Report shows at current pace, Houston won't overtake Chicago for another 25 years Key findings show more U.S. residents are moving to Houston's outskirts, while immigrants are moving to the city

PHOTOS: County population growth

Domestic growth into Houston's nine surrounding counties has picked up over the last decade, with suburban counties capturing nearly half of the region's population growth over the last eight years.

>>>See how much Houston area counties grew in terms of domestic migration from 2010-2018... less PHOTOS: County population growth

Domestic growth into Houston's nine surrounding counties has picked up over the last decade, with suburban counties capturing nearly half of the region's population growth over ... more Photo: Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Photo: Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Report shows at current pace, Houston won't overtake Chicago for another 25 years 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

According to the new report from the Greater Houston Partnership, the domestic population growth for the Houston region has slowed down over the last eight years. The report, which is based on population estimates data from the U.S. Census Bureau released this spring, cited factors such as the downturn of the oil and gas industry and Hurricane Harvey as reasons for the slump.

"At the current pace, Houston won't overtake Chicago for another 25 years," the GHP stated in a July 2019 Economy at a Glance report.

Another notable trend the report found is that international migration to the Houston region has outpaced domestic migration over the last eight years, meaning more U.S. residents are moving to Houston's outskirts while immigrants are moving to the city.

The GHP defines domestic migration as anyone who moved to Houston from elsewhere in the U.S., while international migration includes anyone who moved here from abroad.

RELATED: Fort Bend, Harris County rank among nation's fastest-growing counties

One-third of the metro Houston population now lives outside of Harris County, according to the report. Harris County accounted for all of the negative losses in domestic migration for the region from 2016 through 2018 - more than 100,000 residents. No other Houston area county experienced a loss in domestic migration, according to the report.

In fact, domestic growth into Houston's nine surrounding counties has picked up over the last decade. Fort Bend County was ranked as the nation's No. 10 fastest growing county from 2010 to 2018; while Montgomery was ranked No. 18; Waller No. 41,; Chambers No. 52 and Brazoria No. 83, according to the report.

"Harris County, with two-thirds of the region's population, captured only 56.3 percent of the region's growth over the past eight years," the report stated. "The suburban counties, with one-third of the region's population, captured 43.8 percent of the growth."

Fort Bend showed the highest percentage increase of domestic migration, with a 42.5 percent metro gain from 2010 to 2018. Montgomery county saw the second highest, with a 35.5 percent metro gain.

In Harris County international migration offset domestic migration loss, averaging 36,000 residents per year from 2016 to 2018. The city of Houston has a population of 2.3 million and has gained 232,000 residents since 2010, according to the report.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Slowing population growth another challenge to Houston's economy

The report estimates negative domestic migration will not last long for Harris County, though. The report contributed the outflow of residents from 2016 to 2018 to the energy industry cutting 92,400 jobs, and the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

"The Texas Department of Public Safety estimates 116,000 homes were damaged in the county. Many homeowners undoubtedly chose to leave the region rather than stay and rebuild," the report stated. "Domestic migration should turn positive again now that job growth has picked up and anyone leaving the region because of Harvey has probably done so by now."

Rebecca Hennes covers community news. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | rebecca.hennes@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message

