Los Angeles County lost 13,241 residents in the past year, the fourth-biggest drop among the nation’s 100 most-populous counties.
Newly released U.S. Bureau Census population stats show the county had 10.11 million residents as of July 1, 2018 — still No. 1 among the nation’s 100 largest counties. Only Illinois’ Cook County (Chicago) and New York’s Kings (Brooklyn) and Queens counties lost more folks in the year. On a percentage basis, that population dip — equal to 0.13% — ranked the county No. 87 among the Top 100.
It’s the second straight decline as in 2017 Los Angeles County lost 1,781 people — or a 0.02% loss. From 2010 to 2018, the county’s population grew at a 35,386 annual pace, No. 4 among the 100.
My trusty spreadsheet put this population change into some perspective while noting population growth has cooled regionally and nationwide …
Regionally: The four counties covered by the Southern California News Group had 17.9 million residents, up 44,711 in a year — or a 0.25% gain last year. In 2017, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties added a combined 61,145 people — 0.34% growth. From 2010 to 2018, SoCal population grew at a 104,037 yearly pace.
Statewide: California had 39.6 million residents — the most populous state — up 157,696 in a year — No. 3 increase. But the growth rate of 0.4% for 2018 is just No. 25 nationally. Also, growth is down from 2017 when California added 190,222 people — a 0.49% increase. From 2010 to 2018, California’s population grew at a 279,518 annual pace — No. 3 among the states.
Nationwide: Population growth cools, too: 327.2 million U.S. residents as of July 1, up 2 million in a year vs. 2017’s increase of 2.1 million. From 2010 to 2018, the number of Americans grew at a 2.23 million annual pace.
Big counties: The 100 most-populous had 139.6 million residents residents in ’18, up 829,798 in a year vs. 2017’s growth of 916,518 people. From 2010 to 2018, big counties averaged 1.23 million yearly growth.
