California population
Population statistics, historical records, charts, annual changes and source-backed reference information for California.
About California
California is presented in WhereFacts as a region population profile. This page combines the latest approved population value with the complete annual series currently available in the database.
It is part of United States. Population records are kept in geographic hierarchy so readers can move between the place, its parent area, related places and historical years.
Related places in the current directory include Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno. Where a published WhereFacts profile exists, these names are linked automatically in the article.
California had a population of 39,589,467 in 2026, according to the latest available source data. The latest annual change was +0.59%.
Population in 2026
The population of California in 2026 is 39,589,467. Compared with the previous year, the population increased by 231,644 people. Across the latest five-year period the change was +3.14%, while the ten-year change was +6.48%.
Historical population
The available annual series covers 2000–2026. Over the full period, California recorded an overall population change of +16.88%.
Population trend over the last 10 years
This view isolates the most recent decade of approved records so short-term movement can be read separately from the full historical series.
Annual population change
The charts below show the numeric population change and the annual percentage rate. Both are calculated directly from consecutive values in the same approved series.
Change in people
Annual percentage change
Population summary
| Measure | Period / year | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Latest year | 2026 | 39,589,467 |
| 1-year change | 2025–2026 | +0.59% |
| 5-year change | 2021–2026 | +3.14% |
| 10-year change | 2016–2026 | +6.48% |
| Series change | 2000–2026 | +16.88% |
| Highest recorded | 2026 | 39,589,467 |
| Lowest recorded | 2000 | 33,872,000 |
Population by year
The table contains every approved annual record currently available for California. Each year links to its own historical population page.
| Year | Population | Numeric change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 39,589,467 | +231,644 | +0.59% |
| 2025 | 39,357,823 | +237,092 | +0.61% |
| 2024 | 39,120,731 | +242,013 | +0.62% |
| 2023 | 38,878,718 | +245,809 | +0.64% |
| 2022 | 38,632,909 | +247,992 | +0.65% |
| 2021 | 38,384,917 | +248,244 | +0.65% |
| 2020 | 38,136,673 | +246,431 | +0.65% |
| 2019 | 37,890,242 | +242,623 | +0.64% |
| 2018 | 37,647,619 | +237,083 | +0.63% |
| 2017 | 37,410,536 | +230,236 | +0.62% |
| 2016 | 37,180,300 | +222,631 | +0.60% |
| 2015 | 36,957,669 | +214,883 | +0.58% |
| 2014 | 36,742,786 | +207,614 | +0.57% |
| 2013 | 36,535,172 | +201,395 | +0.55% |
| 2012 | 36,333,777 | +196,688 | +0.54% |
| 2011 | 36,137,089 | +193,804 | +0.54% |
| 2010 | 35,943,285 | +192,880 | +0.54% |
| 2009 | 35,750,405 | +193,857 | +0.55% |
| 2008 | 35,556,548 | +196,498 | +0.56% |
| 2007 | 35,360,050 | +200,411 | +0.57% |
| 2006 | 35,159,639 | +205,081 | +0.59% |
| 2005 | 34,954,558 | +209,932 | +0.60% |
| 2004 | 34,744,626 | +214,377 | +0.62% |
| 2003 | 34,530,249 | +217,874 | +0.63% |
| 2002 | 34,312,375 | +219,981 | +0.65% |
| 2001 | 34,092,394 | +220,394 | +0.65% |
| 2000 | 33,872,000 | — | — |
Population analysis
California population in 2026
The latest population shown for California is 39,589,467. Compared with the previous year, the population increased by +0.59%.
Population change over 10 years
Across the most recent ten-year period, California recorded a upward population movement of +6.48%, based only on the annual population series.
Historical high and low
The highest value in this series is 39,589,467 in 2026. The lowest is 33,872,000 in 2000.
national population ranking
California is currently listed at #1 in the available national population ranking. Rankings are recalculated when approved source data is updated.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of California in 2026?
The population of California is 39,589,467 in the latest 2026 record shown on this page.
Is the population of California increasing or decreasing?
The latest annual series indicates that the population is increasing, with a year-over-year change of +0.59%.
What was the population of California 10 years ago?
Ten years before the latest record, the population was 37,180,300.
Where does California rank by population?
California is listed at #1 in the available national population ranking.
Sources and data notes
Population data source: U.S. Census Bureau. Reference year: 2026. Reuse information: U.S. government public data / dataset-specific terms.
WhereFacts keeps descriptive geographic facts separate from population calculations. Population charts, tables, changes and analyses on this page are derived from the same approved annual series to keep figures internally consistent.
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Found an incorrect population value, source, place name or broken link? Send it to our review queue. Reports never change published data automatically.