“New York leads the nation in population loss.”

The claim that New York leads the nation in population loss is supported by multiple years of U.S. Census Bureau data. For the period ending July 1, 2023, New York recorded the largest numeric population decline of any state (approximately 102,000 residents) and one of the highest percentage declines (0.5%). Similar trends were observed in the 2021-2022 period, where New York saw a decline of approximately 180,000 people (0.9%). While New York consistently ranks at or near the top for population loss, it is important to distinguish between 'total population change' (which includes births, deaths, and international migration) and 'domestic migration' (people moving between states). In some metrics, other states like California have also shown significant numeric losses in domestic migration. Because population data is updated annually, the claim is accurate for the specific years cited in recent reporting, though it may not hold true for every single reporting cycle or metric.