The latest census data shows how significant California's "mass exodus" has been.
The U.S. Census Bureau's latest report stated that more than two-thirds of the nation's counties experienced a natural population decrease in 2021 and that the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on births and deaths was the primary contributor.
For San Diego, whose population had steadily grown for decades, the decline actually started before the pandemic. Lack of housing and the high cost of living have continued to make America's Finest City unlivable for many.
Over 5,000 San Diego residents died as a result of the pandemic, and according to the census bureaus data, more than 7,000 moved away.
- April 1, 2019 3,298,634
- July 1, 2019 3,297,252
- July 1, 2021 3,286,069
Across the U.S. these 10 counties experienced that greatest population loss (April 1 - July 1, 2021):
- Los Angeles County, California — lost 184,465 residents
- New York County, New York — lost 117,375 residents
- Cook County, Illinois — lost 102,395 residents
- Kings County, New York — lost 95,022 residents
- Queens County, New York — lost 74,321 residents
- San Francisco County, California — lost 58,764 residents
- Santa Clara County, California — lost 50,751 residents
- Bronx County, New York — lost 47,706 residents
- Alameda County, California — lost 33,797 residents
- Miami-Dade County, Florida — lost 38,990 residents
On the flip side, more than 35,000 people moved just north of San Diego to Riverside County.