Tennessee saw an unexpected increase in the number of births in 2021. It also saw a jump in the number of deaths. In different ways, both events were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We take close look at what changed in the first two years of the decade.

2021 was one of the most dynamic years in population change in recent history. New data shows Tennessee’s population grew in 2021. Record net gains from domestic migration were offset by a rise in deaths and drop in births. We break down the early numbers.

New Tennessee birth data shows that despite the state’s growing population, the number of births have remained relatively flat for nearly a decade. We took a look at the factors driving this trend and the state’s falling birth rate.