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Show Population Growth Utah's total population has shown an overall increase since 1951. During this time period, Utah experienced a growth rate nearly double and occasionally triple the national growth rate. However, between 1987 and 1989, Utah's growth rate dropped slightly below the national level. At this time, Utah experienced a net out-migration of 59,000 people, largely because of a declining job market in mining, manufacturing and the construction industries. Fluctuations in Utah's migration patterns influence the population growth rate and suggest a dependence on economic conditions. The rebound in in-migration during the 1990s is an indication of the relative strength of the Utah economy. The fertility rate has a direct influence on Utah's population growth. In the 1970s, the fertility rate increased steadily until 1979 and was well above the national rates. Since then, it has declined steadily but remains substantially higher than national rates. The death rate is another variable for consideration when analyzing the population growth rate. The death rate of 6.6 deaths (per 1,000 population) for Utah in 1970 decreased steadily until 1984, when it reached a low of 5.3. There was a slight increase in this rate during the mid- to late-1980s. Overall, however, the Utah death rate is well below that of the nation, most likely due to Utah's lower average age. Figure 1* Percentage /V Percentage Change in S\ r- Population - - - U.S. 4 -2 - ->- o - i it i i i i ¦ i 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 Figure 2* Utah Net Migration 60000 40000 20000 0 -20000 -«- 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 19T8 1992 1996 •Net Migration ¦Total Increase**......Natural Increase ?Data taken from table la and lb. **The total population increase for any given year is a calculation of the net migration and the natural increase summed. The natural increase is the number of deaths subtracted from the number of births in a given year. 67 |