California’s population shrinks for second year in a row

California's population has shrunk for the second year in a row, according to newly released figures.

Officials blamed the decrease on declining birth rates, higher deaths from the pandemic and fewer people moving into the state from elsewhere in the US. California lost 117,552 people in 2021, putting its population at 39,185,605, the California department of finance said Monday.

Although California still has the largest state population in the country, with Texas in second place, the decrease marks a new trend. California's population decreased for the first time in 2020, the result of a multi-year slow-down in growth that led to the state losing a seat in Congress after the 2020 US Census. Population dipped to just under 39.5m.

After years of steady population growth for California that put it close to having 40m residents, the state's population is now back to where it was in 2016.

State officials blamed the loss on a declining birth rate for California coupled with an increase in deaths, mostly because of Covid. Also, fewer people are moving to California from other states and state officials have said that federal immigration policies have drastically curtailed the number of people moving to the state from other countries.

The trend has played out across the state, with the majority of counties - 34 of 58 - losing people. Those included large counties such as Los Angeles county, the nation's most populous, with 9.8m residents, and San Diego and Orange counties.

Some areas did see a population increase, according to the Sacramento Bee, including counties in the central valley, southern California's Inland Empire, and northern California.