COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus saw the largest population increase of any Ohio metropolitan area after the COVID-19 pandemic, a change driven by immigration.
Only three major Ohio cities experienced population growth after the pandemic, according to recent data from the U.S. Census. Columbus saw a 4% population increase, more than any other Ohio city by at least 1.6%. And much of that growth came from immigration.
The Census Bureau reported that Franklin County has gained 32,500 residents since the pandemic. The census tracked international and domestic migration from 2020 to 2024 and noted Franklin County saw negative domestic migration, meaning people in the U.S. were moving away from the area more than moving to it. At the same time, Franklin County saw more than 50,000 people move to the area internationally.
Only the Cincinnati and Dayton areas joined Columbus in population growth since COVID-19, growing 2.4% and 0.9%, respectively. The numbers reflect the greater cities’ areas determined by the Census. Columbus is considered the 14th most populous city in the U.S., but in this federal dataset, it appears to have fewer residents than Cincinnati.
Franklin County’s population is expected to increase by around 363,000 people by 2050. The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Committee reports that central Ohio is seeing higher death rates than birth rates, making domestic and international migration crucial to the region’s growth.
Columbus’ immigration surge was especially noticeable between July 2023 and July 2024, when more than 20,000 immigrants moved to Franklin County. This meant immigration was the area’s largest population contributor, making up 54% of all growth. The Census Bureau said 15.1% of Columbus residents are foreign-born, much higher than the state foreign-born population of 5.3%.
According to data from the state, most refugees who came to Columbus in 2024 arrived from Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. And according to data from the Migration Policy, immigrants to Columbus primarily come from India, Mexico and western Africa, which did not specific countries of origin.
Immigration has been the subject of many federal orders since President Donald Trump assumed office in January. Trump has indefinitely suspended the refugee admissions program, which brought thousands of foreign-born residents to Columbus. He has also cracked down on undocumented immigration and immigration crimes, including the contested deportation of hundreds of immigrants to an El Salvador prison this week.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has said although the city will comply with all federal laws, it will not devote city resources to immigration enforcement. Federal agents have set up a task force in central Ohio to investigate and arrest criminals who are not lawfully in the U.S. See previous coverage of Ginther’s immigration stance in the video player above.