NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- After several years of decline, California's population grew by almost a quarter of a million residents in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, a rebound that brings the Golden State almost back to its pre-pandemic numbers.
"The numbers are not all rosy," said the Los Angeles Times on Monday. "California experienced a slower growth rate than the country as a whole, particularly large states in the fast-growing South. It also experienced the nation's largest domestic migration loss."
However, experts say California's new population figures represent an important turnaround, the report noted.
"The big picture is California is growing again," Hans Johnson, a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, was quoted as saying. "It shows California has a pretty healthy growth rate. The number of people who are coming into the state from abroad has increased, the number of people leaving for other states has decreased. There are still substantial flows to other states, but that's not as large as it was." ■