Population of California 2023, by race and ethnicity

In 2023, the number of Hispanic and Latino residents in California had surpassed the number of White residents, with about 15.76 million Hispanics compared to 12.96 million white residents. 

California’s residents

California has always held a special place in the American imagination as a place where people can start a new life and increase their personal fortunes. Perhaps due partly to this, California is the most populous state in the United States, with over 39 million residents, which is a significant increase from the number of residents in 1960. California is also the U.S. state with the largest population of foreign born residents.

The Californian economy

The Californian economy is particularly strong and continually contributes a significant amount to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the United States. Its per-capita GDP is also high, which indicates a high standard of living for its residents. Additionally, the median household income in California has more than doubled from 1990 levels.