Missouri Population Growth Rate Lags National Average

New estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau show Missouri's population of 6 million grew by fewer than 20,000 people from 2012 to 2013. That's a growth rate of about one-third of a percent.

Nationally, the population is estimated to have risen by 0.7 percent from 2012 to 2013.

Missouri's growth of 0.3 percent was typical for the Midwest. It was better than Illinois, about the same as Arkansas, Kansas and Kentucky, but lagged behind the rest of its neighboring states.

Missouri's population growth rate ranked 35th nationally.

The Census Bureau says North Dakota, Utah, Colorado and Texas had the fastest growth rates.