LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Newly released U.S. Census figures show Nebraska is continuing its moderate population growth at roughly the same rate as the nation.

The state had an estimated population of 1,868,516 as of July, for a net gain of about 13,000 people. The estimated growth was 0.7 percent higher than the estimated population in July 2012.

Jerry Deichert of the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research says the state’s population grew 2.3 percent since the last U.S. Census in 2010. The nation’s population grew by 2.4 percent in the same period.

Deichert says Nebraska is likely continuing a trend of population growth around Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island and Kearney, while most other parts of the state see declines.

Nebraska’s population ranks 38th nationally.