State Population Expected to Reach 8.6 Million By 2030

OLYMPIA (AP) Washington should gain one congressional seat by 2030, according to U.S. Census Bureau population projections.

Census demographers predict the state’s population will grow 46 percent over the next 25 years, to 8.6 million.

That will move Washington up one notch to the 14th most populous state.

According to the projections, Washington will be the ninth fastest growing state in the nation over the next 25 years. Other Northwest states also made that top 10: Idaho is expected to be the sixth fastest growing state, and Oregon the 10th.

Oregon’s population is projected to increase to 4.8 million by 2030, a 41 percent jump.

The expected pace of growth in Washington and Oregon is well above the overall 29 percent population increase predicted for the United States by 2030.

The government estimates that California will gain another 12.5 million people by 2030 for a 37 percent gain since the 2000 Census.

Nevada and Arizona, the fastest growing states, are projected to double their populations by 2030.

If Washington’s population growth meets expectations, the 10th congressional seat would probably be added to Western Washington.