ENATOR TONI BOUCHER, will talk about: Connecticut is one of nine states that had a smaller population in fiscal year 2017-18, marking a fifth consecutive year of decline, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Nutmeg State had 3,572,665 residents between July 1, 2017, and July 2018, representing a loss of 1,215 residents, or less than a half percent decline. Meantime, the U.S. population increased 0.6 percent due to natural increase of births over deaths and slightly higher international migration. Connecticut, where population peaked in 2013 at 3,594,915, was the only New England state that recorded a lower population last year. Other states with declining populations were New York (down 48,510), Illinois (45,116), West Virginia (11,216), Louisiana (10,840), Hawaii (3,712), Mississippi (3,133), Alaska (2,348) and Wyoming (1,197), federal officials said. Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, lost 129,848 people, or 3.9 percent, for the year. Nevada and Idaho were the country's fastest-growing states last year with population increases of about 2.1 percent. Trailing were Utah (up 1.9 percent), Arizona (1.7 percent) and Florida and Washington (1.5 percent).