This month’s regional snapshot presents ARC’s annual major jurisdiction population estimates. The 10-county Atlanta region added 72,500 new residents between April 2018 and April 2019, according to those estimates. Overall, the Atlanta region’s population increased by 1.6 percent and now stands at 4,628,400 — more than that of 24 states. A slowing in job growth has contributed to moderation of the region’s population growth, though that growth remains strong.

Highlights from this snapshot:

  • The 10-county Atlanta region is now home to 4,628,400 in 2019, up from 4,555,900 in 2018. From April 1, 2018 to April 1, 2019 the region added 72,500 new residents. This represents slightly slower growth than what the region experienced the previous two years.
  • The Atlanta region’s 2019 population is larger than that of 24 states.
  • The slower growth, while still strong, reflects a moderation in job growth in the past year.
  • From 2018 to 2019, Fulton added 16,700 new residents, the largest single-year growth in the region. Next were Gwinnett with 15,100 new residents, DeKalb with 8,500 new residents, and Cherokee with 8,200 new residents.
  • The City of Atlanta continues to experience significant growth. Again fueled by high levels of multifamily development, the city added 10,900 new residents between 2018 and 2019, up slightly from last year and the largest single-year estimated population increase since the Great Recession.
  • In 2018, there were 27,600 new residential building permits in the 10-county region, which was an increase of over 3,000 (primarily in the multifamily sector) from 2017-2018, and almost the same overall level as 2016 permits. Still, current building permit activity for the 10-county region remains lower than pre-recession permit levels, and still trails the 1980-2018 average annual level of 32,130.

Click through the slides below or download the PDF Regional Snapshot: Population Estimates for the Atlanta Region.

ARC’s population estimates cover the 10-county region and city of Atlanta. The agency does not develop estimates for any other city in the region.