California’s population declines for the first time in state history

Population fell by 182,000 amid declining birth rate, reductions in immigration and an increase in deaths because of Covid

California's population fell by more than 182,000 people in 2020, marking the first year-over-year loss ever recorded for the nation's most populous state.

State officials announced Friday that California's population dipped 0.46% to just under 39.5 million people from January 2020 to January 2021.