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Southern California drops another 37,149 residents as pace of population loss slows

December 20, 2023

Southern California lost 37,149 residents in the past year, a drop one-third of what was seen in the previous two years.

The six-county region had 21.7 million residents, according to the state Department of Finance tally as of July 1. The past year’s population decline was 68% less than the average 115,187 yearly loss in the previous 2 years.

The high cost of living plus tight pandemic-era restrictions nudged more than a few local residents to leave in 2021-22. At the same time, foreign immigration cooled.

But a robust regional economic rebound, life back to near normalcy, and an immigration revival helped to slow population losses in the past 12 months.

Yes, there were still more moves out of these counties than arrivals – a total 159,209 net exits in the past year. But that outmigration is down from the 183,016 yearly pace in 2021-22.

The region’s population benefited from 58,476 more births vs. deaths – up from a 42,524 average in 2021-22.

And 63,584 foreigners moved to the six counties in the past year, immigrants that’s up from the 25,305 pace in 2021-22.

The population swings, by county …

Los Angeles: 9.8 million residents, down 15,217 in a year vs. 86,962 average dip previous 2 years. There’s 21,070 more births vs. deaths compared to 13,324 average in 2021-22, 67,680 net outmigration vs. 113,097 outflow pace in 2021-22, and 31,393 immigrants vs. 12,811 average of 2021-22.

San Diego: 3.3 million residents, up 3,949 in a year – the region’s only gain – and a reversal from a 5,445 average decline previous 2 years. There’s 12,396 more births vs. deaths compared to 11,199 average in 2021-22, 17,968 net outmigration vs. 20,101 outflow pace in 2021-22, and 9,521 immigrants vs. 3,458 average of 2021-22.

Orange: 3.1 million residents, down 11,765 in a year vs. 17,305 average dip previous 2 years. There’s 7,241 more births vs. deaths compared to 5,601 average in 2021-22, 31,075 net outmigration vs. 26,662 outflow pace in 2021-22, and 12,069 immigrants vs. 3,756 average of 2021-22.

Riverside: 2.4 million residents, down 949 in a year vs. 4,458 average gain previous 2 years. There’s 6,813 more births vs. deaths compared to 4,631 average in 2021-22, 12,509 net outmigration vs. 2,464 pace in 2021-22, and 4,747 immigrants vs. 2,291 average of 2021-22.

San Bernardino: 2.2 million residents, down 8,670 in a year vs. 3,043 average decline previous 2 years. There’s 9,196 more births vs. deaths compared to 6,239 average in 2021-22, 22,203 net outmigration vs. 11,628 outflow pace in 2021-22, and 4,337 immigrants vs. 2,347 average of 2021-22

Ventura: 825,937 residents, down 4,497 in a year vs. 6,890 average decline previous 2 years. There’s 1,760 more births vs. deaths compared to 1,531 average in 2021-22, 7,774 net outmigration vs. 9,065 outflow pace in 2021-22, and 1,517 immigrants vs. 644 average in 2021-22

Orange County Register

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Southern California drops another 37,149 residents as pace of population loss slows

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