Boulder County vs. Colorado
Comparative Trends Analysis:
Population Growth and Change, 1969-2022
Introduction
Boulder County vs. Colorado
Boulder County:
2022 Population = 327,468
2022 Percent of State = 5.61%
Colorado:
2022 Population = 5,839,926
2022 Percent of U.S. = 1.75%
Attracting and retaining people to live, work, raise a family, and retire underlies the economic vitality of any region. Population growth is both a cause--and a consequence--of economic growth. Patterns of population growth and change reflect differences among regions to attract and retain people both as producers and consumers in their economy.
The following graphs offer a broad overview of trends in the pattern of population growth and change of Boulder County with comparisons to Colorado and the nation at large. This analysis features alternative approaches toward discussing, diagnosing and comparing Boulder County vs. Colorado's population growth over 1969-2022. The data used are those compiled by the Regional Income and Product Divisions of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce.
Population, 1969-2022
Population, 1969-2022
Figure 1.
Figure 1 tracks Boulder County's annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, Boulder County's population rose from 129,577 in 1969 to 327,468 in 2022, for a net gain of 197,891, or 152.72%.
NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities.
Population, 1969-2022
Population, 1969-2022
Figure 2.
Figure 2 tracks Colorado's annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, Colorado's population rose from 2,166,000 in 1969 to 5,839,926 in 2022, for a net gain of 3,673,926, or 169.62%.
NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities.
Population Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Population Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Figure 3.
Figure 3 portrays Boulder County's population growth in a broader context by offering direct comparisons across time with Colorado, the United States. The growth indices shown here express each region's population in 1969 as a base figure of 100, and the populations in later years as a percentage of the 1969 base figure. This method allows for more direct comparison of differences in population growth between regions that may differ vastly in size.
Boulder County's overall population growth was 152.72% over 1969-2022 trailed Colorado's increase of 169.62%, and outpaced the United States' increase of 65.57%.
Population as a Percent of the Colorado Total: 1969-2022
Population as a Percent of the Colorado Total: 1969-2022
Figure 4.
Another interesting and insightful way of highlighting the population growth of Boulder County is to trace its individual percentage contributions to Colorado's statewide population over time, as shown in Figure 4. A rising share means a region's population grew faster, or declined less, than Colorado's population, while a declining share shows it grew more slowly.
In 1969, Boulder County's population totaled 5.98% of Colorado's population, while in 2022 it comprised 5.61% thereby yielding a -0.37% share-shift.
   
 
Population Share-Shift
2022 vs. 1969
 
Share-
Shift*
 
2022
vs.
1969
-0.37%
=
5.61%
-
5.98%
 
   
Boulder County Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Boulder County Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Figure 5.
Figure 5 shows the short-run pattern of Boulder County's population growth by tracking the year-to-year percent change over 1970-2022. The average annual percent change for the entire 53-year period is also illustrated on this chart to provide a benchmark for gauging periods of relative high--and relative low--growth against the backdrop of the long-term average.
On average, Boulder County's population grew at an annual rate of 1.78% over 1970-2022. The county posted its highest growth in 1972 (7.46%) and posted its lowest growth in 2002 (-6.89%). In 2022, Boulder County's population grew by 0.12%
Boulder County Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Boulder County Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Figure 6.
Over the past five decades some counties have experienced extreme swings in growth, and often such swings have tended to coincide with the decades themselves. Figure 6 again depicts the annual percent change in Boulder County's population since 1970, but this time they are overlayed with average growth rates for the decade of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020-2022.
During the 1970s, Boulder County's annual population growth rate averaged 3.77%. It averaged 1.80% throughout the 1980s, 2.49% throughout the 1990s, 0.29% throughout the 2000s, 1.17% throughout the 2010s, -0.17% thus far this decade (2020-2022).
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Figure 7.
Figure 7 compares the decade average growth rates for Boulder County noted in the previous graph with the corresponding decade averages for Colorado and the nation. As the chart reveals, Boulder County's average annual population growth surpassed Colorado's average throughout the 1970s (3.77% vs. 2.78%), recorded above Colorado's average in the 1980s (1.80% vs. 1.41%), amounted to less than Colorado's average in the 1990s (2.49% vs. 2.58%), lagged Colorado's average during the 2000s (0.29% vs. 1.64%), fell below Colorado's average in the 2010s (1.17% vs. 1.44%), and amounted to less than Colorado's average over the 3 year period of the current decade, 2020-2022 (-0.17% vs. 0.60%).
Finally, relative to nationwide population growth trends, Boulder County led the nation throughout the 1970s (3.77% vs. 1.10%), exceeded the nation in the 1980s (1.80% vs. 0.95%), exceeded the nation in the 1990s (2.49% vs. 1.23%), trailed the nation over the 2000s (0.29% vs. 0.95%), topped the nation during the 2010s (1.17% vs. 0.74%), and fell below the nation over 2020-2022 (-0.17% vs. 0.31%).
   
 
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change
 
 
 
1.78
3.77
1.80
2.49
0.29
1.17
-0.17
0.12
 
1.89
2.78
1.41
2.58
1.64
1.44
0.60
0.49
 
0.96
1.10
0.95
1.23
0.95
0.74
0.31
0.38
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
Boulder County:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
129,577
100.0
N
5.98
1970
 
133,342
102.9
2.91
6.00
1971
 
140,808
108.7
5.60
6.11
1972
 
151,309
116.8
7.46
6.29
1973
 
159,509
123.1
5.42
6.39
1974
 
166,449
128.5
4.35
6.55
1975
 
166,670
128.6
0.13
6.44
1976
 
169,117
130.5
1.47
6.42
1977
 
178,121
137.5
5.32
6.61
1978
 
183,432
141.6
2.98
6.63
1979
 
187,125
144.4
2.01
6.57
1980
 
190,935
147.4
2.04
6.56
1981
 
195,705
151.0
2.50
6.57
1982
 
200,827
155.0
2.62
6.56
1983
 
206,440
159.3
2.79
6.59
1984
 
211,206
163.0
2.31
6.66
1985
 
213,942
165.1
1.30
6.67
1986
 
215,971
166.7
0.95
6.67
1987
 
218,024
168.3
0.95
6.69
1988
 
219,915
169.7
0.87
6.74
1989
 
223,507
172.5
1.63
6.82
1990
 
226,374
174.7
1.28
6.84
1991
 
232,846
179.7
2.86
6.87
1992
 
240,430
185.5
3.26
6.88
1993
 
247,405
190.9
2.90
6.85
1994
 
254,324
196.3
2.80
6.83
1995
 
259,520
200.3
2.04
6.78
1996
 
264,630
204.2
1.97
6.75
1997
 
270,744
208.9
2.31
6.74
1998
 
277,562
214.2
2.52
6.74
1999
 
285,901
220.6
3.00
6.77
2000
 
293,358
226.4
2.61
6.78
2001
 
300,137
231.6
2.31
6.78
2002
 
279,468
215.7
-6.89
6.22
2003
 
278,768
215.1
-0.25
6.16
2004
 
279,728
215.9
0.34
6.11
2005
 
280,241
216.3
0.18
6.05
2006
 
284,243
219.4
1.43
6.02
2007
 
287,428
221.8
1.12
5.98
2008
 
290,859
224.5
1.19
5.95
2009
 
293,190
226.3
0.80
5.90
2010
 
295,131
227.8
0.66
5.85
2011
 
300,434
231.9
1.80
5.87
2012
 
305,430
235.7
1.66
5.89
2013
 
310,586
239.7
1.69
5.90
2014
 
313,911
242.3
1.07
5.88
2015
 
320,154
247.1
1.99
5.88
2016
 
323,865
249.9
1.16
5.86
2017
 
325,475
251.2
0.50
5.81
2018
 
328,259
253.3
0.86
5.78
2019
 
329,194
254.1
0.28
5.74
2020
 
330,922
255.4
0.52
5.72
2021
 
327,075
252.4
-1.16
5.63
2022
 
327,468
252.7
0.12
5.61
Source: Calculations by the Colorado Regional Economic Analysis Project (CO-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
Colorado:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
2,166,000
100.0
N
1.08
1970
 
2,223,979
102.7
2.68
1.09
1971
 
2,303,502
106.3
3.58
1.11
1972
 
2,404,576
111.0
4.39
1.15
1973
 
2,495,803
115.2
3.79
1.18
1974
 
2,541,318
117.3
1.82
1.19
1975
 
2,586,144
119.4
1.76
1.20
1976
 
2,632,244
121.5
1.78
1.21
1977
 
2,696,007
124.5
2.42
1.23
1978
 
2,766,725
127.7
2.62
1.25
1979
 
2,849,181
131.5
2.98
1.27
1980
 
2,908,803
134.3
2.09
1.28
1981
 
2,977,899
137.5
2.38
1.30
1982
 
3,061,562
141.3
2.81
1.32
1983
 
3,133,634
144.7
2.35
1.34
1984
 
3,169,995
146.4
1.16
1.34
1985
 
3,208,726
148.1
1.22
1.35
1986
 
3,237,448
149.5
0.90
1.35
1987
 
3,260,477
150.5
0.71
1.35
1988
 
3,262,280
150.6
0.06
1.33
1989
 
3,275,815
151.2
0.41
1.33
1990
 
3,307,618
152.7
0.97
1.33
1991
 
3,387,119
156.4
2.40
1.34
1992
 
3,495,939
161.4
3.21
1.36
1993
 
3,613,734
166.8
3.37
1.39
1994
 
3,724,168
171.9
3.06
1.42
1995
 
3,826,653
176.7
2.75
1.44
1996
 
3,919,972
181.0
2.44
1.46
1997
 
4,018,293
185.5
2.51
1.47
1998
 
4,116,639
190.1
2.45
1.49
1999
 
4,226,018
195.1
2.66
1.51
2000
 
4,326,921
199.8
2.39
1.53
2001
 
4,425,687
204.3
2.28
1.55
2002
 
4,490,406
207.3
1.46
1.56
2003
 
4,528,732
209.1
0.85
1.56
2004
 
4,575,013
211.2
1.02
1.56
2005
 
4,631,888
213.8
1.24
1.57
2006
 
4,720,423
217.9
1.91
1.58
2007
 
4,803,868
221.8
1.77
1.59
2008
 
4,889,730
225.7
1.79
1.61
2009
 
4,972,195
229.6
1.69
1.62
2010
 
5,047,005
233.0
1.50
1.63
2011
 
5,119,188
236.3
1.43
1.64
2012
 
5,188,703
239.6
1.36
1.65
2013
 
5,263,512
243.0
1.44
1.66
2014
 
5,342,996
246.7
1.51
1.67
2015
 
5,442,196
251.3
1.86
1.69
2016
 
5,529,161
255.3
1.60
1.70
2017
 
5,600,169
258.5
1.28
1.71
2018
 
5,677,250
262.1
1.38
1.73
2019
 
5,735,934
264.8
1.03
1.74
2020
 
5,784,865
267.1
0.85
1.74
2021
 
5,811,297
268.3
0.46
1.75
2022
 
5,839,926
269.6
0.49
1.75
Source: Calculations by the Colorado Regional Economic Analysis Project (CO-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
United States:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
201,298,000
100.0
N
1970
 
203,798,722
101.2
1.24
1971
 
206,817,509
102.7
1.48
1972
 
209,274,882
104.0
1.19
1973
 
211,349,205
105.0
0.99
1974
 
213,333,635
106.0
0.94
1975
 
215,456,585
107.0
1.00
1976
 
217,553,859
108.1
0.97
1977
 
219,760,875
109.2
1.01
1978
 
222,098,244
110.3
1.06
1979
 
224,568,579
111.6
1.11
1980
 
227,224,719
112.9
1.18
1981
 
229,465,744
114.0
0.99
1982
 
231,664,432
115.1
0.96
1983
 
233,792,014
116.1
0.92
1984
 
235,824,907
117.2
0.87
1985
 
237,923,734
118.2
0.89
1986
 
240,132,831
119.3
0.93
1987
 
242,288,936
120.4
0.90
1988
 
244,499,004
121.5
0.91
1989
 
246,819,222
122.6
0.95
1990
 
249,622,814
124.0
1.14
1991
 
252,980,941
125.7
1.35
1992
 
256,514,224
127.4
1.40
1993
 
259,918,588
129.1
1.33
1994
 
263,125,821
130.7
1.23
1995
 
266,278,393
132.3
1.20
1996
 
269,394,284
133.8
1.17
1997
 
272,646,925
135.4
1.21
1998
 
275,854,104
137.0
1.18
1999
 
279,040,168
138.6
1.15
2000
 
282,162,411
140.2
1.12
2001
 
284,968,955
141.6
0.99
2002
 
287,625,193
142.9
0.93
2003
 
290,107,933
144.1
0.86
2004
 
292,805,298
145.5
0.93
2005
 
295,516,599
146.8
0.93
2006
 
298,379,912
148.2
0.97
2007
 
301,231,207
149.6
0.96
2008
 
304,093,966
151.1
0.95
2009
 
306,771,529
152.4
0.88
2010
 
309,378,433
153.7
0.85
2011
 
311,841,632
154.9
0.80
2012
 
314,344,331
156.2
0.80
2013
 
316,735,375
157.3
0.76
2014
 
319,270,047
158.6
0.80
2015
 
321,829,327
159.9
0.80
2016
 
324,367,742
161.1
0.79
2017
 
326,623,063
162.3
0.70
2018
 
328,542,157
163.2
0.59
2019
 
330,233,102
164.1
0.51
2020
 
331,511,512
164.7
0.39
2021
 
332,031,554
164.9
0.16
2022
 
333,287,557
165.6
0.38
Source: Calculations by the Colorado Regional Economic Analysis Project (CO-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PN
 
   
Copyright © 2023. Pacific Northwest Regional Economic Analysis Project (PNREAP). All Rights Reserved.

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