The Resumption of Population Decline

California has seen its population decline once again, with the state losing over 9,000 residents in 2025. This downturn follows a brief two-year period of growth, during which the state gained approximately 240,000 residents throughout 2023 and 2024. This recent loss marks a return to the negative trends observed in 2021 and 2022, when the state lost over 400,000 residents.

Economic Pressures and the Pandemic Exodus

The initial population exodus began in 2020 following the onset of the pandemic. Many residents were forced to confront the reality of California’s high cost of living after facing widespread job losses and business closures. This economic strain was the primary driver behind the departure of 400,000 residents during the early pandemic years.

The Role of Immigration in Population Metrics

While Governor Gavin Newsom previously highlighted the state's population recovery as a sign of successful governance, critics argue the growth was artificial. Reports from KTLA 5 in Los Angeles suggest that the brief population rebound was largely fueled by federal border policies. Rather than improvements in state management, the influx of illegal immigrants served to offset the number of residents leaving the state.

Focus on Los Angeles County

The trend is particularly visible in Los Angeles County, which has lost more than 300,000 residents since 2020. The only year the county experienced a net gain in population was 2024. Observers note that this temporary increase did not stem from better local governance, but rather from the replacement of departing residents with a class of illegal immigrants. The resumption of the statewide decline in 2025, under President Donald Trump, is being cited as evidence that the state’s fundamental issues regarding affordability and governance remain unresolved.