California’s population grew by 67,000 people last year, marking the first increase since 2020. The total number of residents now stands at 39,128,162 as of January 1st.
This growth is due to several reasons. First, there have been better policies for legal immigration, meaning more people are moving to California from other countries. Second, more babies were born, contributing to natural population growth. Third, the number of deaths returned to normal levels after being higher for a while.
However, fewer people moved to California from other parts of the United States compared to previous years. Despite this, the state’s Department of Finance predicts that the population will continue to grow.
In total, 31 out of 58 counties in California saw their populations increase. This was especially true for areas like the Bay Area, the Central Valley, and the “Inland Empire,” which is the region east of coastal Southern California.
Los Angeles County and Orange County also saw slight increases in their populations. Some counties had growth rates of over one percent, including Sutter, Yuba, and Glenn counties in the Sacramento Valley, as well as San Benito County and Imperial County.
Housing gains played a big role in these increases, according to the Department of Finance. In fact, nine out of every ten counties with more than 1 million people saw their populations go up. Riverside County had the largest increase, adding 13,800 new residents.
Governor Gavin Newsom commented on the growth, saying that people from all over the world and the country are coming to California to chase the “California Dream” and take part in the state’s strong economy. He emphasized that this growth is helping to strengthen communities across California and secure the state’s future.
