California Cities By Population 2024 Census. California’s unprecedented population loss during the pandemic raises questions about what a shrinking or slowly growing population means for the state’s future. The california department of finance released a population estimate on tuesday showing the state gained just over 67,000 people in 2023 for a total population of more than 39.1 million.
In reaching the statewide total, if there was no 2024 data, calmatters used the most recent data reported to the u.s. It is the 3rd largest state by area.