Demographics
The Gardner Institute provides demographic decision support to the Utah State Legislature and Office of the Governor. We produce population estimates and projections, as well as applied demographic research focused on Utah. We represent the state in work with the Census Bureau, including the State Data Center Program and Federal-State Cooperatives for Population Estimates and Projections. We work with the Census Bureau in the production, distribution, and analysis of their product.
We are your demographic resource.
U.S. Census Bureau Estimates for Cities and Housing Units, 2024
Six cities in Utah rank in the top 100 fastest-growing cities with 20,000 or more people, according to population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau for incorporated places (cities and towns) and housing units at the state and county level for July 1, 2024.
Salt Lake City Data Book 2025: Utah’s Capital City Demographic Resource
Salt Lake City accounted for 6.1% of Utah’s overall population in the 2019-2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. These 5-year estimates serve as the denominators for the percentages presented throughout this book and are presented for this reason.
Utah’s Marriage Trends: Young, Married, and Changing
Utah has the nation’s youngest median marriage age and the highest marriage rate, but younger Utahns are waiting longer to marry.
Utah’s Declining Fertility Rate, 2023
U.S. and Utah fertility rates continued a long-term decline in 2023. The U.S. total fertility rate (TFR) was 1.621 in 2023, a 2.1% decline from 1.656 in 2022.
Gardner Business Review: A Retrospective of Utah’s Urban-Rural History
Ninety percent of Utah’s population qualifies as urban, making Utah one of the most urban states in the nation. This historical overview describes the process whereby a few counties became heavily urban while the majority of Utah’s counties remain rural today.
Salt Lake City Demographic Changes: 2019 to 2023
Salt Lake City’s population grew 4.5%, from 200,546 to 209,606 residents, between 2019 and 2023 (1.1% annually).
U.S. Census Bureau Estimates by County, Metropolitan, and Micropolitan Areas, 2024
Each year, the Census Bureau produces population estimates at varying levels of geography. The Census Bureau's most recent release on March 13, 2025, provides population estimates with components of population change for counties, metropolitan areas, and micropolitan areas in the United States and Puerto Rico.
State and County Population Estimates for Utah: 2024
July 1, 2024 estimates produced by the Utah Population Committee indicate a total Utah population of 3,506,838, adding 50,392 residents to the state since July 1, 2023.
Utah Social Indicators
Utah fares comparatively well on many social indicators. Selected measures come from five domains: economic, demographic, socioeconomic, health, and safety.
