Hottest and highest, side by side
Death Valley holds the highest air temperature ever recorded on Earth, 56.7 °C (134 °F) in 1913, while Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous U.S., rises less than 140 km away.
Capital: SacramentoLargest city: Los AngelesNickname: The Golden StateStatehood: 1850
California at a glance
The state’s essential figures from the latest official data
Area
423,970 km²
3rd largest state
Population
39,431,263
97.7 people/km² of land
July 1, 2024 · 1st in the U.S.
Foreign-born population
26.5%
Share of all residents
ACS 2019–2023
GDP
$4,103 billion
$85,518 personal income per capita
2024 GDP · 2023 income · BEA
Births
400,601
July 2023–June 2024
Deaths
290,135
July 2023–June 2024
Natural increase
+110,466
Births minus deaths
Population change
+232,570
July 2023–June 2024
California data modules
Official information organized by subject
Population
How many people live here, how it's changing and who they are.
Housing
Home prices, rents, supply and how affordable it is to live here.
Economy
GDP, income, output and the industries that drive the economy.
Cost of Living
What it really costs to live here: housing, food, utilities and more.
Jobs & Employment
Employment, unemployment, salaries and the labor force.
Crime & Safety
Crime rates, violent and property crime, and public safety.
Education
Schools, universities, attainment and graduation rates.
Health
Life expectancy, healthcare access, hospitals and insurance.
Taxes
Income, property and sales taxes, plus overall tax burden.
Immigration
Foreign-born population, origins and migration flows.
Energy
Electricity prices, production, renewables and consumption.
Environment
Air quality, wildfires, drought, water and emissions.
Transportation
Vehicles, public transit, airports, traffic and commuting.
Politics & Elections
Election results, representatives and voting trends.
Poverty & Welfare
Poverty, food assistance, Medicaid and social safety net programs.
Retirement & Seniors
Older population, Social Security, retirees and senior living.
Agriculture & Farming
Farms, farmland, crop and livestock output and agricultural exports.
Tourism & Parks
Visitors, tourism spending, national and state parks.
Innovation & Patents
Patents, R&D spending, venture capital and tech employment.
Culture, Media & Gaming
Film, TV, music, theaters, museums and the video game industry.
Pets & Animal Welfare
Pet ownership, shelters, adoptions and veterinary services.
Explore California
58 counties, one interactive atlas
Select a county to compare population, income, housing and territory using official U.S. Census Bureau data.
Population (residents)
< 50,000> 3,000,000
California, United States
Los Angeles County
County seat: Los Angeles
9,848,406
Population
$44,319
Income per capita
$783,300
Median home value
7.0%
Unemployment
- Land area
- 4,060 mi²
- Population density
- 2,426 /mi²
ACS 2023 5-year estimates · Census Gazetteer 2023. Unemployment is calculated from the ACS civilian labor force.
Counties
58 counties · choose how to order them
Los Angeles
10,014,009 residents
Orange
3,186,989 residents
Riverside
2,418,185 residents
San Bernardino
2,181,654 residents
Santa Clara
1,936,259 residents
Alameda
1,682,353 residents
Sacramento
1,585,055 residents
Contra Costa
1,165,927 residents
Fresno
1,008,654 residents
Kern
909,235 residents
Ventura
843,843 residents
San Francisco
808,000 residents
Did you know?
Curious facts about California
Home of record-breaking trees
The world's tallest known tree (the coast redwood Hyperion), the largest by volume (the giant sequoia General Sherman) and some of the oldest living trees (bristlecone pines over 4,800 years old) all grow in California.
A republic for 25 days
In June 1846 settlers in Sonoma proclaimed the short-lived California Republic. Its grizzly bear flag became the basis of today's state flag.
The world's almond orchard
California grows roughly 80% of the world's almonds and nearly all of those produced in the United States.