New census numbers show the estimated population of the Columbus metro area grew by more than 21,000 to 2,242,028, in 2025.
That growth rate is double the national growth rate and is tied with metro Atlanta for the country's 13th-highest growth rate.
Jason Hall, CEO of the Columbus Partnership, a private economic development group, said it's important for the metro Columbus population to continue to grow in order to create and lure jobs to the area.
"To attract these opportunities where we are competing increasingly on a global scale for deals, we have to show our ability to attract people, or we will be non-competitive versus other markets for deals we're competing for in the future," Hall said.
Since 2020, Columbus is one of 21 metro areas nationwide to add more than 100,000 residents.
Columbus and Indianapolis are the only Midwest metros in the top 15 nationwide for growth.
Ten counties make up the Columbus metro area for census purposes: Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Union, Madison, Perry, Morrow and Hocking.
Hall said the numbers show metro Columbus is 16th best in the country in natural population gains. That's births over deaths, accounting for 35% of the metro area's growth.
The Columbus Partnership said that more than half of the metro area's growth came from international migration.
"So even with all of the disruptions, much of which obviously is stemming from immigration policy, we are seeing great resilience in Columbus metro for those population gains," Hall said.
Hall also said the numbers also suggest that metro Columbus' overall affordability and quality of life support the ability to raise families in the area.
By comparison, metro Cincinnati's estimated population rose by a little more than 13,000, to 2,312,858. Metro Cleveland's estimated population rose by about 2,000, to 2,165,775.
Metro Toledo's estimated population dropped by 28 people to 599,376. Metro Dayton's estimated population grew by more than 5,000 to 826,554. Metro Akron's estimated population grew by more than 1,000 to 701,780.
"We need all of Ohio to perform well," Hall said.
