Politics | PLACES AND THINGS

Crowded crowd on a Pier in Santa Monica, CA

California’s population has seen a significant increase in 2024, nearly returning to pre-pandemic levels. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the state’s population grew by approximately 233,000 residents this year, bringing it close to the record-high population levels reached before the pandemic. This growth was primarily driven by rising net international migration.

Despite this increase, California’s population growth rate of about 0.59% was slower compared to the national average and other large states like Florida and Texas. The state’s population on July 1, 2024, was 39,431,000, just 125,000 short of the 2020 high points.

The population growth in California reflects a broader trend of increasing population across the United States, with the nation’s population surpassing 340 million. This marks the fastest annual population growth the nation has seen since 2001.

After consistent population growth through the 2010’s, California’s population peaked at 39,556,000, according to the 2020 decennial census, before losing nearly 1% of its population by July 1, 2021, during pandemic restrictions.

Between 2020 and 2022, the California exodus has had significant impacts on the state. In 2021 the state lost one congressional representative, going from 53 to 52 seats in the House of Representatives, and the state had one fewer electoral college vote in 2024 than in 2020. Critics of the state’s leadership point to crime rates, high taxes, and high property costs as reasons for residents fleeing to other less regulated states, like Texas and Florida.

The Census Bureau’s Vintage 2024 population estimates show California’s population on July 1, 2024 was 39,431,000, an increase of 233,000 from the year before, and just 125,000 short of the 2020 high point.

For Jeff Bellisario, executive director of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, there’s two ways to look at the new data. “There’s the optimistic look that in the past year, we have seen the population increase… bigger increases than we have in a decade, so I do think there is some truth to the narrative of folks coming back to California,” he said.

But, on the other hand, California is still far behind the population gains made in state like Florida and Texas over the past half decade. “We are still trying to claw back to where we were pre-pandemic,” Bellisario said. “It’s going to take us a few more years to get to solid population growth numbers.”

California had the third most new residents, with the population growing by about 0.59%. Florida and Texas saw newer residents and top the list of states with the largest increases by raw numbers.

The District of Columbia had the largest percent increase, with 2.2% more residents in 2024. Following Florida and Texas, Utah and South Carolina round out the list of places with the 5 largest percent increases in their population, all with at least 1.7% more residents than 2023.

Overall, the population of the whole country grew by about 0.9%, slightly outpacing California’s growth.

Between the decennial census population counts, the agency releases estimates for July 1 of each year, using natural population change, like births and deaths, and then factoring in migration to calculate the estimates. And each year the estimates for previous years in that decade are revised based on new information.

According to the data on each component of change considered in the calculations, for the first time this year since 2020 California’s net migration returned to the positive, spurred by slight decreases in the number of residents the state loses to other states each year, and a continued increase in net international migration.

This new census data affirms data released earlier this year from the California Department of Finance, which also showed the California exodus reversing. Data from the state’s demographics professionals estimated more residents on Jan. 1, 2024, than the previous year, the first year of gains since before the pandemic.

With this year’s update, the Census is catching up to what the state data already hinted at. Last year’s Census update showed that 2023 was another year with slight population decreases in California, but this year’s update revised the 2023 population, showing a slight increase from 2022 to 2023, making 2024 the second year of population growth for the state.

Other US States which have seen a rise in population and how it’s affecting the consumer markets, Healthcare, Climate Change, Transportation, Median Income

Several U.S. states have experienced significant population growth in 2024, including Texas, Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina. The US population is growing at the fastest pace in more than two decades. This growth has various impacts on different sectors:

Consumer Markets

Increased Demand: Population growth leads to higher demand for goods and services, boosting local economies. Retail, housing, and entertainment sectors often see substantial growth.
Diverse Preferences: With more people moving in, consumer preferences become more diverse, leading to a wider variety of products and services.

Healthcare

Strain on Services: Rapid population growth can strain healthcare systems, leading to longer wait times and increased demand for medical professionals3.
Expansion of Facilities: To meet the growing demand, there is often an expansion of healthcare facilities and services, including hospitals, clinics, and specialized care centers.

Climate Change

Increased Emissions: More people mean more cars, energy consumption, and waste, contributing to higher greenhouse gas emissions. Here are some of the correlations between population growth and climate change.
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Resource Strain: Population growth can strain natural resources, such as water and land, exacerbating environmental challenges5.

Transportation

Traffic Congestion: More residents lead to increased traffic congestion, requiring improvements in infrastructure and public transportation6.
Infrastructure Development: States often invest in expanding and upgrading transportation networks, including roads, bridges, and public transit systems. Shifting Populations and The Implications for Transportation.

Median Income

Economic Growth: Population growth can drive economic growth, leading to higher median incomes8.
Income Disparities: However, rapid growth can also exacerbate income disparities, with some areas benefiting more than others. Here are major trends in US income and wealth inequalities.

These impacts highlight the complexities and opportunities associated with population growth in various states.

Map of Minnesota, USA

Minnesota is located in the North Central (or Midwest Region) of the United States of America – a part of North America – Minnesota is bordered by the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin, the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario, and by Lake Superior.

Capital City: Saint Paul
Location: 44º 57′ N, 93º 06′ W

Largest City: Minneapolis
Location: 44º 59′ N, 93º 16′ W

Minnesota geographical area and extent:
The total area of Minnesota is 84,402 sq mi (218,601 sq km), of which land accounts for 79,548 sq mi (206,029 sq km) and inland water 4,854 sq mi (12,572 sq km). Minnesota extends 406 mi (653 km) N-S; its extreme E-W extension is 358 mi (576 km).

Minnesota is bordered on the N by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario (with the line passing through the Lake of the Woods, Rainy River, Rainy Lake, a succession of smaller lakes, the Pigeon River, and Lake Superior); on the E by Michigan and Wisconsin (with the line passing through Lake Superior and the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers); on the S by Iowa; and on the W by South Dakota and North Dakota (with the line passing through Big Stone Lake, Lake Traverse, the Bois de Sioux River, and the Red River of the North).

The length of Minnesota’s boundaries totals 1,783 mi (2,870 km). The state’s geographic center is in Crow Wing County, 10 mi (16 km) SW of Brainerd.