Is population growing or shrinking?

Updated annually
It grew by 232,600 between 2023 and 2024, the third most among all states. That’s more than the population of the city of Santa Clarita. Changes in population reflect birth and death rates, immigration patterns, regional shifts, and even the overall health of the economy. California’s 0.59% annual increase was primarily driven by immigration to the state. In the decade between 2014 and 2024, California’s population grew by 2.1%.

+233K

population change (2023 to 2024)

+0.59%

percent change in population (2023 to 2024)
Since 2000, California's population increased in 21 of 24 years. The largest increase occurred between 2000 and 2001, when it gained 491,500 residents. The state's largest decline during the 21st century occurred between 2020 and 2021 when it lost 379,400 residents.

California gained 232,600 residents between 2023 and 2024.

Annual population change

A state’s population is influenced by three factors:
  • Natural population change: If births outnumber deaths in a given year, natural population growth is positive. If deaths exceed births, it is negative. Between 2023 to 2024 natural population change was positive in California, with births exceeding deaths by 110,500.
  • Immigration: international migration directly into or out of a state. If more people move in than move out, population change from immigration is positive. If more people move out than move in, it’s negative. California’s population change from immigration was positive, with about 361,100 more people coming from another country to California than leaving.
  • Domestic migration, moving between states:  California’s population change from domestic migration was negative, with about 239,600 more people leaving for another state than moving in.

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Between 2023 and 2024, immigration was the primary driver of population growth in California.

Components of population change

Among 58 county equivalents, Santa Clara County had the largest population growth in California, welcoming 29,188 new residents. Humboldt County lost the most, with a loss of 1,629 residents.
Placer County led California in percent population increase between 2023 and 2024 at 2.2%. Alpine County ranked last with a 2.4% decline.

Between 2023 and 2024, Placer County gained 2.2% in population, the largest increase in California.

Population change

Between 2014 and 2024, California’s population has increased by 2.1%. During that same period, the US population grew by 6.5%. California ranks 36th among states in population growth over that decade.

California ranked 36th in population growth between 2014 and 2024.

Percent change in population

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.