California Catching Up: Population Bounces Back in 2024

In 2024, California added more residents than it had in years, finally making progress towards its pre-pandemic population high. The state's population grew by about 233, 000 residents, bringing the total to just under 39. 5 million. Experts see this as a positive sign after a period of decline, known as the "California exodus, " which was partly blamed on high costs and strict regulations. However, the state is still playing catch-up compared to rapid growth in places like Texas and Florida. Jeff Bellisario, from the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, says it will take a few more years for California to fully recover. The overall U. S. population also grew, with an increase of about 3. 3 million people. This growth was driven by international migration and revised figures from previous years.