3rd most populous of 58
With 3,170,435 residents in 2024, Orange County ranks 3rd by population among California's 58 counties and is home to 8.0% of the state's residents.
Orange County is home to 3,170,435 people (2024 estimate) on 793 square miles of land, with Santa Ana as county seat. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—and American Community Survey indicators on income, housing and employment.
Key indicators
Population
3,170,435
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
3,187,256
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
−0.5%
2020–2024
Land area
793 mi²
2,054 km²
Population density
3,998.7 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
30,291
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
21,854
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+8,437
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+7,389
Domestic + international, 2024
Median home value
$962,600
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
3.9%
BLS annual average, 2024
Per capita personal income
$94,034
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$351.8 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$116,289
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
9.5%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
44.1%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
30.4%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–20243,170,435▲ 11%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 3,170,435 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 3,010,232 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 2,854,513 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +11.1% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +29,759 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | −22,370 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 9.6 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 6.9 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in California | 3rd of 58 | 2024 · calculated |
| Density rank in California | 2nd of 58 | 2024 · calculated |
| County seat | Santa Ana | California State Association of Counties |
| Per capita personal income | $94,034 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $351.8 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $116,289 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 9.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 44.1% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 30.4% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $962,600 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $2,434/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 39.4 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 1,082,960 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 56.4% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Orange County in context
Comparable indicators for Orange County, California and the United States.
| Indicator | County | California | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | −0.5% | −0.3% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 9.6 | 10.2 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 6.9 | 7.4 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 2.3 | 3.1 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 3,998.7 | 253.0 | 96.3 | Land area, Census Gazetteer |
| Per capita personal income | $94,034 | $86,232 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $116,289 | $99,122 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 9.5% | 12.0% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 44.1% | 37.1% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 30.4% | 27.0% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $962,600 | $734,700 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $2,434/month | $2,036/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 39.4 years | 37.9 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 56.4% | 55.9% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
21 cities · choose how to order them
Anaheim
346,824 residents
Santa Ana
310,227 residents
Irvine
307,670 residents
Huntington Beach
198,711 residents
Garden Grove
171,949 residents
Fullerton
143,617 residents
Orange
139,911 residents
Costa Mesa
111,918 residents
Mission Viejo
93,653 residents
Westminster
90,911 residents
Lake Forest
85,858 residents
Newport Beach
85,239 residents
Did you know? Orange County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 2,854,513 in 2000 to 3,170,435 in 2024, a change of +11.1%, compared with +16.0% for California as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 30,291 births and 21,854 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 8,437.
Peak population in 2020
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 3,186,261 in 2020. The 2024 figure is 15,826 lower.
2nd in density
Orange County has about 3,998.7 residents per square mile of land, ranking 2nd of 58 counties; California averages 253.0.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $116,289 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 7th of 58 California counties; the state median is $99,122.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $351.8 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 3rd largest among 58 California counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 2.3% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2023 5-year
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts