Population
California has a population of 39,650,000 as of 2026, making it the #1 most populous state in the United States.
California Rankings
Where California places in every state-level dataset StatsPanda tracks. Each row opens the full ranking.
California Population Clock
These statistics show the estimated changes to California's population based on birth rates, death rates, and migration patterns from US Census Bureau data.
One birth every — seconds
One death every — seconds
One net arrival every — seconds
Net change every — seconds
| California Population (as of 7/14/2026) | 39,650,000 |
| Births per day | 1,300 |
| Deaths per day | 750 |
| Net migrations per day | 200 |
| Net population change per day | +750 |
| Population change since Jan 1st | — |
Demographics
The racial composition of California includes 48.13% White, 5.60% Black or African American, 15.12% Asian, 16.23% other race, and smaller percentages for Native American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and multiracial populations.
Population by Race
Why is Hispanic separate? Following U.S. Census methodology, Hispanic or Latino origin is an ethnicity, not a race — people of Hispanic origin may be of any race. “All” shows the racial breakdown; the Hispanic and Non-Hispanic views show ethnicity, so the two groupings overlap rather than adding up to 100%.
| Race | Population ↓ | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White | 19,085,124 | 48.13% |
| Other race | 6,436,710 | 16.23% |
| Asian | 5,993,562 | 15.12% |
| Two or more races | 5,366,783 | 13.54% |
| Black or African American | 2,219,035 | 5.60% |
| Native American | 397,132 | 1.00% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 151,655 | 0.38% |
California Marital Status
Population by Age and Gender
Median Age
Geography
California currently has a growth rate of 0.6%, ranking 18th among U.S. states. Looking at the last confirmed figures from the 2010 official census, there were 37,253,956 people living in California at that time. This represented an increase of 10% over the 2000 census count of 33,871,648 residents.
Economics and Income Statistics
California's average per capita income is $45,591. Household income levels show a median of $91,905. The poverty rate stands at 12.12%.
Families: A family includes the owner or renter of the home along with everyone related to them - whether through birth, marriage, or adoption. This includes relatives like spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and any other family members.
Households: A household includes all the people who occupy a housing unit (such as a house or apartment) as their usual place of residence.
Non Families: A nonfamily household is either someone living alone or when the owner/renter lives with people they aren't related to, like roommates.
| Name | Median ↓ | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Married Families | $105,010 | $134,413 |
| Families | $105,010 | $138,613 |
| Households | $91,905 | — |
| Non Families | $58,774 | $83,459 |
Income & Poverty
Largest Cities in California
The largest city in California is Los Angeles with a population of 3,980,400.
| Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | 3,980,400 |
| 2 | San Diego | 1,423,851 |
| 3 | San Jose | 1,021,795 |
| 4 | San Francisco | 883,305 |
| 5 | Fresno | 530,093 |
| 6 | Sacramento | 508,529 |
| 7 | Long Beach | 467,354 |
| 8 | Oakland | 429,082 |
| 9 | Bakersfield | 383,579 |
| 10 | Anaheim | 352,005 |
Population by County
California's population shows distinct regional patterns, with the most populous counties concentrated in metropolitan areas. The most dramatic growth is occurring in suburban areas, while rural and some urban areas show more mixed trends.
Counties in California →Population by County
Population Growth by County
Population Density by County
Research Papers Related to California
Sources
Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program.
Detailed demographic and economic data for California.
Quick access to state-level statistics and comparisons.
Data Methodology
Population totals are sourced from the latest available US Census Bureau data. Totals for the current year are projected using each state's USCB data and previous year population growth rate. Growth rates are calculated based on births, deaths, and net migration estimates.