- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
New report shows Lake County population at 14-year low
The California Department of Finance’s annual demographic report showed the state’s population dipped by 182,083 residents last year, bringing the state’s total number of residents to 39,466,855 people as of Jan. 1, 2021.
The Department of Finance said California’s negative growth rate of -0.46% in 2020 represents the first 12-month decline since state population estimates have been recorded.
The report showed that Lake County’s population declined slightly, by -0.1%, with the most recent population totaling 63,940 as of Jan. 1.
That’s the lowest population for Lake County since January of 2007, based on Department of Finance records.
That -0.1% decline also was reported in the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport. The report said Clearlake’s population totaled 13,993 as of Jan. 1, while Lakeport’s total number of residents was 4,774. The population for the balance of the county totaled 45,173.
In Lake’s neighboring counties, the following numbers were reported:
— Colusa: 1% growth rate; population totals 22,248 residents.
— Glenn: 0.3% growth rate; population totals 29,679 residents.
— Mendocino: growth declined, -1.2%; population totals 86,669 residents.
— Napa: growth declined, -1%; population totals 137,637 residents.
— Sonoma: growth declined, -1.5%; population totals 484,207 residents.
— Yolo: growth declined, -1.7%; population totals 217,500 residents.
The Department of Finance contributed California’s year-over-year population decrease to three principal factors:
— Continuing declines in natural increase — births minus non-COVID-19 deaths, for a loss of 24,000;
— Continuing declines in foreign immigration, accelerated in recent years by federal policy that resulted in the loss of 100,000; and
— Deaths in 2020 separately associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, with 51,000 Californians dying due to the pandemic.
The report said contributing to the state’s population growth slowing and plateauing in recent years is the slowdown in natural increase, which is a nationwide trend affecting California more than other states.
The COVID-19 pandemic increased California deaths in 2020 by 51,000 — 19% above the average death rate for the three preceding years.
“Excess deaths” — rates above the past three-year average — were observed in 51 of the state’s 58 counties.
Of those 51 counties, 19 reported death rates up to 10% above average, 20 reported deaths between 10 and 20% above average, and 12 reported deaths 20% or more above average.
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