Rhode Island is enjoying a census surprise: The state’s population grew enough for it to retain its two seats in Congress, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures released Monday.

The state’s population increased by 4.3%, from about 1.05 million residents in the 2010 census to nearly 1.1 million in 2020, the agency reported.

Demographers and political experts have been warning for years that the nation’s geographically smallest state would lose a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as its population stagnated and other states grew.

Monday’s results mean Rhode Island, at least for another decade, avoids a potential political showdown between U.S. Reps. David Cicilline and James Langevin, the state’s two popular Democratic congressmembers.

Rhode Island is enjoying a census surprise: The state’s population grew enough for it to retain its two seats in Congress, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures released Monday.

The state’s population increased by 4.3%, from about 1.05 million residents in the 2010 census to nearly 1.1 million in 2020, the agency reported.

Demographers and political experts have been warning for years that the nation’s geographically smallest state would lose a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as its population stagnated and other states grew.

Monday’s results mean Rhode Island, at least for another decade, avoids a potential political showdown between U.S. Reps. David Cicilline and James Langevin, the state’s two popular Democratic congressmembers.