California's Three Largest Population Trends

A new report by the California Budget Project (CBP) examines significant demographic shifts that will impact the state between now and 2020. "Planning for California's Future: The State's Population is Growing, Aging, and Becoming More Diverse," identifies three population trends that loom largest: California is big and getting bigger; it is diverse and becoming more so; and it is getting older.

Specifically, the report states that:

• Between 2000 and 2020, the state is projected to add approximately 10 million people, roughly equivalent to the population of the state of Michigan.

• By 2020, whites’ share of the state’s population is expected to shrink to 33.7 percent, while Latinos’ share is projected to rise to 43.0 percent and Asians’ share is expected to increase to 12.7 percent.

• The number of Californians age 65 and above is expected to increase by 71.3 percent between 2000 and 2020.