Missouri's population growth is lagging behind the national rate.
U.S. Census Bureau figures released Tuesday estimate that Missouri's population grew by fewer than 20,000 people from 2014 to 2015, to a total of 6.08 million people.
That's a growth rate of about three-tenths of a percent — well shy of the national rate of nearly eight-tenths of a percent.
Missouri's growth rate ranked 30th among states in 2015.
But that was still good enough for Missouri to retain its position as the 18th most populated state — a little ahead of Maryland.
