California’s Population Growth Is Lowest Since 1900

  • Covid-19 partly to blame as deaths rise, immigration slows
  • Elon Musk underscores trend of residents moving elsewhere
People walk on the pier at sunset in Manhattan Beach, California, U.S.Photographer: Patrick Fallon/Bloomberg
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California added just 21,200 residents in the fiscal year that ended July 1, the slowest rate of growth since 1900.

The 0.05% increase brings California’s total population to 39.8 million, according to estimates from the state’s Department of Finance released Wednesday. That was down from 0.23% growth the year before, also a century-long low.