California's population falls in first-ever yearly decline

On Friday the state's Finance Department said the population now stands at just below 39.5 million residents, - a drop of 182,000.

The reasons are varied but involve the pause on migration due to the pandemic, officials say.

It comes after the once-in-a-decade US census recorded slowing state growth.

The decline of 0.46% came between January 2020 and January 2021. The loss represents approximately twice the population of the city of Santa Barbara.

Since joining the US in 1850 amid a gold rush, California has become the most populous in the country.

Officials say this is the first time the population has declined since 1900.

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The Golden State's growth began to slow after the end of the Cold War and as US defence spending declined. For the last thirty years, more people have moved out of the state than in, demographers say.

The recent decline comes as the state sees an increase in yearly deaths due to the coronavirus and as the US birth rate continues to fall.

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