-0.2%
Growth
2020–2023
39.54 M
Peak population
2020
38.9 M
2024 estimate
Historical data
Long-run evolution of the key indicators, so you can see the trend — not just today's snapshot.
Population
1850–202438.9 M▲ 43122%
U.S. Census (decennial), 1850–2020 + estimates.
Data table
| Growth | -0.2% | 2020–2023 |
| Peak population | 39.54 M | 2020 |
| 2024 estimate | 38.9 M |
Compared to the United States
| Indicator | California | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Annual population change2023, U.S. Census | -0.2% | +0.5% |
National ranking
California ranks #46 of 49 states by annual population growth.
| #1 | Vermont | 45 |
| #2 | Wyoming | 38 |
| #3 | Alaska | 35% |
| #4 | New Hampshire | 3.1% |
| #5 | Utah | 1.7% |
| #6 | South Carolina | 1.7% |
| #7 | Texas | 1.6% |
| #8 | Florida | 1.6% |
| #9 | Nevada | 1.2% |
| #10 | Arizona | 1.2% |
| #11 | Tennessee | 1.1% |
| #12 | South Dakota | 1.1% |
| #13 | Delaware | 1% |
| #14 | Georgia | 1% |
| #15 | North Carolina | 1% |
| #16 | Montana | 0.9% |
| #17 | Washington | 0.8% |
| #18 | Connecticut | 0.7% |
| #19 | Hawaii | 0.7% |
| #20 | Arkansas | 0.7% |
| #21 | Mississippi | 0.7% |
| #22 | Alabama | 0.7% |
| #23 | West Virginia | 0.7% |
| #24 | Nebraska | 0.7% |
| #25 | Maryland | 0.7% |
| #26 | Iowa | 0.7% |
| #27 | Idaho | 0.7% |
| #28 | Kansas | 0.7% |
| #29 | Oklahoma | 0.6% |
| #30 | Virginia | 0.5% |
| #31 | Indiana | 0.4% |
| #32 | Colorado | 0.4% |
| #33 | Massachusetts | 0.3% |
| #34 | New Jersey | 0.3% |
| #35 | Minnesota | 0.3% |
| #36 | Rhode Island | 0.3% |
| #37 | Maine | 0.3% |
| #38 | Ohio | 0.2% |
| #39 | Kentucky | 0.2% |
| #40 | Wisconsin | 0.2% |
| #41 | Missouri | 0.2% |
| #42 | Pennsylvania | 0.1% |
| #43 | Michigan | 0.1% |
| #44 | Oregon | 0.1% |
| #45 | New Mexico | 0.1% |
| #46 | California | -0.2% |
| #47 | Illinois | -0.3% |
| #48 | New York | -0.3% |
| #49 | Louisiana | -0.3% |
Overview
Population growth in California has flattened after decades of expansion, with a slight decline between 2020 and 2023 from a peak of 39.5 million.