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
State and County Population Estimates for Utah: 2017
The Utah Population Committee (UPC), chaired and staffed by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, has produced state and county population estimates for Utah for July 1, 2017. These estimates indicate that the state has added approximately 350,000 people since April 1, 2010, reaching an estimated 3,114,039 Utahns. From 2016-2017, the population grew by 59,045 people. This is an annual growth rate of 1.93 percent, a slight acceleration from the previous year’s 1.92 percent.
Video: Utah’s Long-Term Demographic and Economic Projections
The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute recently co-hosted the Utah Legislature at a policy summit focused on Utah’s future. The summit opened with this video, which highlights growth and change in Utah. The video presents the findings of the state’s long-term demographic and economic projections such as growth, urbanization, declining fertility, sustained in-migration and an aging population.
Fertility in Utah since the Great Recession: The New Normal or a Pregnant Pause?
Utah is currently experiencing strong economic growth and has clearly recovered from the Great Recession; however, it appears the recession has left a lingering imprint on the state’s demographics. Starting in 2008, fertility rates in the state began to significantly decline and those declines continue. While Utah continues to have the highest fertility rate, youngest population, earliest age at first marriage, and largest household size in the nation, the shifts that began in 2008 may indicate a new trend in fertility rates for the state. We conclude Utah’s lower fertility rate is likely not a pregnant pause, but rather a [...]
Utah’s Long-Term Demographic and Economic Projections Summary
The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute prepares long-term demographic and economic projections to support informed decision making in the state. The Utah Legislature funds this research, which is done in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst, the Utah Association of Governments, and other research entities. These 50-year projections indicate continued population growth and illuminate a range of future dynamics and structural shifts for Utah. An initial set of products is available online at gardner.utah.edu. Additional research briefs, fact sheets, web-enabled visualizations, and other products will be produced in the coming [...]
Salt Lake City Data Book: 2017
This Salt Lake City Data Book has been sponsored by Salt Lake City Corporation. It presents the newest available data from various federal and state level entities regarding the demographics, socioeconomics, housing status, and general economic information about the city.




