That translates to about 0.2 percent total population loss in just the one year. And West Virginia is losing population in part because of a struggling state economy that has been so dependent on coal. During the period, West Virginia had a -1.18 growth, while Illinois and Vermont had -0.23 and -0.18 respectively. West Virginia is one of only two states to lose population in the last 10 years, according to recently-released data analysis by the non-profit The Pew Charitable Trusts. West Virginia. According to census data analyzed by the group, West Virginia has lost about 34,500 people since 2008. That total makes West Virginia the 38th most populous state in the country. The headlines say West Virginia lost 11,216 residents in the past year. Digging deeper into the data sheds a little more light on the causes of West Virginia’s population decline. Last year, West Virginia suffered the largest year-over-year percentage loss (-0.25 percent) of any state. Estimates taken in July 2015 indicate that this may once again be the case. One major driver of that decline has been the state’s hard-hit coal mining industry. The even-longer-term view says West Virginia's population has grown very slowly since the 1950s, at many times losing people. While the U.S. population has grown less than one percent this year, West Virginia’s state population is taking a dip for the 6th year in a row. Its population has declined for seven straight years, during which the state's population declined by roughly 3.5%, or nearly 65,000 people. States with Negative Population Growth. West Virginia is losing population faster than any other state in the union and the southern coalfields are leading the way.Last year, the Mountain State lost nearly 3,300 residents, according Last week, The Charleston Gazette reported that West Virginia is losing population faster than any other state, with about 3,300 total residents lost from July 1, 2013 to July 1, 2014. CHARLESTON, WV (CBS)-- Population data collected from the 2020 census could lead to dramatic changes in how congressional seats and Electoral College votes are apportioned in several states. New York, Illinois and West Virginia were among the few states that lost population from 2010 to 2020. ADVERTISEMENT. West Virginia Area and Population Density The longer-term view says the state has lost 47,162 people since the 2010 census. For decades, the population of West Virginia remained relatively flat until recently when it started declining. It’s been going down hill since the state’s population reached 1 … In … The data showed West Virginia losing an estimated 9,951 residents from July 2015 to July 2016, making West Virginia one of only eight states to lose population in the past year. The U.S. Census is estimating a total loss of 11,216 people in 2018. Learn more about West Virginia . West Virginia dropped from 1,854,265 to 1,784,787. 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