Nebraska population rises slightly, as international growth reverses

LINCOLN, Neb. — While Nebraska’s overall population increased slightly to an estimated 2,018,006 in the latest Census report, the key component driving state growth in past years plummeted: immigration.

Data released Tuesday reveals a 0.6% annual population bump, or about 12,500 more residents overall from July 2024 through June 2025. The information also shows the three main components of population change.

Of the three, international migration was most glaring. More foreign-born newcomers still came to Nebraska than left, but the net growth of 6,599 was half the amount reported the previous year.

Josie Schafer of the Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the state’s liaison to the Census Bureau, attributes the reversal to federal immigration policies versus any shift in how the data is tracked. 

A drop in net international migration is reflected nationally as well, with the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates showing a “historic decline,” from 2.7 million in 2024 to 1.3 million in 2025. The drop, the bureau said, was caused by both a decrease in immigration and an increase in emigration (people moving out or being moved out of the U.S.).

A continued pattern in Nebraska would not bode well for population expansion, Schafer said.

“If international migration has been our main source of growth and now, at a policy level, we can expect that to be less, that is going to be a challenge to growth,” she said.

Tuesday’s Census release shows Nebraska’s “natural change” remained positive — with 6,136 more Husker births than deaths. That net gain was essentially unchanged from the previous year.

“Those numbers are nice,” said Schafer.

Notable, she said, is Nebraska’s improvement in domestic migration. To be sure, more people continue to flee than move to Nebraska. But the gap lessened between 2024 and 2025, going from a net loss of 1,498 people to a net loss of 366. For perspective, Nebraska lost about 6,000 more people than it gained in 2021.

“We’ve kind of turned a corner on that domestic migration trend,” said Schafer. 

That component, however, does not shed necessary light on the persistent problem of Nebraska “brain drain,” she said. It reflects overall domestic migration and does not hone in on age or education levels.

More detailed demographic and countywide Census data is to come later. Schafer said Tuesday’s Vintage 2025 population release are administrative estimates.

Dana Bradford is a leader of the Aksarben Foundation, a business group that has raised alarms about Nebraska falling behind its peers in quality job, wage and economic growth. He finds little reason to rejoice in Nebraska’s 0.6% annual population increase and would like to see a 1.25% boost to start seeing growth in the state’s educated workforce.

That more people still leave for other states than come to Nebraska is a concern, he said, calling it a sign of better job and career opportunities elsewhere. Aksarben’s focus is on luring high-paying jobs. They argue to do that first and that the qualified workforce would follow.

“Our skilled workforce is in decline,” said Bradford.

Schafer’s examination of the new Census release shows Nebraska ranking 18th among states in overall population growth. She said a handful of states surpassed 1% growth.

In a similar update a year ago, the Census estimated Nebraska hit an overall population of 2,005,465, a one-year addition of 17,601 Huskers. At an annual growth of 0.88%, Nebraska then ranked as the 17th fastest-growing state.

The Aksarben Foundation is among other groups in Nebraska that have  commissioned studying the employment and business landscape. Aksarben has formed a nonprofit “Strengthening Nebraska Families” to educate and stir action to elevate the state’s competitiveness.  

Other states are “taking our workforce away from us,” said Bradford, CEO of C3 Brands and former chair of Greater Omaha Chamber, citing the various reports.

“We’re in a battle for people,” he said. “We’ve got to win that battle.”

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