California’s population has increased for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from the California Department of Finance. It’s encouraging news for the Golden State, which lost a congressional seat for the first time three years ago due to population decline.
In 2023, the state’s net population increased by 67,000 people, bringing the total to 39,128,162. The cause was three-fold — legal foreign immigration, an increase in domestic in-migration, and growth among the state’s natural population (births minus deaths).
“People from across the nation and the globe are coming to the Golden State to pursue the California Dream and experience the success of the world’s 5th largest economy. From the Inland Empire to the Bay Area, regions throughout California are growing – strengthening local communities and boosting our state’s future,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom.
County and City Highlights
Thirty-one counties saw an increase in population, with the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Valley, and the Inland Empire leading the way.
The following five counties experienced growth above 1%: Sutter (1.9%), Imperial (1.8%), Glenn (1.4%), Yuba (1.1%), and San Benito (1.1%).
Among counties with populations of 1 million or more, Riverside saw the largest growth, with an increase of 13,800. The populations of Los Angeles County and Orange County grew by 0.05% and 0.31% respectively.
Housing production reinforced population growth, increasing by 0.79% statewide. The top five cities where housing production drove population gains were Paradise (16.1%), Lathrop (5.4%), Emeryville (5.0%), Orland (4.9%), and Shafter (4.3%).
Seven out of the 10 largest cities also saw population increases. The top two were Bakersfield (0.8%) and Fresno (0.7%).
Read the full report, and see more county and city-level data here.