Dallas-Fort Worth continues to expand overall, but Dallas County posted a population loss as falling international migration reshaped growth patterns across North Texas. Dallas County lost more than 2,600 residents between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates, marking a notable shift for the core county of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions.

The decline stands in contrast to continued growth in nearby counties such as Collin and Kaufman, and places Dallas County among just nine counties nationwide that recorded larger population losses during the same period.

Dallas County Tips Into Population Decline

For the past several years, census figures have suggested that while North Texas has grown rapidly, Dallas County itself has struggled to keep pace. Earlier estimates showed the county hovering near flat growth, with births only slightly exceeding deaths.

That balance changed in the most recent reporting period. From mid-2024 to mid-2025, Dallas County’s population moved into negative territory, according to the bureau’s latest release.

Slower Immigration Drives Broader Metro Slowdown

Dallas County’s decline reflects a larger national pattern. The Census Bureau reported that most metro areas across the United States grew more slowly in 2025 than they did the year before.

On average, metro growth dropped from 1.1% in 2024 to 0.6% in 2025. The bureau said the slowdown was tied directly to a sharp drop in net international migration.

“Nine out of 10 U.S. counties experienced lower net international migration levels between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, compared to the year prior,” the bureau said. It added that the remaining counties that did not post declines also did not record increases.

Immigration Policy Changes Had Immediate Impact

The data points to a significant and rapid effect from tougher immigration enforcement introduced after President Donald Trump returned to office at the start of 2025.

During that year, the number of people crossing into the United States illegally fell sharply, with the Department of Homeland Security reporting the lowest level of border apprehensions since 1970. The administration also imposed tighter visa requirements on several countries and advanced broader deportation efforts. The Census Bureau said those developments may already be influencing annual population estimates. In Dallas County, immigrant migration dropped 52% between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, compared with the previous statistical year, according to reporting by The New York Times.

The bureau warned that current estimates are now moving toward negative net international migration. If that pattern continues, it would mark the first period of net negative migration in the United States in more than 50 years.

Border Counties in Texas Saw Even Steeper Declines

Dallas County was not the hardest-hit area in Texas. Communities along the Texas-Mexico border experienced even sharper drops in immigration during the same period.

El Paso recorded a 95% decline in net immigration, while nearly a dozen other border counties posted decreases of more than 50%.

Why the Trend Matters

Immigration has long played a central role in sustaining population growth in major metropolitan areas, according to The New York Times. Nationally, however, immigration fell by more than half last year. As birthrates decline and the Baby Boomer generation continues to age, international migration has become increasingly important in maintaining metro populations and supporting the labor force.

“Now, it’s immigration fueling much more of the gain,” Kenneth Johnson, a demographer at the University of New Hampshire, told the Times. “So any change in immigration has a huge impact on demographic trends.”

If the current pattern continues, the latest census figures suggest the United States could face significant long-term demographic and workforce pressures.