California’s population has finally seen a net increase after a two-year decline, with a gain of 67,000 residents in the past year, according to state authorities. As of January 1, the state’s population stands at 39,128,162 individuals.
State officials attribute the growth to several factors, including improvements in legal foreign immigration policies, natural population growth, and a return to long-term trends in mortality rates. Additionally, the state’s Department of Finance projects continued population expansion in the future.
California’s population has grown (Credits: Fox News)
The population increase was not uniform across the state, with 31 of California’s 58 counties experiencing growth. The Bay Area, Central Valley, and Inland Empire metropolitan area saw huge population increases, with Los Angeles County and Orange County growing by 0.05 and 0.31 percent, respectively.
Five counties in the state saw growth exceeding one percent, including Sutter, Yuba, and Glenn counties in the Sacramento Valley, San Benito County east of Monterey, and Imperial County east of San Diego. The Department of Finance attributed these increases to housing gains.
California’s population grew for the first time (Credits: FOX40)
Nine of the 10 counties with populations over 1 million, which account for 72 percent of the state’s total residents, saw population increases. Riverside County led the way with an increase of 13,800 individuals.
Governor Gavin Newsom welcomed the news, stating, “People from across the nation and the globe are coming to California to pursue the California Dream and experience the success of the world’s fifth-largest economy. Regions throughout California are growing, strengthening local communities and boosting our state’s future.”
