2020 Census: Population increases in Tennessee and Arkansas, declines in Mississippi Mississippi losing residents according to census By Brandon Richard | April 27, 2021 at 7:13 PM CDT - Updated April 27 at 7:16 PM MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The federal government released the first batch of 2020 Census data Monday. It shows the population increased in Tennessee and Arkansas. But Mississippi’s population declined by about 6,000 people. Overall, the U.S. population grew at the slowest pace since the 1930s. In general, states in the South and West grew at faster rates. Tennessee added about 564,000 residents since the last census in 2010. The state’s population now stands at 6.9 million.