Atlanta Population Now at 5.2 Million: Report

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If you thought Atlanta was full, think again: More people have flocked to Georgia’s largest city in the past year.

Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) estimates that the 11-county Atlanta area added 62,700 residents between April 2023 and April 2024, bringing the region’s population to a record 5.2 million.

Each county experienced population growth during this period, with the city of Atlanta and the region’s exurbs showing the fastest growth rates.

According to the ARC, the 11-county metro area added 62,700 residents over the past year, totaling 5.2 million people. (The U.S. Census Bureau defines metro Atlanta as 29 counties with a population of 6.3 million, making it the sixth-largest in the nation.)

The city of Atlanta grew by 2.1 percent, adding 10,800 people over the past year. This marks the second consecutive year that the city has led the metro area in growth rates, although this year’s increase is lower than the 14,300 new residents added between 2022 and 2023.

“People from around the country are choosing metro Atlanta because of our great quality of life and our dynamic, diverse economy,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who also serves as ARC board chair. “Of course, our continued growth is not guaranteed. We must continue to invest in our region’s infrastructure to ensure a successful future.”

Following Atlanta in growth rates were Cherokee County (1.9 percent, with 5,400 additional people) and Henry County (1.8 percent, with 4,750 additional people).

Atlanta also led the region in the number of building permits issued over the past year, with 7,621 permits. Eighty-five percent of these permits were for multifamily housing units, according to ARC officials.

Gwinnett County had the second-highest number of permits issued, with 5,423.

Final Word

Not only is it the world’s busiest airport, but it’s state-of-the-art in every way. If you’re interested in traveling around Atlanta via car or even on scooter, here’s what to know.

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Tee Johnson: Tee Johnson is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of AtlantaFi.com, Atlanta’s independent hyper-local publication focused on news, restaurants, events, jobs, neighborhoods, and lifestyle. A 15+ year Atlanta resident and longtime journalist and content creator, she covers Travel News, Events, Business, Hair Care, and Money with a practical, Atlanta-first lens. Before launching the site, Johnson worked as a substitute teacher in Atlanta Public Schools and later in corporate roles at Home Depot’s Vinings offices. A marketer by training with a degree in business management, she grew frustrated with the fragmented, hard-to-find information about what was actually happening in the city. That gap led her to create AtlantaFi as a curated, one-stop resource for the pulse of Atlanta—#ATLHAPS—without the national noise. Editorial decisions remain independent; the publication does not accept products, meals, or services in exchange for coverage. As Editor-in-Chief, she oversees original local reporting and curated practical guides that help residents, visitors, and businesses discover and engage with the city. Readers turn to her work for timely event roundups, dining and neighborhood insights, business and travel updates, and straightforward money and lifestyle coverage grounded in firsthand observation of Atlanta. A devoted lover of all things Atlanta, Tee enjoys pickleball, a good margarita or bourbon, and walking the Atlanta Beltline. She can be reached for editorial inquiries at tjohnson@atlantafi.com (serious inquiries only).

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