California population
State · Official geographic code 06
· Annual resident population estimate
U.S. Census Bureau · Population Estimates Program · Vintage 2025
-9,465 residents (-0.02%) since July 1, 2024.
California had an estimated 39,355,309 residents on July 1, 2025, the most populous of the 50 states and 11.51% of the U.S. total. Its population fell 0.02% between July 2024 and July 2025, compared with +0.33% for the West region and +0.52% for the United States.
- Population change, 2020–2025
- -172,499July 1 to July 1 · -0.44%
- Land-area density, 2025
- 252.5People per square mile · 2025 land area
- Population rank, 2025
- 1 of 5050 states; DC listed separately
California population history
Open historical explorerThe six July 1 estimates in the table belong to one consistent Vintage 2025 series. The Census Bureau revises earlier years when it releases a new vintage; a figure from an older publication may differ from the value below.
Vintage 2025, July 1, 2020–2025 Intercensal, 2010–2020
The highest observed population in this annual series was 39,527,808 in 2020. This is a peak within 2020–2025 coverage, not an all-time record.
| Reference date | Population | Annual change |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2020 | 39,527,808 | — |
| July 1, 2021 | 39,152,927 | -374,881 |
| July 1, 2022 | 39,125,347 | -27,580 |
| July 1, 2023 | 39,181,667 | +56,320 |
| July 1, 2024 | 39,364,774 | +183,107 |
| July 1, 2025 | 39,355,309 | -9,465 |
Why is the April 2020 estimates base different from a census count?
The PEP estimates base here is 39,555,703 residents on April 1, 2020. It incorporates the Census Bureau’s corrections and geographic revisions and serves as the starting point for this annual series. It is not labeled an original 2020 census count. The chart starts at July 1, 2020, so its five-year change uses two July observations. Read about measurement types.
California population by year, 2010–2020
From the April 2010 estimates base to the April 2020 census count, California gained 2,283,743 residents (+6.1%). These Census Bureau intercensal estimates use 2020 boundaries and were released in November 2024.
| Date | Population | Annual change |
|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2010 · estimates base | 37,254,522 | — |
| July 1, 2010 | 37,322,523 | — |
| July 1, 2011 | 37,651,212 | +328,689 |
| July 1, 2012 | 37,971,412 | +320,200 |
| July 1, 2013 | 38,292,557 | +321,145 |
| July 1, 2014 | 38,637,421 | +344,864 |
| July 1, 2015 | 38,966,939 | +329,518 |
| July 1, 2016 | 39,223,789 | +256,850 |
| July 1, 2017 | 39,424,315 | +200,526 |
| July 1, 2018 | 39,535,920 | +111,605 |
| July 1, 2019 | 39,547,995 | +12,075 |
| April 1, 2020 · census count | 39,538,265 | — |
The April 2020 census count (39,538,265) and the Vintage 2025 April 2020 base (39,555,703) differ by 17,438. The gap comes from the Census Bureau’s revised 2020 base, not population change, so measure growth within one series. This file’s April 2020 figure also differs by 42 from the 2020 census count in the 1910–2020 table (39,538,223); both are shown as the Census Bureau published them. Source and download
California population by census year, 1910–2020
These are separate census counts from the Census Bureau’s historical population-change table. Historical geographic definitions apply; they are not standardized to the 2025 boundary. Census dates changed historically: April 15, 1910; January 1, 1920; April 1, 1930 and 1940; and April 1 from 1950 onward.
| Census year | Resident population | Change from previous census |
|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 2,377,549 | — |
| 1920 | 3,426,861 | +44.1% |
| 1930 | 5,677,251 | +65.7% |
| 1940 | 6,907,387 | +21.7% |
| 1950 | 10,586,223 | +53.3% |
| 1960 | 15,717,204 | +48.5% |
| 1970 | 19,953,134 | +27.0% |
| 1980 | 23,667,902 | +18.6% |
| 1990 | 29,760,021 | +25.7% |
| 2000 | 33,871,648 | +13.8% |
| 2010 | 37,253,956 | +10.0% |
| 2020 | 39,538,223 | +6.1% |
Census counts, not annual estimates. Historical source and download
Growth and density
Between July 1, 2020 and July 1, 2025, California lost 172,499 residents, a 0.44% decrease. The annualized change over these five elapsed years was -0.09%. Annualized change is a summary of the interval; it does not imply that the population changed at that rate in every year.
The 2025 Gazetteer reports 155,860.39 square miles of land. Dividing the July 1, 2025 population by that compatible land area gives 252.5 people per square mile. Water area is excluded. Density depends on geographic boundaries. It describes this entire geography, rather than a typical neighborhood or built-up area.
Calculations use unrounded source values. Population counts are displayed as integers, percentages to two decimals and density to one decimal. Calculation methods · Growth calculator
Components of population change
The published components cover July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Natural change equals births minus deaths. Net migration is arrivals minus departures; it does not establish why people moved.
| Component | People |
|---|---|
| Births | 398,632 |
| Deaths | 288,917 |
| Natural change | +109,715 |
| Net domestic migration | -229,077 |
| Net international migration | +109,278 |
| Residual | +619 |
| Total population change | -9,465 |
Reconciliation: natural change + net domestic migration + net international migration + residual = -9,465. Births and deaths are already included in natural change and must not be added again. Source: NST-EST2025-ALLDATA.csv; Vintage 2025.
How California compares
Growth rates below use the same Vintage 2025 series for every row, so they can be compared directly. Regional and national rates combine faster- and slower-growing states.
| Geography | Population · 2025 | Growth · 2024–25 | Growth · 2020–25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 39,355,309 | -0.02% | -0.44% |
| West region | 80,146,154 | +0.33% | +1.85% |
| United States | 341,784,857 | +0.52% | +3.08% |
California demographics: age, race and income
The median age in California is 37.9 years, compared with 38.9 in U.S.. 37.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, and the median household income is $99,122. About 12.0% of residents live below the poverty level, and 27.0% were born outside the United States.
These are American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2020–2024. They describe the 60 months ending in December 2024, come from a sample survey with the margins of error shown, and are separate from the July 1, 2025 population estimate above.
| Characteristic | California | Margin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age and sex | |||
| Median age | 37.9 | ±0.1 | 38.9 |
| Under 18 years | 22.0% | ±<0.1 | 22.0% |
| 65 years and over | 15.7% | ±<0.1 | 17.2% |
| Female | 50.1% | ±<0.1 | 50.5% |
| Race and Hispanic origin | |||
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 40.2% | ±<0.1 | 19.3% |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 33.8% | ±<0.1 | 57.4% |
| Black alone, not Hispanic | 5.2% | ±<0.1 | 11.9% |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 15.3% | ±<0.1 | 5.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native, not Hispanic | 0.3% | ±<0.1 | 0.5% |
| Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, not Hispanic | 0.3% | ±<0.1 | 0.2% |
| Some other race, not Hispanic | 0.6% | ±<0.1 | 0.6% |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.4% | ±<0.1 | 4.3% |
| Born outside the United States | 27.0% | ±0.1 | 14.1% |
| Households and education | |||
| Households | 13,548,091 | ±17,724 | 129,227,496 |
| Average household size | 2.84 | ±0.01 | 2.53 |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher, age 25+ | 37.1% | ±0.1 | 35.7% |
| Income and poverty | |||
| Median household income | $99,122 | ±$310 | $80,734 |
| Below the poverty level | 12.0% | ±0.1 | 12.5% |
Margins are 90% margins of error. Percentages are computed from published Summary File counts with Census Bureau margin formulas. ACS survey population: 39,287,377; 2024 boundaries. Source and download
Geographic context
County totals below describe separate county units. Incorporated cities are not an exhaustive division of a state, so their populations must not be summed as a state control total.
| Place | Population · 2025 | Change · 2024–25 | Growth · 2024–25 | People / sq. mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles CountyCalifornia · County equivalent · 06037 | 9,694,934 | -53,934 | -0.55% | 2,387.7 |
| San Diego CountyCalifornia · County equivalent · 06073 | 3,282,248 | -5,294 | -0.16% | 779.5 |
| Orange CountyCalifornia · County equivalent · 06059 | 3,149,507 | -8,520 | -0.27% | 3,970.4 |
| Riverside CountyCalifornia · County equivalent · 06065 | 2,544,916 | +15,804 | +0.62% | 353.0 |
| San Bernardino CountyCalifornia · County equivalent · 06071 | 2,224,091 | +5,327 | +0.24% | 110.8 |
| Santa Clara CountyCalifornia · County equivalent · 06085 | 1,914,391 | +6,481 | +0.34% | 1,482.8 |
| Alameda CountyCalifornia · County equivalent · 06001 | 1,636,630 | +6 | +0.00% | 2,219.3 |
| Sacramento CountyCalifornia · County equivalent · 06067 | 1,618,460 | +8,563 | +0.53% | 1,676.5 |
| Contra Costa CountyCalifornia · County equivalent · 06013 | 1,170,070 | +536 | +0.05% | 1,632.1 |
| Fresno CountyCalifornia · County equivalent · 06019 | 1,035,456 | +1,758 | +0.17% | 173.8 |
Showing 10 of 58 related records. All counties · All incorporated places
Places with nearby population ranks
Neighboring 2025 population ranks. Similar population does not imply similar density, boundaries or demographics.
| Place | Population · 2025 | Change · 2024–25 | Growth · 2024–25 | People / sq. mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TexasTexas · State · 48 | 31,709,821 | +391,243 | +1.25% | 121.4 |
| FloridaFlorida · State · 12 | 23,462,518 | +196,680 | +0.85% | 437.3 |
| New YorkNew York · State · 36 | 20,002,427 | +1,008 | +0.01% | 424.5 |
Source, citation and downloads
U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025, NST-EST2025-ALLDATA.csv, variable POPESTIMATE2025; California, California, geographic code 06; resident population 39,355,309 on July 1, 2025; boundaries January 1, 2025. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/state/totals/NST-EST2025-ALLDATA.csv. Retrieved September 30, 2026. US Population Data snapshot pep-2025-r1, transformation 1.
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