Utah has the country's fifth-fastest-growing population according to estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Utah's 2 percent growth from July 1, 2004, to July 1, 2005 — raising the state's population to 2,469,585 — was double the nation's growth of 0.9 percent. The nation's estimated population was 296.4 million.

Some demographers and political analysts say Utah and other Western states, and Southern states as well, are growing so much faster than the rest of the country that several may grab House seats from the Northeast and Midwest when Congress is reapportioned in 2010.

The top five fastest-growing states were, in order: Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Florida and Utah.

Nevada grew by 3.5 percent to 2.4 million people, closing the gap to overtake Utah's place as the 34th most populous state, said Pam Perlich, senior research economist at the University of Utah.

However, Utah will probably surpass slower growing central states, such as No. 33 Kansas, which grew by only 0.4 percent to an estimated 2.7 million, she said.

"The bottom line is we've got very rapid employment growth here in Utah," Perlich said.

Neighboring states Arizona and Idaho, second and third in growth, grew by 3.5 and 2.4 percent.

The Census Bureau estimates population change since the most recent census using births, deaths, administrative records and survey data.

The census estimated Utah's growth at 10.6 percent — or 236,387 people, since 2000. Its growth ranking increased from 7th in the previous year, but the Utah Population Estimates Committee believes the census is still under-estimating Utah's population.

Using a different method, UPEC estimated Utah's one-year growth at 3.2 percent, making the state the nation's third fastest growing, said Robert Spendlove, manager of demographic and economic analysis for the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget.

Spendlove said a big part of the difference is in the state's migration, estimated at about 27 percent of the state's one-year growth by the Census Bureau and about half by UPEC.

Utah's 2004 population in the estimates was about 32,000 people higher than the original estimates released last year, in large part because of a successful challenge by Utah County.

"Our forecasts are for continued strong population growth," Spendlove said. The forecast for 2006: a growth rate of 2.9 percent. He attributed much of Utah's growth to relatively low housing prices and a strong economy.

"The state has a very strong economy right now; our employment growth is also fifth in the nation — over twice the national average," he said. "Pretty much every sector of the economy is growing."