Atlantic County vs. New Jersey
Comparative Trends Analysis:
Population Growth and Change, 1969-2022
Introduction
Atlantic County vs. New Jersey
Atlantic County:
2022 Population = 275,638
2022 Percent of State = 2.98%
New Jersey:
2022 Population = 9,261,699
2022 Percent of U.S. = 2.78%
Attracting and retaining people to live, work, raise a family, and retire underlies the economic vitality of any region. Population growth is both a cause--and a consequence--of economic growth. Patterns of population growth and change reflect differences among regions to attract and retain people both as producers and consumers in their economy.
The following graphs offer a broad overview of trends in the pattern of population growth and change of Atlantic County with comparisons to New Jersey and the nation at large. This analysis features alternative approaches toward discussing, diagnosing and comparing Atlantic County vs. New Jersey's population growth over 1969-2022. The data used are those compiled by the Regional Income and Product Divisions of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce.
Population, 1969-2022
Population, 1969-2022
Figure 1.
Figure 1 traces Atlantic County's annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, Atlantic County's population rose from 174,603 in 1969 to 275,638 in 2022, for a net gain of 101,035, or 57.87%.
NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities.
Population, 1969-2022
Population, 1969-2022
Figure 2.
Figure 2 traces New Jersey's annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, New Jersey's population rose from 7,095,000 in 1969 to 9,261,699 in 2022, for a net gain of 2,166,699, or 30.54%.
NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities.
Population Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Population Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Figure 3.
Figure 3 portrays Atlantic County's population growth in a broader context by offering direct comparisons across time with New Jersey, the United States. The growth indices shown here express each region's population in 1969 as a base figure of 100, and the populations in later years as a percentage of the 1969 base figure. This method allows for more direct comparison of differences in population growth between regions that may differ vastly in size.
Atlantic County's overall population growth was 57.87% over 1969-2022 outpaced New Jersey's increase of 30.54%, and fell below the United States' increase of 65.57%.
Population as a Percent of the New Jersey Total: 1969-2022
Population as a Percent of the New Jersey Total: 1969-2022
Figure 4.
Another interesting and insightful way of highlighting the population growth of Atlantic County is to compare its individual percentage contributions to New Jersey's statewide population over time, as shown in Figure 4. A rising share means a region's population grew faster, or declined less, than New Jersey's population, while a declining share shows it grew more slowly.
In 1969, Atlantic County's population totaled 2.46% of New Jersey's population, while in 2022 it comprised 2.98% thereby yielding a +0.52% share-shift.
   
 
Population Share-Shift
2022 vs. 1969
 
Share-
Shift*
 
2022
vs.
1969
+0.52%
=
2.98%
-
2.46%
 
   
Atlantic County Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Atlantic County Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Figure 5.
Figure 5 highlights the short-run pattern of Atlantic County's population growth by tracking the year-to-year percent change over 1970-2022. The average annual percent change for the entire 53-year period is also traced on this chart to provide a benchmark for gauging periods of relative high--and relative low--growth against the backdrop of the long-term average.
On average, Atlantic County's population grew at an annual rate of 0.87% over 1970-2022. The county recorded its highest growth in 1972 (2.87%) and recorded its lowest growth in 2016 (-0.69%). In 2022, Atlantic County's population grew by 0.18%
Atlantic County Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Atlantic County Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Figure 6.
Over the past five decades some counties have experienced extreme swings in growth, and often such swings have tended to coincide with the decades themselves. Figure 6 again illustrates the annual percent change in Atlantic County's population since 1970, but this time they are displayed with average growth rates for the decade of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020-2022.
During the 1970s, Atlantic County's annual population growth rate averaged 1.02%. It averaged 1.39% throughout the 1980s, 1.23% throughout the 1990s, 0.91% during the 2000s, 0.00% throughout the 2010s, 0.19% thus far this decade (2020-2022).
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Figure 7.
Figure 7 compares the decade average growth rates for Atlantic County noted in the previous graph with the corresponding decade averages for New Jersey and the nation. As the chart reveals, Atlantic County's average annual population growth topped New Jersey's average during the 1970s (1.02% vs. 0.39%), led New Jersey's average during the 1980s (1.39% vs. 0.47%), registered above New Jersey's average throughout the 1990s (1.23% vs. 0.79%), led New Jersey's average throughout the 2000s (0.91% vs. 0.46%), amounted to less than New Jersey's average throughout the 2010s (0.00% vs. 0.56%), and surpassed New Jersey's average over the 3 year period of the current decade, 2020-2022 (0.19% vs. 0.01%).
Finally, relative to nationwide population growth trends, Atlantic County fell under the nation in the 1970s (1.02% vs. 1.10%), topped the nation over the 1980s (1.39% vs. 0.95%), posted below the nation over the 1990s (1.23% vs. 1.23%), recorded underneath the nation over the 2000s (0.91% vs. 0.95%), recorded underneath the nation in the 2010s (0.00% vs. 0.74%), and lagged the nation over 2020-2022 (0.19% vs. 0.31%).
   
 
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change
 
 
 
0.87
1.02
1.39
1.23
0.91
0.00
0.19
0.18
 
0.50
0.39
0.47
0.79
0.46
0.56
0.01
-0.07
 
0.96
1.10
0.95
1.23
0.95
0.74
0.31
0.38
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
Atlantic County:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
174,603
100.0
N
2.46
1970
 
175,908
100.7
0.75
2.45
1971
 
179,824
103.0
2.23
2.47
1972
 
184,987
105.9
2.87
2.52
1973
 
187,199
107.2
1.20
2.55
1974
 
189,113
108.3
1.02
2.58
1975
 
189,544
108.6
0.23
2.58
1976
 
189,613
108.6
0.04
2.58
1977
 
189,311
108.4
-0.16
2.58
1978
 
191,121
109.5
0.96
2.60
1979
 
193,082
110.6
1.03
2.62
1980
 
194,566
111.4
0.77
2.64
1981
 
195,984
112.2
0.73
2.65
1982
 
196,548
112.6
0.29
2.64
1983
 
199,168
114.1
1.33
2.67
1984
 
202,752
116.1
1.80
2.70
1985
 
206,045
118.0
1.62
2.72
1986
 
209,388
119.9
1.62
2.75
1987
 
212,581
121.8
1.52
2.77
1988
 
217,445
124.5
2.29
2.82
1989
 
221,589
126.9
1.91
2.87
1990
 
225,431
129.1
1.73
2.90
1991
 
228,763
131.0
1.48
2.93
1992
 
231,612
132.7
1.25
2.94
1993
 
234,288
134.2
1.16
2.95
1994
 
236,589
135.5
0.98
2.95
1995
 
239,212
137.0
1.11
2.96
1996
 
242,152
138.7
1.23
2.97
1997
 
244,771
140.2
1.08
2.98
1998
 
247,863
142.0
1.26
2.99
1999
 
250,432
143.4
1.04
3.00
2000
 
253,674
145.3
1.29
3.01
2001
 
255,737
146.5
0.81
3.01
2002
 
259,263
148.5
1.38
3.03
2003
 
263,285
150.8
1.55
3.06
2004
 
267,723
153.3
1.69
3.10
2005
 
270,332
154.8
0.97
3.12
2006
 
271,759
155.6
0.53
3.14
2007
 
272,303
156.0
0.20
3.14
2008
 
273,014
156.4
0.26
3.13
2009
 
274,049
157.0
0.38
3.13
2010
 
274,943
157.5
0.33
3.12
2011
 
276,084
158.1
0.41
3.11
2012
 
277,274
158.8
0.43
3.10
2013
 
278,140
159.3
0.31
3.10
2014
 
277,553
159.0
-0.21
3.07
2015
 
276,237
158.2
-0.47
3.04
2016
 
274,324
157.1
-0.69
3.01
2017
 
273,651
156.7
-0.25
2.98
2018
 
273,295
156.5
-0.13
2.96
2019
 
274,085
157.0
0.29
2.96
2020
 
274,172
157.0
0.03
2.96
2021
 
275,130
157.6
0.35
2.97
2022
 
275,638
157.9
0.18
2.98
Source: Calculations by the New Jersey Regional Economic Analysis Project (NJ-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
New Jersey:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
7,095,000
100.0
N
3.52
1970
 
7,190,282
101.3
1.34
3.53
1971
 
7,281,935
102.6
1.27
3.52
1972
 
7,336,538
103.4
0.75
3.51
1973
 
7,335,240
103.4
-0.02
3.47
1974
 
7,335,227
103.4
0.00
3.44
1975
 
7,341,417
103.5
0.08
3.41
1976
 
7,344,079
103.5
0.04
3.38
1977
 
7,342,027
103.5
-0.03
3.34
1978
 
7,356,414
103.7
0.20
3.31
1979
 
7,373,048
103.9
0.23
3.28
1980
 
7,376,330
104.0
0.04
3.25
1981
 
7,407,471
104.4
0.42
3.23
1982
 
7,430,970
104.7
0.32
3.21
1983
 
7,467,784
105.3
0.50
3.19
1984
 
7,515,474
105.9
0.64
3.19
1985
 
7,565,530
106.6
0.67
3.18
1986
 
7,622,161
107.4
0.75
3.17
1987
 
7,670,741
108.1
0.64
3.17
1988
 
7,712,333
108.7
0.54
3.15
1989
 
7,726,086
108.9
0.18
3.13
1990
 
7,762,963
109.4
0.48
3.11
1991
 
7,814,676
110.1
0.67
3.09
1992
 
7,880,508
111.1
0.84
3.07
1993
 
7,948,915
112.0
0.87
3.06
1994
 
8,014,306
113.0
0.82
3.05
1995
 
8,083,242
113.9
0.86
3.04
1996
 
8,149,596
114.9
0.82
3.03
1997
 
8,218,808
115.8
0.85
3.01
1998
 
8,287,418
116.8
0.83
3.00
1999
 
8,359,592
117.8
0.87
3.00
2000
 
8,430,621
118.8
0.85
2.99
2001
 
8,492,671
119.7
0.74
2.98
2002
 
8,552,643
120.5
0.71
2.97
2003
 
8,601,402
121.2
0.57
2.96
2004
 
8,634,561
121.7
0.39
2.95
2005
 
8,651,974
121.9
0.20
2.93
2006
 
8,661,679
122.1
0.11
2.90
2007
 
8,677,885
122.3
0.19
2.88
2008
 
8,711,090
122.8
0.38
2.86
2009
 
8,755,602
123.4
0.51
2.85
2010
 
8,809,058
124.2
0.61
2.85
2011
 
8,876,959
125.1
0.77
2.85
2012
 
8,933,292
125.9
0.63
2.84
2013
 
8,984,801
126.6
0.58
2.84
2014
 
9,033,845
127.3
0.55
2.83
2015
 
9,076,577
127.9
0.47
2.82
2016
 
9,119,862
128.5
0.48
2.81
2017
 
9,174,898
129.3
0.60
2.81
2018
 
9,218,858
129.9
0.48
2.81
2019
 
9,258,804
130.5
0.43
2.80
2020
 
9,271,689
130.7
0.14
2.80
2021
 
9,267,961
130.6
-0.04
2.79
2022
 
9,261,699
130.5
-0.07
2.78
Source: Calculations by the New Jersey Regional Economic Analysis Project (NJ-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
United States:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
201,298,000
100.0
N
1970
 
203,798,722
101.2
1.24
1971
 
206,817,509
102.7
1.48
1972
 
209,274,882
104.0
1.19
1973
 
211,349,205
105.0
0.99
1974
 
213,333,635
106.0
0.94
1975
 
215,456,585
107.0
1.00
1976
 
217,553,859
108.1
0.97
1977
 
219,760,875
109.2
1.01
1978
 
222,098,244
110.3
1.06
1979
 
224,568,579
111.6
1.11
1980
 
227,224,719
112.9
1.18
1981
 
229,465,744
114.0
0.99
1982
 
231,664,432
115.1
0.96
1983
 
233,792,014
116.1
0.92
1984
 
235,824,907
117.2
0.87
1985
 
237,923,734
118.2
0.89
1986
 
240,132,831
119.3
0.93
1987
 
242,288,936
120.4
0.90
1988
 
244,499,004
121.5
0.91
1989
 
246,819,222
122.6
0.95
1990
 
249,622,814
124.0
1.14
1991
 
252,980,941
125.7
1.35
1992
 
256,514,224
127.4
1.40
1993
 
259,918,588
129.1
1.33
1994
 
263,125,821
130.7
1.23
1995
 
266,278,393
132.3
1.20
1996
 
269,394,284
133.8
1.17
1997
 
272,646,925
135.4
1.21
1998
 
275,854,104
137.0
1.18
1999
 
279,040,168
138.6
1.15
2000
 
282,162,411
140.2
1.12
2001
 
284,968,955
141.6
0.99
2002
 
287,625,193
142.9
0.93
2003
 
290,107,933
144.1
0.86
2004
 
292,805,298
145.5
0.93
2005
 
295,516,599
146.8
0.93
2006
 
298,379,912
148.2
0.97
2007
 
301,231,207
149.6
0.96
2008
 
304,093,966
151.1
0.95
2009
 
306,771,529
152.4
0.88
2010
 
309,378,433
153.7
0.85
2011
 
311,841,632
154.9
0.80
2012
 
314,344,331
156.2
0.80
2013
 
316,735,375
157.3
0.76
2014
 
319,270,047
158.6
0.80
2015
 
321,829,327
159.9
0.80
2016
 
324,367,742
161.1
0.79
2017
 
326,623,063
162.3
0.70
2018
 
328,542,157
163.2
0.59
2019
 
330,233,102
164.1
0.51
2020
 
331,511,512
164.7
0.39
2021
 
332,031,554
164.9
0.16
2022
 
333,287,557
165.6
0.38
Source: Calculations by the New Jersey Regional Economic Analysis Project (NJ-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PN
 
   
Copyright © 2023. Pacific Northwest Regional Economic Analysis Project (PNREAP). All Rights Reserved.

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