California reverses years of decline with 67,000-person growth spurt, but ... trends now

California has in recent years been dogged by rampant homelessness, drug addiction, and eye-watering living costs that forced residents out in droves to Arizona, Texas and further afield.

Now, it looks like the Golden State is bouncing back.

California grew by some 67,000 people last year, its first gain since 2019, says an estimate from the state Department of Finance.

This ends a population decline that's dogged Gov. Gavin Newsom — widely seen as a future Democratic presidential candidate — through much of his tenure.

The small increase represents only a growth rate of 0.17 percent.

That is by no means a surge.

But officials say it signals a return to steady population growth after years of Covid-19 disruption.

Newsom took a victory lap.

'People from across the nation and the globe are coming to the Golden State to pursue the California Dream,' he said.

On the West Coast, they 'can experience the success of the world's 5th largest economy,' he added.

The population gain is attributed to more people immigrating to California from overseas.

Also, fewer people are dying from the coronavirus pandemic, and fewer are leaving California for cheaper living elsewhere.

Legal immigration to California from other countries slumped in the pandemic amid tighter rules under then-president Donald Trump.

It bounced back in 2023 with a net gain of 114,200 people, to nearly pre-pandemic levels.

State officials called it a 'stable foundation for continued growth.'

But that growth will likely be a lot smaller than in decades past, said Eric McGhee, an expert at the Public Policy Institute of California.

'It's going to be better for the state in terms of its total population,' McGhee said.