Population Decline in Los Angeles County
Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that Los Angeles County has experienced the largest population decrease in the nation.
A press release from the Census Bureau indicated that the county’s population fell by nearly 54,000 residents between July 2024 and July 2025. In contrast, Pinellas County, Florida, saw a decline of about 12,000. Although Los Angeles is the most populous county in the U.S., its percentage decline isn’t the highest.
Interestingly, neighboring regions like Riverside and San Bernardino counties, as well as the Las Vegas area, have seen population increases. This might help to explain some of the outflow from Los Angeles.
California as a whole isn’t immune to this trend. San Diego County also experienced a drop of over 5,300 people. According to the San Diego Union Tribune, factors such as declining birth rates and reduced immigration—both domestic and international—are contributing to this decline.
“Many of these factors are largely unnoticed by the public as the population has remained steady over time,” noted Dowell Myers, a demographer and professor emeritus at USC. “However, if you take away immigration, it’s clear what happens: It’s going to be tough to find workers for various essential jobs.”
In recent years, California has undergone substantial demographic shifts. The state recorded its first population decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, losing a congressional seat as a result, as reported by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). Key reasons included fewer births, higher morbidity rates, and diminished international migration. Los Angeles County has experienced its most significant drop since the 2020 Census, going from over 10 million residents in 2020 to an estimated fewer than 9.7 million in 2025, as per KTLA5.
“If the current trends persist, California could lose up to four of its 52 congressional seats by the time of the 2030 apportionment,” PPIC stated.
Interestingly, it’s also been observed that more Republicans than Democrats are leaving the state, which could shift the political landscape to the left.
Census data shows that no California county ranks among the top 10 for overall population growth or percentage growth compared to other metropolitan and small areas in the U.S.
U-Haul’s January press release highlighted that California had the highest number of people moving out, but cautioned that these figures don’t necessarily correlate with population growth.
“While California had more people leaving than any other state, the net migration loss in 2025 was less than in 2024,” the release noted.
Despite these challenges, California remains the most populous state. Although its growth rate has rebounded somewhat since the sharp decline during the pandemic, it still falls behind several other states.
There are some inconsistencies between the population statistics provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and those from the California Department of Treasury.
