Gardner projects population, economy growth ahead of 2034 Olympics

With the award to host the 2034 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City’s hip pocket, the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah released a fact sheet comparing Utah during the 2002 games to what it is likely to be during the 2034 event. The study details the significant demographic and economic growth that has occurred in the state since Salt Lake first hosted the games in 2002 and projected growth through 2034.

“The data show that in 2034, Utah will be larger, older and more racially and ethnically diverse than when Utah first hosted the world 22 years ago,” said Natalie Gochnour, director of the Gardner Institute. “By 2034, Utah’s population will have almost doubled from 2002. Nearly half of the Utah population in 2034 will not have experienced the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, creating an extraordinary opportunity for us to cement the Olympic legacy for generations to come.”

Key findings from the fact sheet include:

Population Size: By 2034, Utah’s population will have almost doubled from 2002. Utah’s population is projected to reach 4.1 million by 2034, increasing by 1.8 million residents from 2002’s population of 2.3 million, a 76.4 percent increase.

Population Characteristics: One in six Utahns in 2034 will be school-age and able to welcome the world. Projections show there will be 665,561 school-age Utahns in 2034. Additionally, nearly one in every three Utahns will be a racial or ethnic minority in 2034, compared to one in 10 in 2002.

Utah Economy: The Utah economy, as measured by jobs, will be almost twice as large in 2034 as the economy in 2002. Analysts project 2034 will include an increase of 1.3 million jobs from the 1.4 million jobs in 2002.

International Engagement: Utah’s international engagement continues to expand and deepen. Since 2002, Utah’s international exports have increased from $13 billion to $17.4 billion, a 33.9 percent increase. In 2002, international visitors to Utah totaled approximately 610,000, in comparison to 777,000 in 2019.

New Infrastructure: Utah has had considerable infrastructure growth since 2002. Regional commuter and light rail expanded by adding over 100 miles of new track. In 2023, Salt Lake City International Airport completed Phase II of the airport’s redesign, opening 13 new gates. In 2002, Salt Lake City International Airport reported 18.6 million passengers; in 2022, a record amount of 25.7 million passengers were reported.

The full fact sheet from the study is available on the Gardner Institute website.