Share
SACRAMENTO — California’s population has stalled at 39.9 million people as expensive housing prices and other factors convince more people to leave the state for other parts of the country.
An estimate released Friday showed California added 141,300 people from July 1, 2018, to July 1, 2019, bringing its total population to 39.96 million on July 1.
“More people moved out of California than into California this year. That was negative for the first time since 2010,” said Eddie Hunsinger, a demographer with the California Department of Finance.
The migration loss has been a boon to other states, particularly Nevada. Last month, Nevada passed the 3 million population mark as the U.S. Census Bureau ranked it as the fastest-growing state in 2018 — mostly because of a steady stream of Californians moving in.
Robert Lang, executive director of Brookings Mountain West at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said there are more adults in Nevada that were born in California than there are native Nevadans.
California’s population nearly tripled in the last half of the 20th century and is now the world’s fifth-largest economy. It remains by far the most populous state in the country, with second-place Texas still shy of 30 million people.
Los Angeles County Lost 9,698 People
Yet the state’s growth has leveled off. It’s 0.35% growth rate for the 12 months ending July 1 is down from a 0.57% rate for the prior 12 months, the two slowest growth rates in recorded history.
State officials blamed the declining growth rate on an aging population combined with lower migration from foreign countries and more people leaving the state.
Los Angeles County lost 9,698 people, but remains the most populous county in the state — and the nation — at more than 10.2 million people.
Butte County lost 10,388 people, the largest percentage decrease in the state — a testament to the lingering effects of a 2018 fire in the town of Paradise that killed 85 people, destroyed more than 14,600 housing units and displaced an estimated 35,700 people.
Births continued to decline, falling by more than 9,000.
“I’m starting to get a sense that this is a trend,” Hunsinger said.
Still, official state estimates predict California will hit 50 million people by 2055, predicting by then the state will join Japan and European countries as having more deaths than births.
Democratic Lawmaker Pleads Not Guilty to Assaulting US Agents at Immigration Center
32 minutes ago
Israeli Spy Chief Commends Agents for Iran Mission, Vows to Remain Vigilant
1 hour ago
All NATO, Including US, ‘Totally Committed’ to Keeping Ukraine in Fight, Rutte Says
1 hour ago
Can New Star Zohran Mamdani Help Guide the Democratic Party Out of the Darkness?
1 hour ago
Teamsters President Urges Congress to Scrap AI State Law Ban
2 hours ago
Fresno Residents Join Nationwide Fast to Call Attention to Gaza Crisis
2 hours ago
UK Says It’s Buying 12 F-35A Stealth Jets That Can Carry Nuclear Weapons
2 hours ago
California Cops Save Baby Trapped in Hot Car
3 hours ago
Iran’s ‘Paper Tiger’ Leadership Will Fall, Predicts Nobel Peace Laureate Ebadi
3 hours ago
Wired Wednesday: Learn the Latest on the Caleb Quick Murder Hearings
13 minutes ago
Categories

Trump Administration Orders CA to Strip Trans Athlete of Medals

Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant Reboot Fast-Tracked to 2027

Democratic Lawmaker Pleads Not Guilty to Assaulting US Agents at Immigration Center

Israeli Spy Chief Commends Agents for Iran Mission, Vows to Remain Vigilant

All NATO, Including US, ‘Totally Committed’ to Keeping Ukraine in Fight, Rutte Says

Can New Star Zohran Mamdani Help Guide the Democratic Party Out of the Darkness?

Teamsters President Urges Congress to Scrap AI State Law Ban
