1/1/2017 - 18,137
1/1/2018 - 18,129
A Net Loss of 8 Residents
Older information for comparison: California Department of Finance 2008 population estimates: 18,354 residents and 2009 population estimates show a decrease of 102 residents for a total population of 18,252 residents.
May 2, 2018 - SACRAMENTO— California added 309,000 residents in 2017 to bring the state’s total population as of January 1st to 39,810,000, according to new population estimates released today by the California Department of Finance.
Last year’s 0.78-percent growth rate compares to the 0.86-percent annualized growth rate since the 2010 Census. Since 2010, when the state’s population was 37,253,956, population growth has averaged 333,000 a year.Tuesday’s report contains preliminary January 2018 and revised January 2017 population data for California cities, counties, and the state. Highlights include:
Growth was strongest in the more densely populated counties in the Bay Area, the Central Valley, and Southern California, averaging 0.86 percent. Of California’s 482 cities, 421 saw gains in population, 57 saw reductions, and 4 experienced no change.
The three fastest growing counties on a percentage basis were Merced (1.8 percent, 4,900 persons), Placer (1.7 percent, 6,400 persons), and San Joaquin (1.5 percent, 11,500 persons); all attributing their growth to a combination of an increase in housing construction and positive domestic migration.
Los Angeles, California's largest city, grew by almost 33,000 persons (0.8 percent) in 2017 adding on to a population of over four million (4,054,000). San Diego, California’s second largest city with a population of 1,420,000, added almost 20,000 persons during the year. San Francisco, with a population of 884,000, added almost 10,000 persons, while Irvine with a population of 276,000, added almost 9,000 persons in 2017. San Jose (1,051,000) rounds out the top five largest numeric changes with an increase of 8,500 persons.
California's statewide housing growth, as measured by net unit growth in completed housing units for 2017, was 85,000 units. Total housing in California reached 14,158,000 units, a 0.6- percent increase.
Throughout the state, more than 13,200 housing units were demolished in 2017, with wildfires heavily influencing a number of areas. The counties with most housing loss due to fire include Sonoma (2.6 percent), Napa (1.1 percent), and Mendocino (1.0 percent). Between 2010 and 2016, an average of 5,500 housing units were demolished statewide.
Santa Rosa in Sonoma County lost 3,081 housing units as a result of the wildfires, the most in the state. However, overall change in Santa Rosa population is positive (0.2 percent) due to a large annexation of almost 2,000 housing units. While the Thomas fire in Ventura County was the largest by area, fewer housing units were affected. The current estimates do not include complete impacts from that fire, and will be revised next year.
Also of note in the report:
Ranked by net housing gains, Los Angeles (13,852), San Diego (5,961), San Francisco (4,464), Irvine (3,798), and San Jose (2,590) added the most housing units in 2017.
Of the ten largest cities in California, Sacramento had the largest percentage gain in population (1.43 percent, or 7,000) edging out San Diego (1.42 percent, or 20,000). Sacramento surpassed 500,000 for the first time.
Of the 14,158,000 housing units in California, 9,147,000 are single family and 4,449,000 are multi-family with 562,000 mobile homes. Multi-family housing growth outpaced single family housing by over 12,000 net units (“net” refers to new construction minus demolition), continuing a six-year trend. Los Angeles led the state with 12,488 multi-family units, comprising 90.2 percent of their total housing growth, followed by San Diego (5,241 for 87.9 percent), San Francisco (4,469 for 100 percent), and San Jose (2,421 for 93.5 percent).
Group quarters account for about 2 percent of the total state population (849,000). This population includes, among others, those living in college dorms (239,000) and in correctional facilities (216,000). In 2017, the group quarters population grew by just over 7,000 people or 0.86 percent, which is slightly faster than the state (0.78 percent). The college dormitory population grew faster at 7,500 (3.3 percent), local jails grew by 1,800 (2.4 percent) and state prisons decreased by 1,500 (less than 1 percent).
State prisons are generally located in remote areas; as a result, increases or decreases in this population can account for significant changes in their respective locations. For example, state prison declines led to population decreases in Susanville in Lassen County, Lompoc in Santa Barbara County, and Victorville in San Bernardino County, while driving population increases in Avenal in Kings County, Crescent City in Del Norte County, and California City in Kern County.
Background Information:
These population estimates are produced annually by the Department of Finance for use by local areas to calculate their annual appropriations limit. The State Controller’s Office uses Finance's estimates to update their population figures for distribution of state subventions to cities and counties, and to comply with various state codes. Additionally, estimates are used for research and planning purposes by federal, state, and local agencies, the academic community, and the private sector.
Changes to the housing stock are used in the preparation of the annual city population estimates. Estimated occupancy of housing units and the number of persons per household further determine population levels. Changes in city housing stock result from new construction, demolitions, housing unit conversions, and annexations. The sub-county population estimates are then adjusted to be consistent with independently produced county estimates.
Related population reports are available on the Department’s website: http://www.dof.ca.gov/Forecasting/Demographics/
