Thread: California’s population: 20 million in 1970, nearly 40 million now

California’s population: 20 million in 1970, nearly 40 million now

By Melody Gutierrez
Updated 5:36 pm, Thursday, December 21, 2017

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Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
Crowded sidewalk on Stockton Street in Chinatown in San Francisco, Calif. on Saturday, February 15, 2015.

SACRAMENTO — If it seems more crowded in California, that’s because it is.

California’s population is nearly 40 million, a number that has steadily grown despite birth rates declining to the fourth-lowest level in more than a century, according to state estimates released Thursday.

State Department of Finance data showed that between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017, California’s population grew by 301,000 people to 39.6 million, a growth rate of nearly 1 percent. That’s an increase of 2.4 million people since 2010 and double the number of residents who lived in California in 1970.

“The most important factor for the (population) increase is there are more births than deaths,” said Phuong Nguyen, a Department of Finance researcher.

http://www.sfgate.com/g00/politics/article/California-population-grows-to-nearly-40-million-12448737.php?i10c.encReferrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29v Z2xlLmNvbS8%3D&i10c.ua=

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