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- July 1, 2025
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You Thought Everyone Left California? Not So Fast
For a few years, the headlines were relentless: “California is losing people!”
From viral TikTok’s about moving to Texas, to companies shifting headquarters out of state, it felt like the Golden State was in a freefall.
And the truth?
Yes, California did lose population — for the first time in its history.
But here’s what’s not getting enough attention:
California is growing again.
Let’s break down what really happened — and what’s changing now.
The Decline: 2020–2022
Between 2020 and 2022, California’s population dropped by nearly 500,000 people.
Here’s why:
- People moved out in record numbers. Remote work and high housing costs pushed Californians to cheaper states like Texas, Arizona, and Nevada.
- COVID-19 hit hard. Thousands of Californians died during the pandemic. And many families put off having kids, so births dipped too.
- Immigration stalled. During the pandemic, international travel and visa approvals slowed down dramatically. California usually relies on new immigrants to keep growing, and that pipeline shrank.
The result?
A state known for constant growth actually shrank. San Francisco alone lost over 7% of its population in one year — a jaw-dropping drop for any major city.
The Comeback: 2023–2024
Now for the good news:
Since 2023, California has been slowly bouncing back.
In fact, in 2024, the state added over 100,000 people, returning to its pre-pandemic population of around 39.5 million.
What changed?
- More births, fewer deaths: The worst of COVID is behind us. Birth rates are stabilizing, and deaths have returned to normal levels.
- Immigration is back: California gained over 360,000 new residents from abroad in 2024 alone — the second-highest number in the country. Many of them are highly skilled professionals, especially in tech and healthcare.
- Fewer people are leaving: While California is still losing some residents to other states, the outflow is now less than half of what it was at the peak. And some folks who moved away are quietly coming back.
Not All Areas Are Equal
Population trends vary dramatically across California.
Winners:
- Bakersfield, Fresno, and the Central Valley: Affordable housing and growing job markets are pulling people in. Bakersfield was the fastest-growing big city in the state last year.
- San Diego: Still sunny, still thriving. It added over 1% to its population in 2024.
- Sacramento & Inland Empire: These lower-cost regions continue to grow as people look for space and affordability without leaving the state.
Still Struggling:
- San Francisco & San Jose: These tech hubs are stabilizing but haven’t fully bounced back.
- Oakland and other East Bay areas: Continued outflow due to housing costs and remote work trends.
- Rural counties: Aging populations and fewer job opportunities mean many smaller counties are still shrinking.
What This Means for the Future
California isn’t back to boom times — and probably won’t be. The state is growing again, but slowly. What used to be 1%+ annual growth is now more like 0.2%–0.3%.
Still, the rebound shows the fundamentals are strong:
✅ A young and diverse population
✅ World-class industries
✅ Major immigrant destination
✅ Building more housing (finally!)
The challenges remain — especially housing affordability — but the idea that “everyone is fleeing California” no longer holds up.
Final Thought
Yes, people left. Yes, growth slowed.
But no, California isn’t over.
It’s adjusting, evolving, and finding a new balance.
The California Dream is still very much alive — just in new ZIP codes, and maybe with a few more ADUs in the backyard.
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