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39 12 Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce 2025 Economic Trends Demographics: Population Dynamic population growth, a robust business climate, and a thriving artistic and cultural community combine to create the highest quality work and home environments in Savannah, one of the nation's loveliest and most historic port cities. Savannah's allure has been recognized nationally as one of the " 13 Charming Towns in the US That You Should Put on Your Bucket List" (#2) by MSN Travel , "7 Summer Amtrak Trips That Offer Beautiful Beach Views" by The Travel, and was named #1 for "15 Most Beautiful Cities in America" by MSN Travel, July 2024. Growing Population Spurs Economic Growth Savannah's local market region extends in a 40-mile radius from its historic downtown. Commuters, shoppers, students, visitors, and others are economically and socially linked in a primary trade area that includes Liberty and Long counties as part of the Hinesville MSA, Bulloch County of the Statesboro MSA, Wayne County of the Jesup MSA, and South Carolina's Beaufort and Jasper counties. Chatham County, with 303,655 residents is the fifth most populous county in Georgia and serves as the economic hub of the region. Furthermore, over 850,000 people now live, work, and shop in the Savannah Primary Trade Area, which from 2010 to 2023, added over 10,000 net new residents a year. Long County was the fastest growing county in 2023 (+6.5%). Chatham County, GA added the most people (2,630) from 2022 to 2023. All nine counties in the Savannah primary trade area experienced population growth in 2023. Population growth in 2022 to 2023 was slightly higher than the previous ten-year annual average for the CSA. Chatham County continues to be the most densely populated county, with 713 persons per square mile. Wayne County is the least densely populated with 31 persons per square mile. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Population Estimates program, retrieved 12/13/24. Data for 2010 to 2020 are "vintage" 2020, while data for 2021 to 2023 are "vintage" 2023 data. NOTE: Statesboro/Bulloch County added to CSA in 2013. Jesup/Wayne County added to CSA in 2018. Chatham 265,799 295,089 295,690 301,025 303,655 1.2% 0.9% 426:713 Effingham 52,464 65,169 66,764 69,034 71,541 3.0% 3.6% 478:150 Bryan 30,377 45,043 46,974 48,218 49,739 5.3% 3.2% 436:114 Savannah MSA 348,640 405,301 409,428 418,277 424,935 1.8% 1.6% 1340:317 Bulloch 70,559 79,922 80,671 83,038 84,327 1.6% 1.6% 673:125 Liberty 62,765 65,317 66,800 67,919 69,210 0.9% 1.9% 490:141 Long 14,574 16,270 17,108 18,395 19,594 2.9% 6.5% 400:49 Wayne 30,074 19,952 19,758 19,765 19,820 -2.8% 0.3% 642:31 Beaufort (SC) 162,829 187,815 191,997 196,147 198,979 1.9% 1.4% 576:345 Jasper (SC) 24,948 29,150 30,431 31,986 33,544 2.9% 4.9% 655:51 835,527 1.6% 1.8% Savannah Primary Trade Area 714,389 803,727 816,193 2022 2010-2023 Average Annual Growth 2022-2023 Growth Land Area (square miles): Persons Per Sq. Mile Savannah/ Hinesville/ Statesboro CSA 526,612 586,762 593,765 607,394 Area 2010 2020 2021 1.4% 3545:174 617,886 4885:174 2023 1.7% 850,409