(The Center Square) – The struggle of the Pittsburgh area to attract residents is creating problems for the future.
And while the second-largest city in the state has anemic growth, Philadelphia keeps getting bigger.
Though the U.S. population grew by 17.8% from 2000-22, the Pittsburgh metropolitan area has shrunk by 2.6%, according to a new policy brief from the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. Pittsburgh’s population loss “stands in stark contrast to the nation’s substantial growth,” Allegheny Institute Executive Director Frank Gamrat wrote.
In 2000, the Pittsburgh area had 2.43 million people. By 2020, it had slid to 2.37 million people.
The Pittsburgh metropolitan area comprises Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington, Beaver, Butler, Fayette and Armstrong counties. For these seven counties, the Census Bureau data has few silver linings. The natural population change has been negative since 2000, meaning that the area had more deaths than births. Nor has the area attracted many international migrants to make up for natural population loss; it counts about 53,000 immigrants since 2000.
In-migration, either from other counties or states, also didn’t help.
“It is safe to say that since most of the counties in the MSA suffered domestic out-migration losses that far out-paced the counties with in-migration totals, a large number of people left the MSA entirely, contributing to the loss of population in the first decade and the lackluster gains in the second,” Gamrat wrote.
The growth of other cities of similar sizes puts Pittsburgh’s problem in perspective.
Since 2010, Pittsburgh has slightly grown by 0.47%, not enough to make up for its losses earlier in the 21st century. Meanwhile, Columbus, Ohio grew 12.6%, Charlotte in its North Carolina counties grew 18.8%, Omaha in its Nebraska counties grew 14%, and Salt Lake City, Utah grew 15.8%. By the next census, Columbus and Charlotte will have surpassed Pittsburgh in size, thanks to natural population growth and net migration numbers.
“Absent a shift to a much friendlier business climate, less labor conflict and domination of the public sector, lower-cost government and lower taxes, the Pittsburgh region is unlikely to share proportionally in the nation’s growth and fall further behind its counterparts across the country that are moving ahead rapidly,” Gamrat wrote.
FAQs
Briem pointed to the county's aging population as a driving force of the ongoing shrinkage. Consider: Allegheny County saw more than 1,700 deaths than births this year, the new data shows. “You can't get around the fact that being an older region, we suffer from natural population decline.
What is the population growth trend in Pittsburgh? ›
The current metro area population of Pittsburgh in 2024 is 1,708,000, a 0.35% increase from 2023. The metro area population of Pittsburgh in 2023 was 1,702,000, a 0.18% increase from 2022. The metro area population of Pittsburgh in 2022 was 1,699,000, a 0.06% decline from 2021.
When did Pittsburgh decline? ›
Since 1955 Pittsburgh has seen a steady decline in manufacturing employment. In 1955 Pittsburgh had a population of 41.8 percent in the manufactory business. In 1980 that number had slipped to almost 25.3 percent. Allegheny County is the center for health care and higher education employment.
What are the problems facing Pittsburgh? ›
Pittsburgh is working to scale up its affordable units, but the immediate issues prevail: homeless shelters often overflow, people with low-incomes can't afford Pittsburgh, the land bank has been largely ineffective, and zoning hurdles can make it difficult to build new, low-cost housing.
Why is Pennsylvania losing population? ›
Migration into counties Trump won was significant enough to offset natural population decline in those areas, where there are more deaths and fewer births than in other parts of the state. The population shifts also reflect voter registration changes in the state.
Why is Pennsylvania population decreasing? ›
The center found 46 counties could see a population decrease, mostly due to an aging population and decreasing number of births. Pike County, in the Poconos, was predicted to see the most drastic loss — 24.3% — far outpacing other rural counties.
Is Pittsburgh getting younger? ›
The Pittsburgh MSA population has shrunk by more than 400,000 people since 1969, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia analysis. Recent years have witnessed the senior citizens' share of the region's population getting smaller and the region as a whole becoming slightly younger.
Is Pittsburgh a good place to live? ›
"With world-class museums, pro sports teams to cheer for and a strong economy leading the way in robotics, AI, cybersecurity and more, it's no wonder why nearly 300,000 people know that Pittsburgh, PA, is a great place to call home," Livability writes.
What is the largest ethnic group in Pittsburgh? ›
Population & Diversity
In 2021, there were 2.81 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (193k people) in Pittsburgh, PA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 68.8k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 16.8k Asian (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.
What is the richest city in Pittsburgh PA? ›
Pittsburgh's Six Wealthiest Neighborhoods
- 1: Fox Chapel. An exclusive suburb of Pittsburgh, Fox Chapel is synonymous with luxury and seclusion. ...
- 2: Mount Lebanon. ...
- 3: O'Hara Township. ...
- 4: Shadyside. ...
- 5: Sewickley. ...
- 6: Squirrel Hill.
The resulting political map of Pennsylvania is therefore a red "T" in the center of the state with the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas a strong blue.
Why is Pittsburgh so famous? ›
Pittsburgh is known both as "the Steel City" for its dominant role in the history of the U.S. steel industry, and as the "City of Bridges" for its 446 bridges.
What are the cons of living in Pittsburgh? ›
Pro: It has a cost of living below the national average. Con: Summers are hot and muggy, and winters are cold and windy. Pro: Pittsburgh is one of the best cities in the U.S. for young professionals. Con: Pittsburgh is considered safer than just 7 percent of other U.S. neighborhoods.
Is Pittsburgh a clean city? ›
Pittsburgh is the next city on our list of dirtiest places. Water quality is an issue here, ranking one of the lowest of the places we evaluated. Pennsylvania's carbon dioxide emissions are also on the higher side, at over 218 million metric tons.
Does Pittsburgh have a homeless problem? ›
Homelessness in the city reached a 12-year high in 2022, and Pittsburgh City Council repeatedly considered a variety of tangible, affordable housing solutions, many of which focused on increasing transitional housing.
What was the main cause of pollution in Pittsburgh? ›
Coal Mining
Coal was an important energy source that fueled the industrialization of the country. However, Pittsburgh's environment certainly paid the price. Smoke pollution was the most noticeable effect of coal consumption and gave the city its identity as the “City of Smoke.”
What is Pittsburgh's reputation? ›
Its old blue-collar reputation is being replaced and the quality of life continues to improve with new industries that make Pittsburgh home. In addition to the ample green space and increased job opportunities, Pittsburgh has wooed residents with its strong sense of community.
What is Pittsburgh's homeless population? ›
She estimated that as many as 200 people are experiencing homelessness in the city. (Allegheny County estimates the number countywide is between 800 and 900.)
Will Pittsburgh ever grow? ›
The metro area population has shown modest growth in recent years (2023 and 2024). Some suggest a 0.35% increase in 2024. Studies also convey that there are more people in the greater Pittsburgh region. The headcount in the suburbs is increasing.
