Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS) is a non-profit California organization founded in 1986 which works to "preserve California's future through the stabilization of our state's human population". CAPS was the former Californian branch of the Zero Population Growth (ZPG) organization.

Between 2021 and 2022, California's population decreased 0.53 percent or 207,800 persons, due mainly to sharp declines in natural increase and foreign immigration. For 2022, natural increase – the net amount of births minus deaths -- increased from 87,400 in 2021 to 106,900 in 2022.

The population of California in 2022 was 39,029,342, a 0.29% decline from 2021. The population of California in 2021 was 39,142,991, a 0.91% decline from 2020. The population of California in 2020 was 39,501,653, a 0.16% increase from 2019. The population of California in 2019 was 39,437,610, a 0% increase from 2018.

California's population increased 10 out of the 11 years between year 2010 and year 2021. Its largest annual population increase was 0.9% between 2013 and 2014. The state's largest decline was between 2020 and 2021 when the population dropped 0.7%. Between 2010 and 2021, the state grew by an average of 0.5% per year.

In 2021, it was big news - the “California exodus.” Now, it just looks like the new trend: California's population is still shrinking. According to the latest population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, California's total population declined by more than 500,000 between April 2020 and July 2022.

In 2021, it was big news - the “California exodus.” Now, it just looks like the new trend: California's population is still shrinking. According to the latest population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, California's total population declined by more than 500,000 between April 2020 and July 2022.

Migrations from other states account for part of California's recent population boom. California has been swelled by migration before. In 1850, its population was 92,597 persons, many of them lured westward by the 1849 Gold Rush.

This slower growth stands in sharp contrast with the previous century, which saw California's population explode from under 2 million to 34 million. Population change is determined by four factors: births, deaths, international immigration, and interstate migration.

39,538,245 Table

The pandemic led to a dramatic increase in deaths. But in general, deaths have been going up because the population is aging, and so that's occurring apart from the pandemic. And then finally, and most importantly, California had a large outflow of migrants to other states.

Texas and Florida saw their populations increase during the same time period. Experts say the reasons for Californians leaving are high housing costs, congestion, crime and pollution.

The population of California in 2022 was 39,029,342, a 0.29% decline from 2021. The population of California in 2021 was 39,142,991, a 0.91% decline from 2020. The population of California in 2020 was 39,501,653, a 0.16% increase from 2019. The population of California in 2019 was 39,437,610, a 0% increase from 2018.