Pa. Remains Fifth-Largest State Despite Lagging Nation In Growth

Pennsylvania has seen some modest population growth in the past year, but at a far slower rate than the rest of the country.

According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics released Dec. 19, Pennsylvania's estimated population count as of July 1 stood at 12,807,060. That's up 17,159 from the same date in 2017, an increase of just 0.12 percent.

At the same time, the total U.S. population increased by 0.6 percent, led by Nevada and Idaho's 2.1 percent population spike in a single year's time.

Nine states saw decreases in population, led by neighboring West Virginia's 0.6 percent decline. New York...