Metro Atlanta’s population growth has slowed down, according to the Atlanta Regional Commission’s annual population report. The 11-county region added 53,690 residents between April 2025 and 2026, bringing the total population to just over 5.3 million people.

Slowing Growth Rate

The rate of growth saw a minor drop – from 1.2% to 1% annually. This is part of a nationwide trend, with many regions experiencing slower growth. The current rates are lower than pre-recession growth, with the region averaging about 3% growth every year in the 1980s and 1990s.

Areas like Fulton County grew by 1.9%, while Forsyth County grew by 1.5% and Henry County by 1.3%. The City of Atlanta added 7,000 new residents within the city limits, bringing the total population to 549,615.

Housing and Economy

The regional commission uses building permits to calculate population changes, which doesn’t account for smaller datasets like growth within existing buildings and homes. There’s been a decline in home building permits, and supply is already low. Home prices stay elevated and effectively put a “brake” on population growth, especially for domestic migration.

The economy is also a key issue for population growth. The region added 1,000 more jobs, but this is a drop in the bucket compared to the 3 million jobs already in the region. The ARC will unveil Metro Atlanta’s Regional Housing Strategy at the September 2 Atlanta Regional Housing Forum to address housing challenges.

Original reporting: SaportaReport — read the source article.