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According to state authorities, California has recorded its first net population increase since 2020, adding 67,000 residents last year. 

This growth brings the state’s total population to 39,128,162 as of January 1. The rise is attributed to “improved legal foreign immigration policies, natural population growth, and a return to long-term mortality trends.” In a statement, Governor Gavin Newsom said, “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 fifth-largest economy. From the Inland Empire to the Bay Area, regions throughout California are growing — strengthening local communities and boosting our state’s future.” 

Net domestic migration rates have returned to levels observed in the 2010s, and officials project continued positive growth for the state. According to California’s Department of Finance, “With immigration processing backlogs largely eliminated and deaths returning to long-term trends, a stable foundation for continued growth has returned.”

Digging Deeper:
Population increases were recorded in 31 of California’s 58 counties, with significant growth in the Bay Area, the Central Valley, and the Inland Empire. Notably, Los Angeles County and Orange County saw increases of 0.05% and 0.31%, respectively. Additionally, five counties, including Sutter, Yuba, Glenn, San Benito, and Imperial, experienced growth rates exceeding 1%, mainly attributed to increased housing options.