Think Fresno has more people? You’re right. San Joaquin Valley grows while state shrinks
California’s population shrank by about 173,000 people last year, but new state data shows that of the state’s largest counties, Fresno County was one of only a few that bucked that trend.
Among the 10 most populous counties, only Fresno, Riverside and Sacramento counties saw net growth in their population between mid-2020 and mid-2021, according to data released Friday by the state Department of Finance and its Demographic Research Unit.
The estimated statewide population decline amounted to a drop of less than 0.45%, but still leaves the state as the most populous in the nation with almost 39.4 million people.
Demographers consider several different components of change as the estimate the population in a county, state or other geographic territory, including births and deaths along with migration into and out of an area.
In Valley counties, one-year population changes according to the state data included:
- Fresno County: Net population growth of 4,884, or 0.48%, to 1,013,744 people. Change components included 13,830 births, 9,561 deaths, and net a net migration gain of 615 people.
- Kings County: Net population growth of 532, or 0.35%, to 153,617 people. Components included 2,242 births, 1,206 deaths, and a net migration loss of 504 people.
- Madera County: Net population growth of 135, or 0.09%, to 156,654 people. Components included 2,099 births, 1,458 deaths, and a net migration loss of 506 people.
- Merced County: Net population growth of 2,320, or 0.83%, to 283,193 people. Components included 3,750 births, 2,382 deaths, and a net migration gain of 952 people.
- Tulare County: Net population growth of 1,516, or 0.32%, to 474,998 people. Components included 6,676 births, 4,162 deaths, and a net migration loss of 998 people.
Statewide deaths in 2020-21 added up to 344,245, or about 76,400 higher than the pre-pandemic three-year average from 2016 through 2019. About 56,500 of those excess deaths were “separately associated with the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the Department of Finance’s data release.
California births in 2020-21 added up to about 420,300.
Over the same 12-month period, California experienced outward migration of almost 277,000 people, while only 27,400 newcomers came into the state. Between natural factors such as births and deaths, and migration factors, California’s net population change was about 173,170 less than the previous year.
The Department of Finance issues population estimates twice each year. The latest release is based partially on the 2010 U.S. Census because of the lack of detail available so far from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 federal census conducted last year.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Census Bureau released its official population counts for April 2020, officially placing Fresno County’s population at 1,008,654 people.
This story was originally published December 17, 2021 at 6:15 PM.
