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Despite all the noise surrounding the “California exodus,” or mass migration from the nation’s most populous state, California grew in population in 2024. However, the increase was not significant.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 population estimates show, as expected, that the Golden State remains at the top of the nation.
As of July 1 of this year, there are approximately 39,431,263 people living in California. According to the Census Bureau, that number was 39,198,693 as of the same date in 2023, meaning the population had grown by about 232,570 people.
Pedestrians cross a street in downtown Los Angeles on September 4, 2024 (Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP) (Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images)
This number is below the state’s 2020 levels, as rising housing costs and ideological differences related to the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with pandemic-related job losses, will lead to a population decline in the coming years. Still less than 120,000 people. The decline cost the state a parliamentary seat.
But new data shows that the effects of the pandemic are easing and California remains in a stable situation. California lost more people to internal migration (state to state) than any other state (-239,575 people), while losing more people to international migration (361,057 people) than any other state except Florida. Obtained.
California was one of 33 states with natural increase, with more people born than deaths over a 12-month period. The state’s population naturally increased by 110,466 people.
However, the decline in domestic immigration could still raise red flags for state governments. A survey conducted in October found that a majority of Californians have considered leaving the state at least once.
Of course, politics may have something to do with the numbers, as the heavily Republican South is the fastest growing region of the country. Although California is solidly blue, it still has the largest population of Republicans in the nation, and many mainstream politicians, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have accused California Governor Gavin Newsom of a “demographic exodus.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (left) debates California Governor Gavin Newsom (right) on FOX News in June 2023.
But in a celebratory response to the new numbers, Newsom’s office simply called the return to positive population growth a response to the pandemic.
“The stable base of growth continues as international migration increases and deaths return to long-term trends,” the news release reads in part. “With net domestic immigration expected to retreat to 2010s low levels, California is likely to experience gradual but positive growth in the near future.”
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