Population growth has slowed to its lowest levels since before the baby boom, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Wednesday.

The country’s population increased about 2.8 million to 311.6 million between April 1, 2010 and July 1, 2011 – a growth rate of 0.92 percent, the lowest since the mid-1940s.

Texas saw the greatest population increase adding more than 500,000 people to the state in the span of a year, bringing its total population to 25.7 million. However, California still remains the largest state in the country with 37.7 million to the golden state.

Rounding out the top five states were California, Texas, New York (19.5 million), Florida (19.1 million) and Illinois (12.9 million).

The District of Columbia experienced the fastest growth between April 2010 and July 2011, as population rose by 2.7 percent.

The 10 Fastest Growing States from April 1, 2010, to July 1, 2011:

  1. District of Columbia – 2.70 percent
  2. Texas – 2.10 percent
  3. Utah – 1.93 percent
  4. Alaska – 1.76 percent
  5. Colorado – 1.74 percent
  6. North Dakota – 1.69 percent
  7. Washington state – 1.57 percent
  8. Arizona – 1.42 percent
  9. Florida – 1.36 percent
  10. Georgia – 1.32 percent

The 10 States with the Largest Numeric Increase from April 1, 2010, to July 1, 2011:

  1. Texas – 529,000
  2. California – 438,000
  3. Florida – 256,000
  4. Georgia – 128,000
  5. North Carolina – 121,000
  6. Washington state – 105,000
  7. Virginia – 96,000
  8. Arizona – 90,000
  9. Colorado – 88,000
  10. New York – 87,000

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