SAN DIEGO — San Diego County’s population is rapidly shrinking.
Population migration
As housing and the cost of living in San Diego County continue to skyrocket, tens of thousands of people found a new place to call home in 2023.
Data released by the United States Census Bureau revealed that 30,745 more people moved out of San Diego County than moved into this region last year.
Numbers
- The total number of residents that San Diego County lost to migration nearly doubled compared to 2022. The Census Bureau estimates San Diego County lost 15,956 residents in 2022 compared to 30,745 in 2023.
- The high cost of living has driven the steady population decline in the county.
- The Census Bureau estimates that between 2020 and 2023, San Diego County saw a -.09% population decline.
- San Diego County was ranked #9 in the U.S. for top domestic negative net migration in 2023.
- Los Angeles County was ranked #1 in the U.S. and lost 119,037 residents.
Population gains
Despite the population losses in counties across California, including in San Diego County, more of the nation's counties experienced population gains in 2023.
According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, nearly 60% of counties gained residents in 2023. Across the United States' 3,144 counties, the average change from 2022 to 2023 was up 0.17 from the previous year.
“Domestic migration patterns are changing, and the impact on counties is especially evident,” said Lauren Bowers, chief of the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Branch. “Areas which experienced high levels of domestic out-migration during the pandemic, such as in the Midwest and Northeast, are now seeing more counties with population growth. Meanwhile, county population growth is slowing down out west, such as in Arizona and Idaho.”
To read the full study, click here.
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