State and County
As part of our work for the State of Utah, the state and county-level estimates aim to capture and understand recent population changes. The Utah Population Committee, chaired and staffed by the Gardner Institute, uses local data sources and expert insights to produce annual population estimates for Utah and its counties between decennial census counts. For in-state use, we recommend Gardner Institute estimates. For national comparisons, we recommend the Census Bureau estimates.
Utah Population Committee Estimates Methodology: Estimates for 2020 and Beyond (January 2024)
The Utah Population Committee (UPC) produces annual state and county population estimates for Utah and its counties. This document describes the methodology for the postcensal population estimates produced by the UPC following the release of the state and county-level 2020 Census results.
State and County Population Estimates for Utah: 2023
July 1, 2023 estimates produced by the Utah Population Committee indicate a total Utah population of 3,456,482, adding 55,989 residents to the state since July 1, 2022.
Utah Population Committee Postcensal Estimates Accuracy Analysis, 2010-2020
Compared with the count from the 2020 census, the Utah Population Committee (UPC) population estimate of 3,259,792 underestimated the state count by 11,824 people or .4%. When considering the individual methods used in UPC, the Housing Stock method was the most accurate, while the LDS method was the least at the state level. The performance of the UPC estimates compared to the 2020 census and the individual UPC methods varied by county.
State and County Population Estimates FAQ
This document specifically discusses state and county resident population estimates for Utah, discussing and comparing two main sources: the Utah Population Committee estimates, and the Census Bureau estimates.
Accuracy Analysis of Long-Term Planning Projections for Utah and its Counties
With over half a century of population projections in Utah, this analysis highlights the difficulty of accurately identifying the future population based on current trends.
Insight: A Demographer’s Revisionist History: Intercensal Population Estimates for 2010-2019 Released
By: Emily Harris In August 2021, the Census Bureau released the 2020 Census Redistricting data, providing county population totals (among other data points) for April 1, 2020. This data enabled us to revise the Utah Population Committee (UPC) 2010-2019 postcensal population estimates to create intercensal estimates. You can download the new set of intercensal estimates here. It is standard practice to revise postcensal estimates, benchmarked off the previous (2010) census, to terminate at the subsequent (2020) census counts. This process provides a continuous estimate series across Decennial time points. […]
State of Utah Population by Age, Sex, Race and Ethnicity, 2010–2019
Utah’s 2019 population was estimated at 3,220,272. Between 2010 and 2019, it grew by 447,875, representing an average annual percentage growth rate of 1.7 percent. The state remains relatively young with 29.3 percent of the population being preschool or school age (under 18), compared to 11.2 percent of retirement age (65 and older).
Demographic County Profiles by Age, Sex, Race and Ethnicity, 2010–2019
Utah’s 2019 population was estimated at 3,220,272. Between 2010 and 2019, it grew by 447,875, representing an average annual percentage growth rate of 1.7 percent. The state remains relatively young with 29.3 percent of the population being preschool or school age (under 18), compared to 11.2 percent of retirement age (65 and older).