Long Island Population & Migration Trends
Long Island, as defined on this page, refers to Nassau County and Suffolk County. Together, the two counties had an estimated 2,945,029 residents as of July 1, 2025, according to the latest completed U.S. Census Bureau county population estimates.
Long Island’s recent population story is more complex than a simple narrative of growth or decline. The region gained an estimated 23,333 residents between the Census Bureau’s April 1, 2020 Vintage 2025 estimates base and July 1, 2025, an increase of about 0.8%. During the most recent year, from July 2024 to July 2025, the region added 3,916 residents even though more people moved from Long Island to other parts of the United States than moved to the region from elsewhere in the country.
Births exceeding deaths continued to support population growth, while international migration offset much of the region’s domestic out-migration. These components can change considerably from year to year, making it important to distinguish overall population change from the individual forces behind it.
Long Island Population & Demographic Snapshot
| Item | Long Island | Nassau County | Suffolk County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population Estimate, July 1, 2025 | 2,945,029 | 1,398,939 | 1,546,090 |
| Share of Long Island Population | 100% | ≈ 47.5% | ≈ 52.5% |
| Change From 2020 Estimates Base to 2025 | +23,333 (+0.8%) | +3,163 (+0.2%) | +20,170 (+1.3%) |
| Population Change, 2024-2025 | +3,916 (+0.13%) | +1,156 (+0.08%) | +2,760 (+0.18%) |
| Median Age, 2024 ACS | 42.0 | 42.3 | 41.6 |
| Age 65 and Older | ≈ 20.3% | 20.5% | 20.1% |
| Households, 2020-2024 | 970,731 | 458,166 | 512,565 |
| Persons Per Household, 2020-2024 | ≈ 3.0 | 2.99 | 2.93 |
| Median Household Income, 2020-2024 | County medians differ | $146,202 | $130,686 |
| Foreign-Born Population, 2020-2024 | Substantial presence in both counties | 23.3% | 16.8% |
| Language Other Than English at Home, 2020-2024 | More than one-quarter regionally | 30.7% | 24.8% |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher, 2020-2024 | High educational attainment | 49.7% | 40.2% |
| Owner-Occupied Housing Rate, 2020-2024 | Above 80% in both counties | 81.9% | 82.2% |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 Population Estimates, current Census QuickFacts, and 2024 American Community Survey estimates. Population estimates and ACS survey figures are different statistical products and use different reference periods.
Population Change Since 2020
The Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 series estimates Long Island’s population at 2,921,696 at the April 1, 2020 estimates base and 2,945,029 on July 1, 2025. That represents an estimated increase of 23,333 residents, or 0.8%, over the period.
Suffolk accounted for most of the net increase. Its estimated population rose from 1,525,920 at the 2020 estimates base to 1,546,090 in 2025, an increase of 20,170 residents. Nassau increased from a 2020 estimates base of 1,395,776 to 1,398,939, a gain of 3,163.
| Year | Nassau County | Suffolk County | Long Island Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,391,787 | 1,533,742 | 2,925,529 |
| 2022 | 1,388,346 | 1,531,736 | 2,920,082 |
| 2023 | 1,388,940 | 1,533,173 | 2,922,113 |
| 2024 | 1,397,783 | 1,543,330 | 2,941,113 |
| 2025 | 1,398,939 | 1,546,090 | 2,945,029 |
All figures in this table are July 1 population estimates from the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 series. Census revises the entire post-2020 estimates series with each new vintage, so figures from older vintages should not be mixed with this table.
The annual pattern was uneven. Combined population declined by 5,447 between 2021 and 2022, increased by 2,031 in 2023, climbed by 19,000 in 2024, and increased by another 3,916 in 2025. This illustrates why a single year’s population movement does not necessarily establish a long-term trend.
What Drove Population Change in 2024-2025?
The Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program separates population change into several components. Natural increase is the number of births minus deaths. Net domestic migration measures movement between Long Island and other places within the United States. Net international migration measures the balance of movements between the region and locations outside the United States.
| 2024-2025 Component | Nassau County | Suffolk County | Long Island Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population Change | +1,156 | +2,760 | +3,916 |
| Births | 13,402 | 15,623 | 29,025 |
| Deaths | 10,613 | 12,911 | 23,524 |
| Natural Increase | +2,789 | +2,712 | +5,501 |
| Net Domestic Migration | -5,219 | -4,406 | -9,625 |
| Net International Migration | +3,483 | +4,332 | +7,815 |
| Total Net Migration | -1,736 | -74 | -1,810 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 Population Estimates and the Cornell Program on Applied Demographics analysis of Census components of population change. Population change can differ slightly from the sum of natural increase and net migration because the Census estimates include residual and statistical adjustments.
The numbers show that Long Island continued to experience net domestic out-migration during the year ending July 1, 2025. An estimated 9,625 more people moved from Long Island to other locations within the United States than moved to Long Island from elsewhere in the country.
That domestic loss was largely offset by net international migration of 7,815 people. The result was overall net migration of -1,810. At the same time, births exceeded deaths by 5,501, providing enough natural increase for the region’s total population to continue growing modestly.
Nassau recorded net migration of -1,736 during 2024-2025, including a domestic migration balance of -5,219 and an international migration balance of +3,483. Suffolk’s migration balance was close to even at -74, as net international migration of 4,332 nearly offset net domestic migration of -4,406.
Migration Has Shifted Sharply From Year to Year
Recent migration data also shows why Long Island’s population story should not be reduced to a permanent pattern of either outflow or growth. Migration balances have changed significantly during the post-2020 period.
| Year Ending July 1 | Long Island Population Change | Natural Increase | Net Migration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +12,613 | +2,942 | +7,940 |
| 2022 | -5,447 | +4,587 | -9,845 |
| 2023 | +2,031 | +4,723 | -2,902 |
| 2024 | +19,000 | +5,434 | +13,544 |
| 2025 | +3,916 | +5,501 | -1,810 |
The particularly strong population increase recorded for 2024 coincided with positive net migration of 13,544. During the following year, the migration balance returned to negative territory. Net international migration dropped from 24,273 in the year ending July 2024 to 7,815 in the year ending July 2025, while net domestic migration improved slightly from -10,729 to -9,625.
The result was a much smaller population increase in 2025 than in 2024, even though the region continued to record more births than deaths. These changes demonstrate the sensitivity of annual population estimates to migration patterns, particularly international migration.
Race & Ethnicity
Long Island’s population is racially and ethnically diverse, with substantial differences between Nassau and Suffolk. Current Census QuickFacts estimates show Nassau with a larger Asian population share, while Suffolk has a larger Hispanic or Latino share and a higher White-alone share.
Hispanic or Latino origin is reported separately from race by the Census Bureau. A person who identifies as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race, so the Hispanic percentages below should not be added to the race categories to produce a total.
| Race or Ethnicity | Nassau County | Suffolk County |
|---|---|---|
| White Alone | 65.7% | 77.7% |
| Black or African American Alone | 13.9% | 11.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native Alone | 1.5% | 2.0% |
| Asian Alone | 15.6% | 5.7% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Alone | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Two or More Races | 3.2% | 3.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino, Any Race | 19.4% | 24.5% |
| White Alone, Not Hispanic or Latino | 52.0% | 59.8% |
Source: current U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts population characteristics. Percentages may not total exactly 100% because of rounding and because Hispanic or Latino origin is an ethnicity that can overlap with any racial category.
Age & Household Patterns
Long Island has an older age profile than the United States as a whole. The 2024 American Community Survey estimated the median age at 42.3 in Nassau County and 41.6 in Suffolk County, with the Nassau-Suffolk region at approximately 42.0 years.
Current Census estimates place about one-fifth of both counties’ residents at age 65 or older, including 20.5% of Nassau residents and 20.1% of Suffolk residents. At the other end of the age spectrum, residents younger than 18 account for 20.6% of Nassau and 19.8% of Suffolk.
| Household & Population Measure | Nassau County | Suffolk County |
|---|---|---|
| Households, 2020-2024 | 458,166 | 512,565 |
| Persons Per Household | 2.99 | 2.93 |
| Residents Age 65+ | 20.5% | 20.1% |
| Residents Under Age 18 | 20.6% | 19.8% |
| Living in Same House as One Year Earlier | 93.5% | 92.8% |
| Foreign-Born Residents, 2020-2024 | 23.3% | 16.8% |
| Language Other Than English Spoken at Home | 30.7% | 24.8% |
The high share of residents living in the same home as one year earlier illustrates an important distinction between migration statistics and population stability. A county can experience thousands of people moving in and out during a year while the great majority of its residents remain in the same home.
Income, Education & Housing
Long Island’s demographic profile is closely connected to its high-cost housing market and relatively high household incomes. Both counties have homeownership rates above 80%, while Census estimates show median household income above $130,000 in each county.
| Economic & Housing Measure | Nassau County | Suffolk County |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income, 2020-2024 | $146,202 | $130,686 |
| Per Capita Income, 2020-2024 | $64,198 | $57,164 |
| Persons in Poverty | 5.9% | 6.7% |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher, Age 25+ | 49.7% | 40.2% |
| High School Graduate or Higher, Age 25+ | 92.2% | 90.4% |
| Owner-Occupied Housing Rate | 81.9% | 82.2% |
| Median Owner-Occupied Home Value | $684,700 | $578,400 |
| Median Gross Rent | $2,252 | $2,255 |
Income amounts are expressed in 2024 dollars and the measures in this table are primarily Census 2020-2024 estimates. Median owner-occupied home value is a Census survey measure and should not be confused with the current median sale price of homes changing hands in the real estate market.
These figures help explain why migration and affordability are closely connected on Long Island. High household incomes coexist with high housing costs, while a housing stock dominated by owner-occupied homes can make entry into the region more difficult for younger households, renters, and first-time homebuyers.
Long Island Compared With New York State
Long Island’s recent population pattern also differs from the statewide picture. The Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 series estimates New York State at 20,002,427 residents in 2025, essentially unchanged from 20,001,419 in 2024 but about 1.0% below the state’s April 2020 estimates base.
| 2024-2025 Measure | Long Island | New York State |
|---|---|---|
| Population Change | +3,916 (+0.13%) | +1,008 (+0.01%) |
| Natural Increase | +5,501 | +42,815 |
| Net Domestic Migration | -9,625 | -137,586 |
| Net International Migration | +7,815 | +95,634 |
| Total Net Migration | -1,810 | -41,952 |
Both Long Island and New York State experienced negative net domestic migration during the year ending July 1, 2025. Positive international migration offset part of those domestic losses, while natural increase also contributed to population stability or growth.
Long Island’s population has nevertheless performed differently from the state overall since 2020. The region was approximately 0.8% above its April 2020 estimates base by July 2025, while New York State remained about 1.0% below its corresponding base.
Understanding the Migration Data
Domestic migration is a net figure. A negative number does not mean that nobody moved to Long Island from elsewhere in the United States. It means that more people moved out to other U.S. locations than moved in from other U.S. locations during the period.
International migration is also a net measure. Census international migration estimates cover movement between the United States and other countries and are not identical to the Census measure of the foreign-born population.
Population change includes more than migration. Births, deaths, domestic migration, international migration, and statistical adjustments all contribute to the annual population estimate. This is why a region can experience net out-migration while its total population still grows.
Annual estimates are revised. The Census Bureau rebuilds its post-census population-estimate series when a new vintage is released. Vintage 2025 is the latest completed and internally consistent series for county population totals and components of change. Older vintage figures should not be combined with the current series to calculate trends.
Population estimates and ACS data serve different purposes. The Population Estimates Program provides annual estimates of how many people live in an area and the components of population change. The American Community Survey provides survey-based information about characteristics such as income, education, housing, language, and household composition.
Methodology
- Population totals: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 Population Estimates, covering the April 1, 2020 estimates base through July 1, 2025.
- Population components: Census Vintage 2025 estimates of births, deaths, natural increase, domestic migration, international migration, and net migration. Cornell University’s Program on Applied Demographics analysis of the Census release is used to organize the Nassau-Suffolk regional totals.
- Natural increase: Births minus deaths during the reporting period.
- Net domestic migration: The estimated balance of people moving between a county or region and other locations within the United States.
- Net international migration: The estimated balance of population movements between the area and locations outside the United States.
- Household, income, housing, language, foreign-born, education, and poverty data: Current Census QuickFacts indicators based primarily on 2020-2024 American Community Survey estimates.
- Median age: 2024 American Community Survey 1-year estimates for Nassau County, Suffolk County, and the Nassau-Suffolk regional geography.
- Race and ethnicity: Current Census QuickFacts population-characteristic estimates. Hispanic or Latino origin is reported separately from race and may overlap with racial categories.
- Combined Long Island calculations: Unless a regional figure is published directly, Nassau and Suffolk counts are added together. Medians such as household income are not created by averaging the two county medians.
Data Sources & Updates
Data reviewed: September 22, 2026.
The primary population source for this page is the U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 County Population Estimates, released in March 2026. The Census Bureau identifies Vintage 2025 as its most recent completed and consistent county population-estimate series.
County demographic and socioeconomic indicators are drawn from Census QuickFacts for Nassau County, Census QuickFacts for Suffolk County, and the American Community Survey. Regional population and migration calculations are additionally cross-checked against the Cornell Program on Applied Demographics analysis of Census Vintage 2025 county estimates.
The Census Bureau revises population estimates as newer administrative records, migration information, and methodological improvements become available. For that reason, figures published in earlier Census vintages may differ from the current historical series even when they refer to the same year.
Long Island entered 2025 with a population slightly above its 2020 estimates base and continued to grow modestly through July 2025. The latest data also shows that population growth can coexist with domestic out-migration: during 2024-2025, natural increase and international migration helped counter the loss of residents through domestic migration. With nearly 2.95 million residents, high household incomes, substantial cultural diversity, and an aging population, Nassau and Suffolk remain demographically large and complex counties whose population trends are shaped by multiple forces rather than any single migration pattern.
Are you ready for fall on Long Island? Check out these local seasonal guides:
🍎 Apple Picking 🍓 Strawberry Picking 🎃 Pumpkin Picking 👻 Haunted Houses 🍂 Farm Festivals
