California Population Decline: Liberal Policies to Blame

Closing the books on 2021, the California Department of Finance recently announced that the state suffered its second consecutive annual population drop. Reporting the grim news, the New York Times blamed four phenomena: “Deaths from Covid. Aging baby boomers. Fewer children. Restrictions on immigration.”

There are problems with this explanation. Other big states — Texas and Florida, for instance — suffered more Covid deaths than California, but their populations grew during the same period. Baby boomers age everywhere, and when they stop aging we call them “dead.” International immigration fell everywhere in the U.S. during Covid, including California, but with 200,000 people showing up at the southern border every month, that’s over. Family formation slows wherever young people can’t afford the costs of buying or renting a home and filling it with children.

About the Author

Will Swaim

Will Swaim is the CEO of the California Policy Center and, with David L. Bahnsen, a co-host of National Review’s Radio Free California podcast.

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Closing the books on 2021, the California Department of Finance recently announced that the state suffered its second consecutive annual population drop. Reporting the grim news, the New York Times blamed four phenomena: “Deaths from Covid. Aging baby boomers. Fewer children. Restrictions on immigration.”

There are problems with this explanation. Other big states — Texas and Florida, for instance — suffered more Covid deaths than California, but their populations grew during the same period. Baby boomers age everywhere, and when they stop aging we call them “dead.” International immigration fell everywhere in the U.S. during Covid, including California, but with 200,000 people showing up at the southern border every month, that’s over. Family formation slows wherever young people can’t afford the costs of buying or renting a home and filling it with children.