Washington, Idaho populations both grew 1.3 percent in 2014

The number of people living in Washington and Idaho each grew by 1.3 percent last year, according to recent estimates. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated Washington’s population at 7,061,530 in mid-2014, which reflected a net gain of nearly 88,000 new residents from the previous year. Idaho’s population was estimated at 1,634,464, a net increase of more than 21,000 new residents from the previous year. Nationally, the U.S. population was up 0.7 percent to nearly 319 million residents. North Dakota and it’s booming oil economy led the nation as the fastest growing state in 2014, with a 2.2 percent increase in population. Idaho ranked ninth in the nation for percentage gains in population, and had its highest one-year population gain since 2008. Washington ranked 11th nationally.