(The Center Square) – Americans continued their mass departure from California in 2024, but a surge in international migration more than replaced domestic losses, leading to a second year of marginal population increase.
California lost a net 239,575 residents to domestic outmigration, which was offset by a net gain of 361,057 international immigrants between July 2023 and July 2024. The state also experienced 400,601 births and 290,135 deaths, resulting in a net overall population increase of 232,570 residents.
Compared to the prior year, the state’s natural increase — births minus deaths — declined by 950 residents as births declined faster than deaths.
Net domestic outmigration slowed significantly as net international immigration exploded, with outmigration falling 29% — from 338,371 the year prior — and international immigration rising 139% — from 150,982 the year prior.
“As the nation’s population surpasses 340 million, this is the fastest annual population growth the nation has seen since 2001 — a notable increase from the record low growth rate of 0.2% in 2021,” said the Census in a statement. “The growth was primarily driven by rising net international migration.”
“With a net increase of 2.8 million people, [international migration] accounted for 84% of the nation’s 3.3 million increase in population between 2023 and 2024. This reflects a continued trend of rising international migration, with a net increase of 1.7 million in 2022 and 2.3 million in 2023.”
The Census also noted the number of American children declined from 73.3 million in 2023 to 73.1 million in 2024, a product of declining birth rates.
“What stands out is the diminishing role of natural increase over the last five years, as net international migration has become the primary driver of the nation’s growth,” said Census demographer Kristie Wilder in a statement.
The South continued to be a magnet for Americans moving between states, and was the “only region with positive net domestic migration.”
California’s population is still down 124,411 since April 2020, with 1,465,116 net domestic departures outnumbering 934,230 international arrivals and a natural increase of 418,245.
Earlier this year, the California Department of Finance estimated the state’s population grew by 67,000 for 2023.
While the Los Angeles Times once found California’s incoming arrivals used to be wealthier and more educated than the existing population, that trend has flipped; arrivals now tend to be poorer and less educated.
