Census figures show population continues to drop
The latest figures from the U.S. Census Bureau estimate Maine’s population continued to decline in 2012.
The Maine Public Broadcasting Network reported the margin of error in the latest one-year American Community Survey data complicates any definite conclusions, other than the population decrease.
Ken Johnson, a demographer at the Carsey Institute and professor of sociology at the University of New Hampshire, told the station that the latest estimate shows Maine’s population declined by around 11,000 in 2012. If the estimate remains accurate through later revisions, it would mark an increasing pace of population loss from previous years.
Johnson said the latest figures show continuing trends for Maine’s population — fewer births than deaths, negative domestic migration and positive immigration from other countries.
Charlie Colgan, a professor of public policy at the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School, told the station he expects the population decline to turn around in 2013 as the state continues to recover from the recession.
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