California Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

California's 39,242,785 residents make it the 1st-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +1558.5% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 252 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, California is:

44.0% White (alone)
5.5% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
2.8% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.1% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the California state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in California is $96,334, with per-capita income at $47,977. 8.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 4.1%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in California: 37.6 years (US median ~39). The population is 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

Largest Cities in California

Los Angeles city — population 3,857,897
San Diego city — population 1,385,061
San Jose city — population 990,054
San Francisco city — population 836,321
Fresno city — population 543,615

Largest Counties in California

Los Angeles County — population 9,848,406
San Diego County — population 3,282,782
Orange County — population 3,164,063
Riverside County — population 2,449,909
San Bernardino County — population 2,187,816

How California Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 1st of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete California state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

California has a population of 39,242,785 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 1st among the 50 states. Population density is 252 people per square mile.

California is gaining population, with a +1558.5% change since 1910 (2,377,549 → 39,242,785). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

44.0% of California's population identifies as White, 5.5% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 2.8% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in California is $96,334 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $47,977. 8.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in California is 37.6 years. The population is 50.0% male and 50.0% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the California state page.

The largest cities in California by population: Los Angeles city (3,857,897), San Diego city (1,385,061), San Jose city (990,054), San Francisco city (836,321), Fresno city (543,615).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). California ranks 1st. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. California's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.