San Francisco has a 2024 population of 788,478 with population dropped by nearly 34,000 over the past five years, placing it among the top four counties in the nation with the largest declines, according to new U.S. Census Bureau estimates released last week.
The city saw a reduction of 33,723 residents during this period, ranking it alongside Los Angeles (which lost 249,646 residents), Cook County (37,907), and Baltimore County (37,507) as the areas with the most significant population declines nationwide.
Population Changes in California Counties (2018–2023)
County
2018 Population
2023 Population
5-Year Change
5-Year Change %
San Francisco
870,044
836,321
−33,723
−3.9%
Alpine
1,146
1,695
+549
+47.9%
Trinity
12,862
15,886
+3,024
+23.5%
San Benito
59,416
66,056
+6,640
+11.2%
Yuba
75,493
83,079
+7,586
+10%
Amador
37,829
41,029
+3,200
+8.5%
Placer
380,077
412,435
+32,358
+8.5%
San Joaquin
732,212
787,416
+55,204
+7.5%
Lake
64,148
68,139
+3,991
+6.2%
Merced
269,075
285,597
+16,522
+6.1%
Plumas
18,699
19,607
+908
+4.9%
Sacramento
1,510,023
1,584,047
+74,024
+4.9%
Inyo
18,085
18,803
+718
+4%
Mendocino
87,422
90,709
+3,287
+3.8%
Fresno
978,130
1,012,152
+34,022
+3.5%
Tehama
63,373
65,520
+2,147
+3.4%
Nevada
99,092
102,452
+3,360
+3.4%
Tulare
460,477
475,774
+15,297
+3.3%
Sutter
95,872
98,971
+3,099
+3.2%
Kern
883,053
910,433
+27,380
+3.1%
El Dorado
186,661
192,299
+5,638
+3%
Solano
438,530
450,824
+12,294
+2.8%
Riverside
2,383,286
2,449,909
+66,623
+2.8%
Contra Costa
1,133,247
1,161,458
+28,211
+2.5%
San Bernardino
2,135,413
2,187,816
+52,403
+2.5%
Madera
155,013
158,790
+3,777
+2.4%
Stanislaus
539,301
552,250
+12,949
+2.4%
Colusa
21,464
21,895
+431
+2%
Kings
150,075
152,830
+2,755
+1.8%
Calaveras
45,235
45,995
+760
+1.7%
Tuolumne
53,932
54,873
+941
+1.7%
Shasta
179,085
181,554
+2,469
+1.4%
Yolo
214,977
217,782
+2,805
+1.3%
Siskiyou
43,540
43,834
+294
+0.7%
Monterey
433,212
435,834
+2,622
+0.6%
Alameda
1,643,700
1,651,949
+8,249
+0.5%
Santa Barbara
443,738
443,975
+237
+0.1%
Orange
3,164,182
3,164,063
−119
±0%
Lassen
31,185
31,177
−8
±0%
San Luis Obispo
281,455
281,486
+31
±0%
Humboldt
135,768
135,418
−350
−0.3%
Imperial
180,216
179,319
−897
−0.5%
Del Norte
27,424
27,293
−131
−0.5%
San Diego
3,302,833
3,282,782
−20,051
−0.6%
Marin
260,295
258,765
−1,530
−0.6%
Santa Clara
1,922,200
1,903,297
−18,903
−1%
Ventura
848,112
838,259
−9,853
−1.2%
Los Angeles
10,098,052
9,848,406
−249,646
−2.5%
San Mateo
765,935
745,100
−20,835
−2.7%
Mariposa
17,540
17,060
−480
−2.7%
Santa Cruz
273,765
266,021
−7,744
−2.8%
Sonoma
501,317
485,642
−15,675
−3.1%
Napa
140,530
136,070
−4,460
−3.2%
Modoc
8,938
8,646
−292
−3.3%
Sierra
2,930
2,731
−199
−6.8%
Mono
14,174
13,169
−1,005
−7.1%
Butte
227,075
209,470
−17,605
−7.8%
The decline is part of a larger trend in California’s shifting population patterns. Despite this, the state overall saw a modest increase of just over 94,000 residents, marking a 0.2% growth over the five-year period.
Los Angeles County recorded the most significant numerical drop in the state, losing nearly 250,000 residents — a 2.5% decrease. San Francisco’s population decline of 3.9% was the steepest in the nine-county Bay Area.
NEW: San Francisco population loss among largest in US per Census.
The city lost 3.9% of residents. More evidence people are tired of failed, radical Left-wing ideology leading to crime, homelessness, addiction and fiscal waste. https://t.co/fhXrVHivm7
— Richie Greenberg (@greenbergnation) December 16, 2024
Other Bay Area counties also saw population declines, with San Mateo losing 20,835 residents (a 2.7% decrease) and Santa Clara dropping by 18,903 residents (a 1.0% decrease). However, no county experienced a larger numerical or proportional loss than San Francisco.
In contrast, counties like Alameda (up 0.5%), Contra Costa (up 2.5%), and Solano (up 2.8%) saw population growth during the same period.
Coastal Areas Lose Population as Inland California Sees Growth
Between 2019 and 2023, California’s population grew by approximately 94,000 residents, reflecting a modest 0.2% increase according to the US Census.
Population declines were primarily concentrated in densely populated coastal regions, with San Francisco alone losing nearly 34,000 residents, or about 4% of its population.
In contrast, inland counties such as Sacramento, Riverside, and San Joaquin experienced significant growth, collectively adding nearly 200,000 new residents. Sacramento County saw an increase of 74,024 residents (4.9%), Riverside gained 66,623 residents (2.8%), and San Joaquin grew by 55,204 residents (7.5%), indicating a shift of California’s population toward inland areas.
Combined, the population growth in these three counties — nearly 49,000 residents — exceeded the number of people who left San Francisco. However, the nine-county Bay Area as a whole lost approximately 46,000 residents from 2018 to 2023.
The Bay Area, home to some of the nation’s most expensive zip codes, cities, and metropolitan areas during the Census Bureau’s reporting period, remains one of the country’s priciest regions in 2024.
