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.
Featured Research
Utah State and County Annual Population Estimates by Single Year of Age and Sex: 2010-2019
Utah’s population grew by nearly 450 thousand people (about 16 percent) between 2010 and 2019. Cumulative natural increase (births minus deaths) accounts for 70 percent of the growth and net migration for 30 percent. Birth rates are falling, Utah’s population is aging, and Baby Boomers are retiring. The retirement age population (65 and older) grew by nearly 45 percent, while the youth population (under 18) grew by less than 10 percent.
Salt Lake County Renter Demographics
Housing outcomes depend on local economic health, and they diverge for racial, ethnic, and other groups.
An Historic Overview of Office, Industrial, and Retail Development and Their Recent Demand Drivers in Salt Lake City
Over the past few decades, Salt Lake City has experienced not only major residential growth, but also a commercial boom. Utah’s economic success has translated into a vibrant commercial real estate market.
Fact Sheet: U.S. Census Bureau Estimates for Cities and Housing Units, Vintage 2019
The Census Bureau’s most recent release on May 21, 2020 provides population estimates for incorporated places (cities and towns) and housing unit estimates at the state and county level from Census 2010 to July 1, 2019. The city level estimates utilize locally submitted building permits as the basis to estimate population. They are then controlled to the county estimate totals, which were published in March 2020.
New Americans in Salt Lake County: A Qualitative Study of Service Providers to Immigrants and Refugees
Salt Lake County is home to over half of Utah’s new Americans. This population is ever-changing; the number of arrivals, major country or region of origin, and reason for moving to Utah can fluctuate in any given year. There is no monolithic population of new Americans in Salt Lake County – Salt Lake City’s foreign-born population has different characteristics and needs than that of West Valley, South Salt Lake, or Herriman. The diversity in these communities continues to grow, change, and impact the entire county as people place roots and grow their families.
Salt Lake and Utah County Subcounty Estimates, 2010-2019
Utah’s ongoing growth perpetuates the need for current housing and population estimates for cities and neighborhoods. This analysis provides these estimates for Salt Lake and Utah Counties, which are home to over half of Utah’s population and have contributed 54% of the growth that has made Utah the fastest-growing state this decade. Salt Lake County grew 1.0% from 2018 to 2019, Utah County grew 2.8%, and both counties experienced their largest growth in housing units of any year this decade.
Fact Sheet: U.S. Census Bureau Estimates by County, Metropolitan, and Micropolitan Areas, 2019
Each year, the Census Bureau produces population estimates at varying levels of geography. The Census Bureau’s most recent release on March 26, 2020, provides population estimates with components of population change for counties, metropolitan areas, and micropolitan areas in the United States and Puerto Rico.
Race/Ethnicity in the 2018 Wasatch Front Labor Force: An Equal Employment Opportunity Analysis
Current data reveals 1 in 5 Utahns identify as racial minorities, rising 3.8% from 2017 to 2018.1 This is more rapid than the comparable 1.9% year-over growth rate of the total population. Racial and ethnic diversity continues to increase across the nation and in Utah. The extent of this diversity varies significantly by neighborhood, community, and county. For example, minority identification in the Wasatch Front region is closer to 1 in 4 at 24%, while Salt Lake County is 29% minority.
