California Grows by 301,000 to 39.5 Million

The 0.77 percent growth rate comes mostly from increased births, reports the California Department of Finance. The Census Bureau estimated the population increase at 20 percent less for the same time period: July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2017.

2 minute read

December 26, 2017, 2:00 PM PST

By Irvin Dawid


While net domestic migration, a measure of residents moving to California from other states minus those leaving for other states, remained negative, as it has since 2000, the number was lower than in 2016. "The net number of people who left for other states dropped from 164,000 in 2016 to 105,000 this year," reports Melody Gutierrez for the San Francisco Chronicle on Dec. 21. Only Riverside County, the fourth most populous county in the state after Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside, had positive domestic migration.

Net migration, on the other hand, which includes movement to and from abroad as well as domestically, added 80,000 people, accounting tor 27 percent of the state's population growth, with the remainder coming from natural increase, i.e., births minus deaths.

Residents leaving the Bay Area have been getting wealthier due in part to the region's exorbitant housing market, which also discourages lower-income people from moving to the nine-county region.

The fastest growing counties were inland, in the Central Valley or Inland Empire, according to to the California Department of Finance new release [pdf] on Dec. 21. The department is mandated by the state constitution to obtain the demographic data.

Placer, Stanislaus, Merced, San Joaquin, and Riverside counties had the largest percentage increases in population, each growing by 1.28 percent or more

The increase in population was greater than last year's addition of 295,000 people, a .75 percent increase.

The birth rate dropped to 12.3 births per 1,000 population, the fourth lowest since data collection began in 1905, from 12.42 births per 1,000 last year and 13.8 births per 1,000 population in 2010. 

Conflicting data from Census Bureau

The U.S. Census Bureau released population data a day earlier, Dec. 20, highlighting Idaho as the nation's fastest growing state at 2.2 percent.

According to the Census report, the Golden State gained 240,177 from July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2017, or 60,823 fewer people than the state estimate, amounting to a 0.61 percent growth rate. Considering the nation as a whole grew by an average of 0.72 percent last year, adding 2.3 million people, it's important to use the Census data, not state data when comparing California to the rest of the country. The current population of the U.S. is about 326.5 million.

While California is the most populous state, 39.53 million people on July 1 according to the Census (70,000 higher than state's figure), both Texas and Florida, the nation's second and third most populous states, added significantly more residents last year, with 399,734 and 327,811, respectively.

Thursday, December 21, 2017 in San Francisco Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Color-coded map of labor & delivery departments and losses in United States.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace

In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and harrowing close calls are a growing reality.

5 hours ago - Maine Morning Star

Street scene in Kathmandu, Nepal with yellow minibuses and other traffic.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs

Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

7 hours ago - Fast Company

Bike lane in Washington D.C. protected by low concrete barriers.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint

Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.

June 15 - The Washington Post