How Much Has Philadelphia's Population Changed Since 2010?

Philadelphia’s population has increased by more than 34,000 people since 2010, information from the U.S. Census Bureau shows.

The population in the city was 1,526,006 in 2010 and 1,560,297 in 2014.

Newly released statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Estimates, a survey that tracks basic population figures between Censuses, provides a breakdown of how every municipality’s population has changed.

Statewide, Pennsylvania has experienced a 0.7 percent overall growth in population since 2010. According to the data, 85.3 percent of the growth can be attributed to townships. From April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014, the population of Pennsylvania’s 1,547 townships grew from 7,098,806 to 7,170,736; a growth rate of 1.0 percent.

The Pennsylvania State Data Center says that cities, as a whole, also experienced growth over the time period gaining 21,014 people (0.7 percent); however, only nine of the state’s 57 cities had population growth since 2010. The commonwealth’s boroughs had a decline of 0.3 percent; a loss of 8,619 people.

Cumberland County in south-central Pennsylvania is the fastest growing county in the state, according to the 2014 County Population Estimates. From April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014, Cumberland County’s total population increased from 235,408 to 243,762 residents, a growth-rate of 3.5 percent. Three Pennsylvania counties are among the top 100 largest nationally in 2014: Philadelphia, 23rd (1,560,297), Allegheny, 34th (1,231,255) and Montgomery, 72nd (816,857).

Chester County is among the top five fastest growing counties in Pennsylvania, increasing 2.7 percent from 499,146 to 512,784 between 2010 and 2014. Philadelphia County, which grew by 34,921 people, had the largest estimated numeric gain in population between April 1, 2010 and July 1, 2014. Philadelphia, Chester and Delaware counties also were among the leaders in natural increases.