Feeling Squeezed? California’s Population Increases for First Time Since 2020

Buoyed by international migration and decreased mortality, California’s population increased by more than 67,000 people in 2023, according to newly released data from the state’s Department of Finance. After declining since the pandemic, the population rebounded slightly last year to more than 39.1 million due to legal foreign migration, fewer deaths, and natural population increases. “People from across the nation and the globe are coming to the Golden State to pursue the California Dream and experience the success of the world’s 5th largest economy,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in an April 30 press release. “From the Inland Empire to the Bay Area, regions throughout California are growing—strengthening local communities and boosting our state’s future.”...