Share of the population by age and sex, five-year groups

Population of California, 2010–2025 · click to pick a year
Estimates up to 2019 are built on the 2010 Census, those from 2020 on the 2020 Census. A line that steps up or down between 2019 and 2020 reflects this re-basing, not a sudden change in population.

Year

-5 -1   2021  +1 +5

39,152,927 people lived in California on July 1, 2021: the largest population among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The median age was 37.8 years (United States: 38.9); children (18.1%) and older adults (15.7%) make up similar shares of the population. There were 97.6 men for every 100 women. Since 2010 the population has grown by 4.9%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025 estimates (resident population on July 1; public domain). Median age, shares, dependency ratios and rankings are calculated by PopulationPyramid.net from these estimates; the Census Bureau does not endorse this site.

Key indicators, 2021
Population
39,152,927
Rank by population
1st of 51
Median age
37.8
Men per 100 women
97.6
Under 15
18.1%
15–64
66.1%
65 and over
15.7%
Child dependency
27.4
Old-age dependency
23.8
Change since 2010
+4.9%
Dependency ratios count children under 15 or adults 65 and over per 100 residents aged 15 to 64.
Show the population by age group, 2021
AgeMenWomenTotalShare
0-41,122,5761,075,0732,197,6495.6%
5-91,207,8911,153,3212,361,2126.0%
10-141,298,4311,236,7972,535,2286.5%
15-191,297,5551,229,3992,526,9546.5%
20-241,380,8321,315,6442,696,4766.9%
25-291,439,5721,374,2422,813,8147.2%
30-341,463,9121,427,1702,891,0827.4%
35-391,385,8891,370,7242,756,6137.0%
40-441,267,3991,288,5172,555,9166.5%
45-491,175,5511,222,2022,397,7536.1%
50-541,217,3991,258,3022,475,7016.3%
55-591,198,2681,249,5682,447,8366.3%
60-641,127,7231,207,5752,335,2986.0%
65-69944,2041,058,7732,002,9775.1%
70-74753,849884,7891,638,6384.2%
75-79486,389602,0161,088,4052.8%
80-84302,854406,028708,8821.8%
85+273,217449,276722,4931.8%
How California compares with similar-sized states, 2021
RankStateResidentsRelative
1 California 39,152,927
2 Texas 29,572,672
3 Florida 21,836,698
4 New York 19,835,345
5 Pennsylvania 13,016,628
6 Illinois 12,703,354
7 Ohio 11,761,443
Frequently asked questions about California's population
What is the population of California?
California had an estimated 39,152,927 residents on July 1, 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program. That ranks 1st among the 51 states and the District of Columbia.
What is the median age in California?
The median age in California was 37.8 years in 2021, the 40th oldest of the 51 states and DC. That is 1.1 years younger than the national median of 38.9.
How many people in California are 65 or older?
About 6,161,395 residents of California (15.7%) were 65 or older in 2021, against 18.1% under 15 and 66.1% aged 15 to 64.
What does the population pyramid of California show?
In 2021, California: children (18.1%) and older adults (15.7%) make up similar shares of the population. There were 97.6 men for every 100 women.
How fast is the population of California changing?
The population of California grew by 4.9% between 2010 and 2021, and by -0.9% in the last year.
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