Clark County is Expected to Keep Growing
A New Report States that Clark County Population Could Reach 3 Million!
Clark County is projected to reach a population of 3 million by 2042, according to a recent report from UNLV. The county's population is anticipated to grow steadily in the near future, adding approximately 38,414 residents in 2024, and continuing to grow at over 1 percent per year until 2039, reaching 2.9 million residents, as stated by Andrew Woods, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at UNLV.
The Center recently released its annual 2024-2060 Population Forecasts report, which offers detailed estimates and a demographic outlook for local government bodies. Woods highlighted that while leisure and hospitality will continue to be key drivers of job growth over the next decade, the healthcare sector is emerging as a significant player in the local economy.
“Healthcare is projected to become our second-largest driver of employment growth in the next 10 to 20 years,” Woods explained. “By 2028, healthcare will represent the second-largest sector in terms of total jobs in the valley.” This growth is attributed to the aging baby boomer population entering retirement, a trend impacting not only locally but also nationally and internationally. Woods emphasized the importance of bolstering the healthcare workforce to meet future demands, noting that the current proportion of healthcare workers in Clark County is lower compared to similar regions like Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and San Diego.
Clark County's population growth is expected to remain above the national average for the foreseeable future. Currently, the county has 2.41 million residents. The report indicates a population growth rate of 1.6 percent in 2024 and 1.4 percent in 2025, peaking at 2 percent in 2026 before gradually declining through 2060.
For the past 50 years, Clark County has consistently outpaced the national average in population growth, a trend expected to continue. However, the gap will narrow as the county's population ages faster than the national average due to lower birth rates and an increasing ratio of retired migrants.
This year's population projections have been revised upwards slightly from last year's report, integrating new data. The report now forecasts nearly 3.3 million residents in Clark County by 2060.
Transportation infrastructure investments, both federal and private, are estimated to total around $12.8 billion from now until 2050. Employment in the region will also benefit from major projects like the Brightline high-speed rail, set to be completed by the Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games in 2028, as per the Nevada Department of Transportation.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority anticipates approximately 1,109 new hotel/motel rooms will be added to the city's inventory in 2025. This expansion includes new openings such as the AC Hotel by Marriott, Element Las Vegas, and Delta Hotels by Marriott, along with additional rooms at M Resort Spa & Casino.
U.S. Census Bureau data also shows that Mesquite was the fastest-growing city in Nevada by percentage growth, while Carson City experienced a population decline. Notably, North Las Vegas has surpassed Reno to become the third-largest municipality in the state, following Las Vegas and Henderson.
