Welcome to California

California is the most populous state in the country with an estimated 39.7 million residents in 2019. While the state remains the most populous nation in the country, California’s rate of population growth is at its lowest point in its recorded history. The overall population of California is expected to grow just 0.48 percent from the previous year. There are two primary reasons that population growth in California is slowing down: declining birthrates and residents moving to other states.

Soaring housing costs and rising taxes are the chief drivers behind the continual exodus of Californians to other nearby states like Texas, Arizona and Nevada. While Californians are leaving the state in greater numbers than ever before, the current trend has been ongoing for the last thirty years with the dot-com bust and Great Recession as the primary catalysts.

Due to the large numbers of people leaving the state, net migration is actually negative in California. About 38,000 more people moved out of the state than people that moved in, according to the latest census estimates. That calculation includes immigrants to California from other countries, who continue to move to the state in large numbers. But for the last two years, immigrant arrivals have not outnumbered California-born residents who are moving away. In 2018, California saw net migration of nearly 118,000 immigrants, compared to a net migration of -156,000 native residents departing the state.

While more folks are indeed leaving California than ever before, the state remains an attractive draw for thousands of people from the United States and abroad. Whether it’s the draw of the tech sector, the allure of the entertainment industry or simply the state’s majestic beauty, California still has a lot going for it.