A decline of 5,019 people was offset by 7,406 new residents from other states and another 4,040 from international migration.
Maine's population reached a record high of 1,414,874 last year, a growth rate of 0.5%, which matched the U.S. level.
Among New England states, Maine's population growth rate was second only to New Hampshire, Maine State Economist Amanda Rector said in a report citing new U.S. Census Bureau data.
The growth was sparked by total net migration, with 8.1 new residents per 1,000 existing residents, compared to a U.S. rate of 3.7.
The inbound migration was driven primarily by people moving from other states — 5.2 newcomers for every 1,000 existing residents.
International migration was equivalent to 2.9 people per 1,000 residents. Maine had the seventh-highest rate of net domestic migration last year.
At the height of the pandemic, there was plenty of anecdotal evidence that people were buying houses in Maine and putting more children in school. Numbers released by the state economist show a net gain of 77,918 people between April 2020 and July 2025.
How Maine grew
Maine's population ranks No. 42 nationally.
The states with the greatest population growth last year were South Carolina, Idaho and North Carolina.
Five states saw their population decline in the past year: California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont and West Virginia.
Maine's total population growth was 6,436 people.
A decline of 5,019 people was offset by 7,406 new residents from other states and another 4,040 from international migration.
Maine had more deaths than births, which had been the trend.
