ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — It's official: Florida has surpassed New York in population to become the third-most populous state in the union. 
 
 Figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau show that Florida has at least 19.9 million residents. The number is likely higher because the Census uses the population as of July 1 to create its estimate. 
 
 New York had 19.7 million residents. 
 
 Florida added almost 300,000 new residents from 2013 to 2014, or a little more than 800 new residents a day. By contrast, New York grew by only 51,000 over that time period. 
 
 Florida likely reached the milestone sometime last spring, but it wasn't official until the Census said so. 
 
 An Associated Press analysis earlier this year showed that ex-New Yorkers represented about 1 in 10 new Florida residents. Migrants from other countries made up about a quarter of Florida's new residents. 
 
 Florida has a way to go before it catches up with California and Texas, the largest and second-largest states. California has 38.8 million residents; Texas has 27 million residents. 
 
 The other states rounding out the 10 largest in the nation are: Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan. North Carolina slipped by Michigan for the ninth spot on the list. 
 
 Six states saw population declines: Illinois, West Virginia, Connecticut, New Mexico, Alaska and Vermont. 
 
 Fueled by an energy boom, North Dakota was the fastest-growing state in the nation, even though it is still the fourth least-populous state in the union. Its population increased 2.2 percent and now stands at 739,000. The other fastest-growing states from 2013 to 2014 were Nevada and Texas, which both had population increases of 1.7 percent. ||||| Florida added an average of 803 new residents every day over the last year to become the nation’s third-most populous state, the U.S. Census Bureau said Tuesday. At almost 19.9 million residents, Florida has supplanted New York, which clocked in at 19.7 million residents. 
 
 New York’s growth has been much slower than that of the Sunshine State: Florida’s population grew by 293,000 over the year, while New York’s population expanded by just 51,000 residents. 
 
 Overall, the Census Bureau’s annual report showed the U.S. population increased by three-quarters of a percent between July 1, 2013 and July 1, 2014, to 318.9 million residents. 
 
 The report shows 44 states and the District of Columbia added population over the last year. Six states — Illinois, West Virginia, Connecticut, New Mexico, Alaska and Vermont — lost population over that period. Puerto Rico lost more of its population, 1.3 percent, or 47,000 residents, than any state. 
 
 The fastest-growing states were mostly in the West and the South, with the exception of North Dakota, where an energy boom is attracting new residents in droves. Of the nearly 2.4 million new U.S. residents, 2 million moved to the South and West, while about 300,000 live in Midwestern or Northeastern states. 
 
 North Dakota grew by almost 2.2 percent over the year, faster than any other state. Nevada, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Utah and Idaho all grew by more than 1.3 percent. 
 
 Texas added more residents than any other state, at 451,000. California, Florida and Georgia all saw their populations grow by six figures. For the first time in its history, Georgia surpassed the 10 million resident mark, joining Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, Florida, Texas and California as the only states with populations in the eight-figure range. ||||| The U.S. population reached 313.9 million on July 1, a 0.75% increase in the past year. 
 
 North Dakota's oil boom has made the state the fastest growing since 2011. (Photo: Gregory Bull, AP) Story Highlights Census figures show the effects of an aging population 
 
 Maine and West Virginia had more deaths than births in the last year 
 
 The nation's population is growing at near historic lows 
 
 The nation's population growth remains near historic lows as it struggles to recover from the Great Recession, new Census estimates show. 
 
 The U.S. population reached 313.9 million on July 1, a 0.75% increase or 2.3 million gain in one year. 
 
 "Pretty anemic," says Robert Lang, urban affairs professor at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. "You see the impact of the recession and reduced immigration into the U.S. We're not on pace to grow even 10% over the decade." 
 
 The population numbers also show that the oil boom in North Dakota has sparked a people boom that made the state the fastest-growing since 2011 -- 2.2% or three times the national rate. 
 
 STORY: Americans are starting to move again 
 
 STORY: States eye trusts for new oil, gas revenue 
 
 Former boom states such as Nevada and Arizona continue to grow but at a much slower pace than before the 2007-09 recession. 
 
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 The estimates show the effects of an aging population, as the oldest Baby Boomers turned 66 this year and birth rates and immigration continue to decline. 
 
 Two states -- Rhode Island and Vermont -- lost population, largely because young people are leaving and few immigrants are arriving. Maine became the second state after West Virginia to experience more deaths than births -- both states with aging populations and low birth rates. 
 
 Florida continues to recover from a bad period when more people were leaving than moving in. Since July 1, 2011, the state attracted a net 200,000 people from other states and abroad. 
 
 "It looks like some of the Sun Belt boom-then-bust states are coming back," says William Frey, demographer at the Brookings Institution. "Florida continues its in-migration. ... Arizona is showing increased in-migration and Nevada is showing a flip from out to in." 
 
 Many states with strong diversified economies like North Carolina and Colorado are showing new strength. Texas gained the largest number of people -- 427,400. 
 
 "There is some evidence of a national recovery," Lang says. "Despite the recession, we're seeing the same patterns as the last decade, albeit slower growth across the board. The South and the West are growing the fastest." 
 
 High-flyers such as Nevada and Arizona are no longer leading the Western boom and the growth is more equally spread across the region, he says. 
 
 The numbers also show: 
 
 Northeastern and Midwestern states where population losses slowed when the recession kept people from moving are seeing their losses grow again. Among them: Illinois, Ohio, New York, Michigan, Missouri and Indiana. 
 
 California, which remains the most populous at 38 million, lost 45,000 people to other states but saw nearly three times as many immigrants arrive. 
 
 Georgia moved into eighth largest by bumping Michigan. And Arizona pushed past Indiana into 15th. Georgia and Arizona grew by more than 20% since 2000 while Indiana gained only 8% and Michigan declined. 
 
 Both West Virginia and Vermont slipped a notch. Nebraska topped West Virginia for 37th and the District of Columbia, counted as a state, topped Vermont for 49th place. 
 
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– The state known as America's Waiting Room is moving up in the ranks: According to Census data, Florida has officially deposed New York to become the third most populous state in the union, reports the Washington Post. The Sunshine State is now home to 19.9 million residents, compared to 19.7 million in the Empire State, but it's the difference in growth that's notable: Florida took in 293,000 new residents in the year ending July 1, or about 803 a day. New York managed just 51,000. Florida likely pushed past New York sometime in the spring, notes the AP, but it takes the Census to make it official. Interestingly and unsurprisingly, former New Yorkers make up about 10% of new Floridians. Other demographic nuggets, per the AP: Don't look for Florida to mess with Texas, America's No. 2 state with 27 million people, or No. 1 California's 38.8 million souls. The rest of the 10 most populous states: Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina, and Michigan. Six states lost population: Alaska, Connecticut, Illinois, New Mexico, Vermont, and West Virginia. North Dakota was the fastest-growing state, with a 2.2% jump that stood solidly on the shoulders of its energy boom. It's still the fourth least-populous state.