El Paso County growth slows as migration drops
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El Paso County added residents between 2024 and 2025, but growth slowed as international migration fell sharply nationwide.
Why it matters: New U.S. Census data shows tighter immigration enforcement is helping reshape population trends — including in fast-growing areas like Colorado Springs.
By the numbers: El Paso County added 4,700 people between 2024 and 2025, per new Census estimates.
- That's down from 5,975 the year prior.
Yes, but: Growth hasn't stopped.
- People are still moving in, and births continue to outpace deaths.
The big picture: U.S. population growth decelerated to 0.5% from 2024 to 2025, down from 1% the year prior. That slowdown is largely tied to a steep drop in international migration, which plunged from about 2.8 million to 1.3 million people — a roughly 55% decline. And it's hitting populous areas especially hard.
- International migration declined in 9 out of 10 U.S. counties between 2024 and 2025, according to the Census Bureau.
Zoom in: Colorado is seeing the same shift.
- Earlier gains driven by international migration gave way to domestic outflows in 2025, especially in Denver and Arapahoe counties, state demographer Kate Watkins told Axios.
- Still, the Front Range — including El Paso County — continues to grow, just not as fast as a year earlier.
Context: The state's 2023–2024 population report indicated strong natural growth and net migration across multiple Front Range counties.
- El Paso County was the state's fifth-fastest-growing county in 2024, behind Denver.
Caveat: International migration figures include both foreign arrivals and Americans returning from abroad, including military personnel — a notable factor in a military-heavy community like Colorado Springs.
The bottom line: The Springs isn't shrinking — but the pace is cooling as a key driver of growth fades.
What's next: More detailed city-level Census data is expected next month, with a fuller state report coming this fall.