The United States’ population grew 0.1 percent in the year ending in July, the lowest rate on record, according to figures released by the Census Bureau on Dec. 21. The population grew by 392,665 people between July 1, 2020, and July 1 of this year, according to the Census estimate. U.S. growth was caused by a natural increase of 148,043 and a net international migration of 244,622, which is the first time that migration surpassed the natural increase, the agency noted. The bureau stated that the “slow rate of growth can be attributed to decreased net international migration, decreased fertility, and increased mortality due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic.” “Between 2020 and 2021, 33 states saw population increases and 17 states and the District of Columbia lost population, 11 of which had losses of over 10,000 people. This is a historically large number of states to lose population in a year,” …