Modest growth as California population hits 37.8 MILLION
Modest growth as California population hits 37.8M
By JUDY LIN, Associated Press
12:16 p.m., Dec. 13, 2012
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California continues to grow at the same modest rate it did last year for a pace that brought the state population to more than 37.8 million, according to the state Department of Finance's latest population estimates released Thursday.
California added 256,000 people between July 2011 and July 2012. That's a growth rate of 0.7 percent, which is about the same as last year's rate.
The state found the bulk of California's growth was driven by natural births. Over the past year, the state logged more than a half million births compared with 234,000 deaths.
The report also found that the state lost 14,000 people due to net migration, meaning more people left California than the number of people who moved in.
While the state gained about 96,000 foreign immigrants, California lost nearly 110,000 people to other states.
Chief demographer Bill Schooling notes that a large chunk of those who left migrated out of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego counties.
The state uses different methodology than the Census Bureau to provide more timely information about population changes. In addition to tracking births and deaths, the state tracks driver's license address changes.
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