Minnesota&8217;s population increased by 40,362 persons, or 0.8 percent, between July 2005 and July 2006, a modest increase over the rate of growth observed in recent years, according to a news release from the State Demographic Center.

According to new estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau, Minnesota&8217;s population on July 1 was 5,167,101. Since the 2000 Census, Minnesota has grown by 247,609 people, or 5.0 percent, ranking 19th among states in the number of people added and 23rd in the percent of growth.

&8220;The improved performance of Minnesota&8217;s economy is contributing to the increased population growth reflected in the new population estimate,&8221; said Minnesota State Demographer Tom Gillaspy. Minnesota remains one of the fastest-growing states in the Midwest. Only New Hampshire, among Northeast and Midwest states, has grown at a faster rate over the past six years.

Most population growth in the nation continues to be in the Sunbelt. Arizona replaced Nevada as the fastest-growing state with an increase of 3.6 percent over the past year. Texas had the largest numeric increase, due in part to an influx of refugees from Hurricane Katrina.

The faster growth in Minnesota is due to reduced net out-migration to other states and increased immigration from abroad. During the 1990s through 2001, Minnesota saw more people move to the state from other states than move from this state to others. That has reversed over the past five years, due largely to the slower job market.

From 2005 to 2006, Minnesota had a net out-migration of 4,509. This was offset by international migration of 13,007 and a natural increase of 31,473.

Natural increase was down this year due to a drop in births and an increase in deaths.

International migration continues to be relatively strong, with Minnesota ranking 20th among states.

Immigration from 2005 to 2006 was higher than in the previous two years of the decade, but still below the estimated international migration of over 15,500 persons in each of the first two years of the decade.