There’s a phrase that every single Atlantan knows: We Full. But now, we might be… less full. According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, Atlanta’s population, for the first time in decades, is actually on the decline. Here’s what we know so far:
The Wall Street Journal says, in a report,
Census data show more people from within the U.S. left metro Atlanta than moved to it during the 12 months that ended in mid-2024. It was a modest decline, about 1,330 people. But it heralds a significant moment for the longtime growth magnet: This is the first time metro Atlanta lost domestic migrants since the Census Bureau started detailing these numbers three decades ago.
This is at direct odds with past migration and movement patterns to and from Atlanta. Previously, people looking to live a city life (especially those in the Southeast), looked at Atlanta as the best and only spot to go. Now, they’re reconsidering or even leaving.
Why are people leaving Metro Atlanta?
There are tons of reasons why people are deciding to move out of the ATL. The biggest reasons? Traffic and cost of living.
The Wall Street Journal explains,
Surging housing costs and endless traffic are pushing people to choose smaller, cheaper cities instead, and this is starting to shift the balance of power in the southern U.S. These movers still include people who are leaving pricey northern cities, but also include people giving up on large southern metros like Atlanta.
In other words, people looking to move to smaller cities and suburbs nearby, like Chattanooga.
Has Atlanta ever seen a population decrease like this before?
Not really, actually. The Wall Street Journal says,
Losing people is unfamiliar territory in Atlanta. Since 1950, the region’s population has mushroomed almost 10-fold to 6.3 million and sprawled across 29 counties, creating the nation’s eighth-largest metro area. The region averaged a net gain of about 33,000 domestic newcomers in the five years before Covid-19 hit.
So this new decrease in residents is a new experience for Atlanta. We’re not sure what will happen when it comes to population in the future, but we’ll be here to report on it when we know more!