California’s Population Reversed Decline in 2023, Showing Growth After 3 Years

California’s population is on the rise once again, with a net increase of just over 67,000 residents in 2023, marking the first growth since 2019. The state, which now estimates a population of more than 39.1 million residents, had been experiencing a decline due to various factors such as increased mortality rates during the pandemic, a declining birth rate, and a slowdown in legal international immigration.

While more people still left California than moved in from other states in 2023, the number was significantly lower than in previous years. The pandemic played a role in this shift, with more people moving away from California at the beginning of the pandemic due to remote work opportunities, but that trend has since reversed as companies emphasize returning to in-office workspaces.

On the other hand, legal international immigration, which has historically been a key driver of California’s population growth, rebounded in 2023 with a net gain of 114,200 people. This increase, along with a decrease in deaths and the elimination of immigration processing backlogs, has set the stage for continued growth in the state.

Despite economic challenges such as budget deficits, high unemployment rates, and layoffs in the technology industry, California’s population increased in 31 of its 58 counties. The state’s history of population growth, from the gold rush era to the technology boom, underscores its resilience and ability to attract residents from diverse backgrounds.

The California Department of Finance’s latest estimate provides a snapshot of the state’s population as of January 1, 2024, based on various data sources including births, deaths, and government records. The state’s population, as estimated by the Newsom administration, is slightly higher than the U.S. Census data released in December, reflecting the dynamic nature of California’s demographic trends.