Utah is one of the fastest growing states in the country and ranks 35th in the nation in population growth. The state's rapid growth is attributed to both the area's high birth rate and to in-migration.

Utah's population reached 2.7 million in 2007, a positive increase every year since 1990. The State of California continues to dominate the flow of migration to Utah, while employment-related migration accounts for the majority of population movement to and from Utah.

Salt Lake City makes up a very small portion of the Salt Lake Valley. With Salt Lake County covering 756 square miles, Salt Lake City covers only 90.5 square miles. Salt Lake City is the largest city in the state with a population of 181,743. Salt Lake County's population is 1.2 million, making it the most populous region in Utah.

Overall, Utah is expected to continue to have the youngest population in the nation. Utah's median age during 2007 is 27.1 years, well below the national figure of 35.2 years.

Population

Utah: 2.7 million
Salt Lake City Metro: 181,743
Salt Lake Area: 1.2 million
Wasatch Front: 1.7 million
The Wasatch Front is roughly 80 miles long with Ogden approximately 40 miles north of the Salt Lake Valley and Provo approximately 40 miles south of the Salt Lake Valley.

Facts

• Utah's population tends to be younger (27.1), lives longer (77.7), has higher fertility rates (2.68) and more persons per household (3.13 persons).
• Utah's population growth of 29.6% more than doubled that of the nation (13.2%).
• Of All The Fifty States, Utah Has...
  • 6th highest rate of job growth
  • Highest literacy rate
  • 4th highest percent of high school graduates
  • 11th highest percent of college graduates
  • 7th lowest violent crime rates
  • 3rd longest life expectancy
  • One of the lowest heart disease and cancer rates
  • Utah's growth is attributed to natural increase (88%) rather than net in-migration (12%).
  • Net in-migration occured for the 15th straight year.