News
Tennessee Enacts Population Estimates Program July 30, 2025 A new Tennessee law requires the use of annual population estimates for distributing state-shared revenues to counties and municipalities. Get up to speed on the new legislation, the Boyd Center’s role and plans for the first estimate release next July. 
Tennessee’s Outdoor Jobs Heat Up June 2, 2025 For a million Tennesseans, time on the job includes working outside for at least portion of their shift. Our new analysis highlights occupation sectors requiring outdoor work, the amount of time spent working outside, and identifies which occupation sectors are "heating up", including construction and vehicle operators.
Davidson County Tops 2024 List of Tennessee’s Fastest Growing Counties May 16, 2025 Census Bureau estimates show that Davidson County (Nashville) added the most population in Tennessee in 2024. International migration adjustments were a big factor as it outpaced Rutherford County for the first time since 2015.
Shelby County’s 2024 Population Decrease is the Nation’s Largest April 10, 2025 When a Tennessee county leads the nation in population loss, it grabs headlines. We analyzed the numbers behind this decline, compared them to past leaders and to other areas of the country. While these losses may continue, they likely won’t top the national charts in the future.
Tennessee’s Births are Up – Now the Rest of the Story March 13, 2025 After a decade of remaining almost unchanged, Tennessee births have grown over four consecutive years. This occurred even as fertility rates continue a steady decline. Our state and regional analysis delves into the factors driving this new trend.
International Migration Boosts Tennessee’s Population Gains in 2024 December 20, 2024 Tennessee's population grew by 80,000 people in 2024. Part of that increase is attributed to changes in the way international migration is estimated for the nation. We took a closer look at the new numbers.TNSDC Toplines
39 years was Tennessee’s median age in 2024
and for a second straight year is lower than the U.S. median age of 39.1 according to a June U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimate release. While the median of both areas continues climbing, it reverses a five-decade period where Tennessee’s median age was higher than the nation. Since 2010, Tennessee’s median age grew from 38.1 years old, when it ranked 33rd highest nationally, to its current ranking of 20th. Over the 14-year period, median age is up in 49 states, but Tennessee’s 0.9-year median age increase is among the slowest rising in the country. North Dakota, fueled by a booming oil and gas sector, registered a -0.9-year decrease and was the only state to log a decline. Utah (32.4) leads the nation, while Maine (44.8), ranked last and stands as the other bookend of the state rankings.
34.1 percent fewer drug overdose deaths
occurred in Tennessee between February 2024 and February 2025 according to Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). There were 2,425 deaths in the 12-month span, down from 3,678 in the prior period. Overall, the number of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. fell 25.9 percent and Tennessee’s was the 9th largest decrease among states. A declining number of accidental overdoses attributed to synthetic opioids – including fentanyl – is largely behind the state’s decrease. Even with the improvement, NCHS provisional mortality statistics for 2024 show Tennessee’s 33.2 deaths per 100,000 residents was 7th highest nationally. A Tennessee Department of Health dashboard offers additional demographic information.
Featured Tools
Municipal Population Estimates Dashboard
Our subcounty population estimates dashboard provides data for Tennessee’s 345 municipalities, along with figures for the unincorporated areas of the state’s 95 counties. Data from 2020 through the latest year in the estimate series is presented through maps, charts and key population indicators.
County Population Estimate Dashboard
Our County Population Estimates and Components of Change Dashboard provides county- and regional-level population insights from 2020 through the latest year in the estimate series. Data about population and components of change are included, along with regional and state-level tallies of key performance indicators.
State and National Population Estimates Dashboard (v. 2024)
Center of Population of U.S. States and Counties
This interactive application shows the mean center of population for each state and county in the U.S. in 2000, 2010 and 2020. The application visualizes the degree of population shift each decade using lines that connect the center to its prior location.