Still lonesome? Hawaii’s population grows to 1.285 million

Hawai`i's population increased 1 percent since last year, adding more than 12,000 people to the islands between July 2005 and July 2006, and reaching 1.285 million.

Nationally, Arizona’s population grew fastest, gaining 3.6 percent to 6.1 million. Nevada was second, growing 3.5 percent to 2.5 million. California, the nation’s most populous state, grew just 0.8 percent to 36.4 million.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hawai‘i is the 41st most populous state, growing to 1,285,498 residents from 1,273,278 in 2005, a gain of 1 percent. That percentage change ranks 31^st in the nation.

The Census Bureau projected in late December that, as of Jan. 1, the nation’s population will be 300,888,812, an increase of 2,863,990 for the year. In January, the U.S. will register one birth every 8 seconds and one death every 11 seconds, the bureau said. Migration from other countries will add another person every 27 seconds.