Minnesota, like all states, experiences "natural change" in its population - the number of new residents born subtracted by the number of deaths. However, a recent report by the Center of the American Experiment contends that natural gains over the past few years have been insufficient to compensate for the loss of residents who have relocated to other states.

The report, penned by Bill Glahn, an adjunct policy fellow with the American Experiment, is titled "Minnesota is in a demographic death spiral, cont’d." It serves as a sequel to a report published in December 2022. The update discloses that Minnesota saw a natural gain of approximately 40,400 new residents from April 2020 to July 1, 2023. Yet during this same period, the state suffered a loss of 46,000 due to outmigration, almost nullifying the increase from natural change.

Glahn's report further highlights that the population shortfall is particularly noticeable within the Minneapolis school system. The document cites an MN Reformer news story that underscored a significant decline in student enrollment. In 2023, around 28,000 students were enrolled in the system; this represents a 16% decline since before the COVID pandemic and a staggering 42% drop since 2000.

A previous report from American Experience released in December indicated that Minnesota had a net loss of 4,686 residents to other states from 2022 to 2023. This figure is considerably less than that of the preceding year when it recorded a net loss of 28,893—the largest net loss of residents to other states in three decades.

According to its website, the American Experiment is a think tank and public policy organization focused on issues pertinent to Minnesota. It emphasizes free enterprise, limited government, personal responsibility and government accountability.