State Sees Population Growth During Pandemic

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington’s population grew in spite of the pandemic last year.

The state Office of Financial Management estimates the state gained just over 110,000 residents last year, bringing the state population to 7,767,000.

Nearly every county including Whatcom gained population, but our increase was a modest 700 new residents.

Department spokesman Mike Mohrman says Whatcom County’s small cities all gained population while Bellingham saw a slight decrease.

“The part of that I think impacts Bellingham in particular is the reduced number of people in college dormitories,” says Mohrman.

That also affected Whitman County, home to Washington State University, which saw a 5% decline in population last year.

Washington also had an increase in deaths to over 61,000 in 2020, the first year deaths surpassed 60,000 in the state.