Population Growth Slows Dramatically in California, Including Fewer Births

The Dept. of Finance report covers the period from July 1, 2010 to July 1, 2011. Total population growth was 260,000. Growth is now entirely dependent on new births as net migration (foreign and domestic) resulted in a loss of 22,000 residents.

"Continuing a trend of fewer immigrants, fewer births and more Californians moving elsewhere, the state's population grew by just .7 percent in the last year, a slight increase over last year's growth rate of .65 percent.

California now has 37.5 million residents but the state population is growing at one of the slowest rates in its history, according to new estimates released Tuesday by the Department of Finance."

"We always had a fairly high fertility level. Now it's dropped below replacement levels," said state demographer John Malson.

"California's child-bearing women now have an average of 1.9 children, which is below what is considered the replacement level of 2.1," he said.

From DOF press release (PDF): "The natural increase of 283,000 in the past year is composed of roughly 511,000 births minus 228,000 deaths. Net outmigration reduced the population by 22,000 residents. Net migration includes all legal and unauthorized foreign immigrants, residents who left the state to live abroad, and the balance of hundreds of thousands of people moving within the United States both to and from California."

From CBS Evening News: Unemployment leading to California exodus (video + text): "In 2010, Texas gained nearly 75,000 new residents, while California lost nearly 130,000. The biggest state to state shift in the country was people leaving the Golden State and heading to the Lone Star state."

Thanks to MTC-ABAG Library