Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Virginia’s population continues to grow, surpassing 8.8 million in 2025 with an increase of over 248,000 residents since 2020.
Over 80 percent of the growth since 2020 has expected has occurred in the metropolitan area of Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads.
The Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service says 2025 numbers show Montgomery County was one of the exceptions in southwest Virginia that showed an increase.
In numbers from 2020, Montgomery reported 99,721 people. The number rose to 101,268 in the 2025 report. Also, Radford rose slightly from 16,070 to 16,541.
Others, like Floyd County, fell from 15,476 to 14,459, and Pulaski decreased slightly from 33,800 to 33,429.
Most of the increase in Montgomery County is largely driven by Virginia Tech and related employment. The county has shown population increases in residents 21 of 24 years since 2000, and is showing a growing older population, becoming older and more diverse with a median age of 39 years.
Projections, according to the Cooper Center, from early 2026 show the area continues to be one of the fastest growing or most stable in the NRV, alongside with growth in neighboring Radford.
Overall, the Cooper Center showed in 2025, about 88 percent of Virginians lived in metropolitan areas. Metro areas collectively grew by 242,796 residents between 2020 and 2025, accounting for 97.6 percent of the state’s total population growth. All metropolitan areas experienced growth during this period except the Bristol area, which declined by 1.2 percent. Natural increase contributed 45.5 percent of metropolitan population growth.
Micropolitan areas contained nearly three percent of Virginia’s population in 2025. Their population declined by 6,541 residents (2.6 percent) from 2020 to 2025. This decline was driven primarily by natural decrease, as deaths exceeded births by 10,040. Positive net migration offset a portion of these losses.
Rural areas represented approximately nine percent of Virginia’s population in 2025. Between 2020 and 2025, rural localities added 12,458 residents (1.6 percent). Although rural areas experienced 22,065 more deaths than births, they gained 34,523 residents through net migration, resulting in overall population growth.
