The Pittsburgh region’s population shrank last year, following a decades-long trend. It also attracted fewer international immigrants as federal policies changed under the Trump administration.
The latest U.S. Census estimates show the eight-county Pittsburgh metro area lost 3,160 residents between July 2024 and July 2025, a population decline of 0.13%.
The counties include Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland.
Butler County saw the most percentage growth at 0.44% while Fayette and Greene counties saw the greatest declines, losing 0.76% and 0.75%, respectively.
Though Allegheny County saw the largest influx of people moving from abroad — 2,485 — it was not enough to offset the number of people who moved away.
Overall, the county lost 2,139 residents, or 0.17%.
Chris Briem, regional economist at the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Social and Urban Research, said the metro area has seen more deaths each year than births for the past 40 years, largely due to the collapse of the steel industry.
“ We can’t help the fact that 40 years ago an entire cohort of 20-year-olds left in the 1980s and took with them their future families,” Briem said.
He said a positive sign is the net gain of more than 1,600 people who moved to the region from other parts of the country.
“ People move for either jobs or the potential of future jobs. And so, in that sense, I think most of that domestic migration is keyed off how the regional economy is doing,” Briem said.
Nearly 2,900 people moved to the Pittsburgh region from outside the country last year. That’s down from the 6,000 to 10,000 range seen in previous years.
International migration was down across the U.S. The Trump administration has targeted immigrants in several ways, including ramping up the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in cities across the country. In January, the State Department said it had revoked 100,000 visas since the start of Donald Trump’s second term.
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said the region’s growth depends on immigration.
“For years, our regional growth has been based on immigrants choosing to come here. We need to be a welcoming community. Immigrants built this city, and we value their contributions to every facet of our community including our economy,” Innamorato said.