,367,742
161.1
0.79
2017
 
326,623,063
162.3
0.70
2018
 
328,542,157
163.2
0.59
2019
 
330,233,102
164.1
0.51
2020
 
331,511,512
164.7
0.39
2021
 
332,031,554
164.9
0.16
2022
 
333,287,557
165.6
0.38
Source: Calculations by the Alabama Regional Economic Analysis Project (AL-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PN
 
   
Copyright © 2023. Pacific Northwest Regional Economic Analysis Project (PNREAP). All Rights Reserved.

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