California Population Stands at 39.4 Million, Contra Costa Sees Growth

SACRAMENTO – California’s population grew by 295,000 people between July 1, 2015 and July 1, 2016 to total 39.4 million, according to official population estimates released Monday by the Department of Finance. This represents a growth rate of 0.75 percent.

The birth rate declined to 12.42 births per 1,000 population from 13.69 births per 1,000 population in 2010 Census – the lowest level in California’s history.

In Contra Costa County, which is one of the top 9 largest counties in the state, it also saw growth.

According to the state, in Contra Costa County, it saw a jump from 1,116,882 in July 1, 2015 to 1,129,894 in July 1, 2016 – an increase of 13,012 people and an increase of 1.17%. Of the 9-largest counties in the state, only Riverside County had a higher percentage change than Contra Costa at 1.35%.

In May, the state released it’s population numbers, here is the population of Contra Costa the past five years.

• 4/1/2010 – 1,049,025
• 1/1/2011 – 1,059,495
• 1/1/2012 – 1,069,977
• 1/1/2013 – 1,083,340
• 1/1/2014 – 1,097,172
• 1/1/2015 – 1,111,143
• 1/1/2016 – 1,123,429

Below is the official press release by the State:

CALIFORNIA’S POPULATION INCREASES BY 295,000, CONTINUING THE STATE’S MODERATE GROWTH RAT

SACRAMENTO – California’s population grew by 295,000 people between July 1, 2015 and July 1, 2016 to total 39.4 million, according to official population estimates released today by the Department of Finance. This represents a growth rate of 0.75 percent.

The birth rate declined to 12.42 births per 1,000 population from 13.69 births per 1,000 population in 2010 Census – the lowest level in California’s history. As the baby boomer generation advances towards retirement ages, the death rate has slowly increased to 6.71 deaths per 1,000 population. In 2010, the death rate was 6.26. Natural increase, births minus deaths, remains the primary source of the state’s population growth. The natural increase of 225,000 is comprised of 489,000 births minus 264,000 deaths.

Net migration added 70,000 persons to California last year. Net migration includes all legal and unauthorized foreign immigrants, residents who left the state to live abroad, and the balance of the hundreds of thousands of people who move to and from California from within the United States.

California has 58 counties ranging in size from Alpine County, with just over 1,100 residents to Los Angeles County with over 10 million residents. Since the national census on April 1, 2010, the state has gained 2,100,000 persons. Inland counties have highest population growth rates. Urban coastal counties also gain population, but the growth rates have slowed down compared to the previous year. Smaller counties in more remote areas of California are either still losing population or growing very little.

This release incorporates an adjustment of the series back to 2010 reflecting the availability of improved and more detailed international student data from the Department of Homeland Security and Medi-Cal eligible data from the California Department of Health Care Services.

Highlights of the July 1, 2016 county population report include:

• The state’s nine largest counties are Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, and Contra Costa. Each has over one million residents. These counties represent 70 percent of California’s population.
• Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Orange, and San Bernardino counties posted the highest numeric population gains and accounted for nearly half of the state’s growth. Growth in these counties was due primarily to natural increase, although most of the counties had positive net migration as well. San Bernardino replaces Santa Clara in this list.
• Yolo, San Joaquin, Placer, Riverside, and Stanislaus counties had the largest percentage increases in population, each growing by 1.23 percent or more. Yolo and Stanislaus were the new counties in the top five of state’s population growth. Population change ranged from the highest growth rate of 1.97 percent in Yolo to -1.05 percent in Lassen.
• Although natural increase was a significant source of growth in the state, 14 counties experienced natural decrease (more deaths than births during the year) – Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lake, Mariposa, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Trinity, and Tuolumne. Among those counties, Alpine, El Dorado, and Shasta are newly added to the list of the natural decrease counties this year.

Population estimates produced by the Department of Finance are mandated by the California Constitution and various codes. They are used by state agencies, California counties, academic institutions, private research organizations, the media, and the public. Primary uses include budgeting, needs assessment, program planning and evaluation, distribution of state funds, and the calculation of rates (such as birth, death, and incarceration).

Population estimates are developed using aggregate data from a variety of sources, including birth and death counts provided by the Department of Public Health, number of driver’s licenses and driver’s license address change data from the Department of Motor Vehicles, housing unit data from local governments, school enrollment data from the Department of Education, and federal income tax return data from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. These statistical reports of administrative records do not disclose any information about individuals.

County ranking tables, maps, and the E-2 (California County Population Estimates and Components of Change by Year, July 1, 2010-2016) methodology and data tables are included. The E-2 and companion reports E-6 (Population Estimates and Components of Change by County, July 1, 2010-2016) and E-7 (California Population Estimates, with Components of Change and Crude Rates, July 1, 1900-2016), are on the Department’s website: http://www.dof.ca.gov/Forecasting/Demographics/Estimates

Source:
http://www.dof.ca.gov/Forecasting/Demographics/Estimates/E-2/2010-15/documents/pressrelease_Jul16.pdf