(The Center Square) — The Atlanta region grew by 1.2% between April 2023 and April 2024 and now has 5.2 million residents, according to new population estimates the Atlanta Regional Commission released.
The estimates show the 11-county region added 62,700 residents. However, its growth slowed slightly from 2022-23, when it added 66,730 people. Fulton and Gwinnett counties have more than a million residents, and Gwinnett County's population has topped one million residents for the first time.
"People from around the country are choosing metro Atlanta because of our great quality of life and our dynamic, diverse economy," Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, ARC's board chair, said in a statement. "Of course, our continued growth is not guaranteed. We must continue to invest in our region's infrastructure to ensure a successful future."
According to ARC, the economy is driving the region's growth. However, ARC said the numbers reflect a slowdown in housing permits and job growth moderation, and higher housing prices have helped slow growth.
Atlanta experienced the region's fastest growth rate, at 2.1%, followed by Cherokee County at 1.9% and Henry County at 1.8%.
While the region's job employment base increased by 6.4% since the start of the pandemic, it ranks seventh nationwide "among selected peer metro areas," behind Austin, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami and Orlando.
Additionally, the 11-county region saw a 21% decrease in residential building permits issued. The 28,595 permits were roughly 7,500 fewer than issued in 2022, and the number remains below the permit levels before the so-called "Great Recession" and below the 33,430 average annual level from 1980 to 2023.
Atlanta topped the region with 7,621 building permits issued, of which ARC said 85% were for multifamily housing units. Gwinnett ranked second with 5,423 permits issued, edging out Cobb's 2,956 permits and DeKalb's 2,276 permits.
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