California Population, Economy, Jobs & Key Trends | Data Lab Region: California Coverage: 1937 - 2025 Report ID: RH-186F6525B8899583 URL: https://greenblog.co.kr/en/data-report/california-population-economy-jobs-key-trends-data-lab-3/ === Full report === California’s 2011–2024 pattern is defined by a long population expansion that turns after 2021, while income and home value rise strongly after early lows. Unemployment follows a separate path, reaching an early high in 2013 and then declining over the longer run. Population growth initially ran against weaker income and housing Population rises from 36,969,200 in 2011 to 37,659,181 in 2013. Median household income slips from $61,632 to $61,094, while median home value falls from $421,600 to $366,400. Unemployment reaches the high point of the supplied series in 2013, making the opening phase a period of divergence rather than uniform expansion. After 2013, income and housing recover while unemployment moves lower Median household income reaches $63,783 in 2016, $75,235 in 2019 and $84,097 in 2021. Home value also turns upward after 2013, reaching $505,000 in 2019 and $573,200 in 2021. Population continues rising to 39,455,353 in 2021. This is the phase where stronger income and housing readings increasingly overlap with lower unemployment and continued population growth. The latest period brings a population reversal but continued income and housing gains Population falls to 39,356,104 in 2022 and 39,242,785 in 2023 before edging up to 39,287,377 in 2024. Median household income reaches $99,122 and median home value $734,700. The verified 2011–2024 changes are 2,318,177 people, $37,490 in household income and $313,100 in home value. Unemployment is higher in 2024 than in 2023 but below 2011. One statewide series spans very different California regions Sacramento anchors state government, while Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego represent distinct metropolitan systems. LAX and the Port of Los Angeles connect Southern California to global passenger and freight networks. Yosemite National Park and UC Berkeley add natural and research anchors, illustrating why statewide averages combine very different local housing, labor and settlement conditions. Infrastructure and wildfire milestones add context without proving causation The new East Span of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge opened in 2013, California High-Speed Rail held its official Fresno groundbreaking in 2015, and the first major phase of Oroville spillway reconstruction was completed in 2017. CAL FIRE identifies 2020 as California’s largest modern wildfire season. These milestones distinguish the regional timeline, but timing alone does not prove they caused the statistical changes. Sources US_EIA · Total primary energy productionUS_EIA · Total energy consumptionUS_CENSUS_DATA_API · PopulationUS_CENSUS_DATA_API · Median household incomeUS_CENSUS_DATA_API · Median home valueUS_CENSUS_DATA_API · Unemployment rate FAQ Did California’s population rise continuously? No. It rises through 2021 to 39,455,353, falls in 2022 and 2023, and edges back to 39,287,377 in 2024. When did median home value turn upward? The supplied series reaches its low at $366,400 in 2013. Every later annual observation through 2024 is higher than the previous one. Do infrastructure projects or wildfires explain the data changes? No. They provide regional context, but the evidence does not establish causal relationships with the four statistical series. California combines a long population expansion that turns after 2021 with sustained gains in income and housing after early lows. Unemployment also falls substantially from its 2013 high. The 2024 population rebound is small, leaving the four measures on distinct trajectories. === Metrics === Total primary energy production 2000 2695702 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2001 2585886 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2002 2596529 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2003 2541168 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2004 2417353 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2005 2428268 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2006 2367407 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2007 2314406 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2008 2237327 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2009 2185760 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2010 2189874 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2011 2223940 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2012 1993744 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2013 2028803 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2014 2044691 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2015 2006388 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2016 1958410 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2017 1960358 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2018 1842883 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2019 1840241 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2020 1681364 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2021 1637331 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2022 1581473 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2023 1672157 Billion Btu Total primary energy production 2024 1708706 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2000 7504612 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2001 7610078 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2002 7595049 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2003 7454129 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2004 7835668 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2005 7741970 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2006 7785762 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2007 7923319 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2008 7748640 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2009 7429624 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2010 7271117 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2011 7187937 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2012 7074252 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2013 7142804 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2014 7054368 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2015 7138191 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2016 7137620 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2017 7146703 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2018 7294353 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2019 7232052 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2020 6433619 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2021 6778817 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2022 6857539 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2023 6814876 Billion Btu Total energy consumption 2024 6855450 Billion Btu Population 2011 36969200 persons Population 2012 37325068 persons Population 2013 37659181 persons Population 2014 38066920 persons Population 2015 38421464 persons Population 2016 38654206 persons Population 2017 38982847 persons Population 2018 39148760 persons Population 2019 39283497 persons Population 2020 39346023 persons Population 2021 39455353 persons Population 2022 39356104 persons Population 2023 39242785 persons Population 2024 39287377 persons Median household income 2011 61632 US dollars Median household income 2012 61400 US dollars Median household income 2013 61094 US dollars Median household income 2014 61489 US dollars Median household income 2015 61818 US dollars Median household income 2016 63783 US dollars Median household income 2017 67169 US dollars Median household income 2018 71228 US dollars Median household income 2019 75235 US dollars Median household income 2020 78672 US dollars Median household income 2021 84097 US dollars Median household income 2022 91905 US dollars Median household income 2023 96334 US dollars Median household income 2024 99122 US dollars Median home value 2011 421600 US dollars Median home value 2012 383900 US dollars Median home value 2013 366400 US dollars Median home value 2014 371400 US dollars Median home value 2015 385500 US dollars Median home value 2016 409300 US dollars Median home value 2017 443400 US dollars Median home value 2018 475900 US dollars Median home value 2019 505000 US dollars Median home value 2020 538500 US dollars Median home value 2021 573200 US dollars Median home value 2022 659300 US dollars Median home value 2023 695400 US dollars Median home value 2024 734700 US dollars Unemployment rate 2011 10.117160364758 percent Unemployment rate 2012 11.028517700141 percent Unemployment rate 2013 11.532679990379 percent Unemployment rate 2014 10.985841058496 percent Unemployment rate 2015 9.8815771659335 percent Unemployment rate 2016 8.741693261176 percent Unemployment rate 2017 7.6527653672729 percent Unemployment rate 2018 6.7318767099017 percent Unemployment rate 2019 6.059647687064 percent Unemployment rate 2020 6.1837425518741 percent Unemployment rate 2021 6.525079350017 percent Unemployment rate 2022 6.4064782006944 percent Unemployment rate 2023 6.4169155763533 percent Unemployment rate 2024 6.6052283218857 percent === Timeline === 1937 1937 - Golden Gate Bridge opened — The suspension bridge linking San Francisco and Marin County opened to vehicle traffic and became a defining Bay Area gateway. 1960 1960 - State Water Project financing approved — Statewide voter approval created the financing basis for large-scale water-storage and conveyance infrastructure. 1972 1972 - BART began revenue service — A new regional rapid-transit system began passenger service in the Bay Area, opening a new phase of metropolitan commuting. 2001 2001 - Total primary energy production: 2585886 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7610078 Billion Btu 2002 2002 - Total primary energy production: 2596529 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7595049 Billion Btu 2003 2003 - Total primary energy production: 2541168 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7454129 Billion Btu 2004 2004 - Total primary energy production: 2417353 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7835668 Billion Btu 2005 2005 - Total primary energy production: 2428268 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7741970 Billion Btu 2006 2006 - Total primary energy production: 2367407 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7785762 Billion Btu 2007 2007 - Total primary energy production: 2314406 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7923319 Billion Btu 2008 2008 - Total primary energy production: 2237327 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7748640 Billion Btu 2009 2009 - Total primary energy production: 2185760 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7429624 Billion Btu 2010 2010 - Total primary energy production: 2189874 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7271117 Billion Btu 2011 2011 - Total primary energy production: 2223940 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7187937 Billion Btu 2012 2012 - Total primary energy production: 1993744 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7074252 Billion Btu - Population: 37325068 persons - Median household income: 61400 US dollars - Median home value: 383900 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 11.028517700141 percent 2013 2013 - Total primary energy production: 2028803 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7142804 Billion Btu - Population: 37659181 persons - Median household income: 61094 US dollars - Median home value: 366400 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 11.532679990379 percent - New East Span of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge opened — The new eastern span of the Bay Bridge opened, replacing a critical road connection between Oakland and Yerba Buena Island. 2014 2014 - Total primary energy production: 2044691 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7054368 Billion Btu - Population: 38066920 persons - Median household income: 61489 US dollars - Median home value: 371400 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 10.985841058496 percent 2015 2015 - Total primary energy production: 2006388 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7138191 Billion Btu - Population: 38421464 persons - Median household income: 61818 US dollars - Median home value: 385500 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 9.8815771659335 percent - California High-Speed Rail held its official groundbreaking — An official groundbreaking in Fresno marked the start of the construction phase for California High-Speed Rail. 2016 2016 - Total primary energy production: 1958410 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7137620 Billion Btu - Population: 38654206 persons - Median household income: 63783 US dollars - Median home value: 409300 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 8.741693261176 percent 2017 2017 - Total primary energy production: 1960358 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7146703 Billion Btu - Population: 38982847 persons - Median household income: 67169 US dollars - Median home value: 443400 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 7.6527653672729 percent - First phase of Oroville spillway reconstruction completed — The first major reconstruction phase was completed after damage to the main Oroville spillway. 2018 2018 - Total primary energy production: 1842883 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7294353 Billion Btu - Population: 39148760 persons - Median household income: 71228 US dollars - Median home value: 475900 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 6.7318767099017 percent 2019 2019 - Total primary energy production: 1840241 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 7232052 Billion Btu - Population: 39283497 persons - Median household income: 75235 US dollars - Median home value: 505000 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 6.059647687064 percent 2020 2020 - Total primary energy production: 1681364 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 6433619 Billion Btu - Population: 39346023 persons - Median household income: 78672 US dollars - Median home value: 538500 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 6.1837425518741 percent - Major modern wildfire season — Large wildfires across California placed severe pressure on forests, communities, air quality, power systems and evacuation networks. 2021 2021 - Total primary energy production: 1637331 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 6778817 Billion Btu - Population: 39455353 persons - Median household income: 84097 US dollars - Median home value: 573200 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 6.525079350017 percent 2022 2022 - Total primary energy production: 1581473 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 6857539 Billion Btu - Population: 39356104 persons - Median household income: 91905 US dollars - Median home value: 659300 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 6.4064782006944 percent 2023 2023 - Total primary energy production: 1672157 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 6814876 Billion Btu - Population: 39242785 persons - Median household income: 96334 US dollars - Median home value: 695400 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 6.4169155763533 percent 2024 2024 - Total primary energy production: 1708706 Billion Btu - Total energy consumption: 6855450 Billion Btu - Population: 39287377 persons - Median household income: 99122 US dollars - Median home value: 734700 US dollars - Unemployment rate: 6.6052283218857 percent 2025 2025 - Major Los Angeles County wildfires — Multiple major wildfires in Los Angeles County caused severe damage to communities and local infrastructure. === Regional places === - Government: Sacramento — California’s state capital and center of statewide legislative and executive functions. - Major city: Los Angeles — California’s largest city and a major economic, financial and cultural center of Southern California. - Major city: San Francisco — A core Bay Area city with major roles in finance, technology, culture, tourism and regional transportation. - Major city: San Diego — A major Southern California coastal city with extensive coastline, parks, open space and urban services. - Nature & parks: Yosemite National Park — A defining Sierra Nevada national park known for valleys, waterfalls, meadows, giant sequoias and wilderness. - Airport: Los Angeles International Airport — Los Angeles’ major international airport and a key passenger gateway for Southern California. - Port: Port of Los Angeles — A major public seaport in San Pedro Bay linking Southern California with international trade. - Research & innovation: University of California, Berkeley — A major Bay Area public research university with broad research and education activity. === Sources === - US_EIA TEPRB https://api.eia.gov/v2/seds/data/ - US_EIA TETCB https://api.eia.gov/v2/seds/data/ - US_CENSUS_DATA_API B01003_001E https://api.census.gov/data/2024/acs/acs5 - US_CENSUS_DATA_API B19013_001E https://api.census.gov/data/2024/acs/acs5 - US_CENSUS_DATA_API B25077_001E https://api.census.gov/data/2024/acs/acs5 - US_CENSUS_DATA_API B23025_003E+B23025_005E https://api.census.gov/data/2024/acs/acs5