California’s population shrinks for second year in a row

Officials blamed the decline on lower birth rates, higher deaths from the pandemic and fewer people moving in from other states

California's population has shrunk for the second year in a row, according to newly released figures.

Officials blamed the decrease on declining birth rates, higher deaths from the pandemic and fewer people moving into the state from elsewhere in the US. California lost 117,552 people in 2021, putting its population at 39,185,605, the California department of finance said Monday.