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Estimated Population of Los Angeles County
Annually, 1971-2022

Santa Monica Pier

Crowds of people at the Santa Monica Pier. Photo courtesy of Free-Photos at Pixabay.com.

California & Federal Estimates

Also see:
-- Estimated Population by City in Los Angeles County
-- Historical General Population of Los Angeles County, 1850-present


In year-to-year estimated population changes from 2020 to 2021, per the U.S. Census, Los Angeles County saw its largest decrease over at least the last 51 years. The county's population fell by 159,621 or 1.6 percent. It was also the single largest population decrease for any U.S. county. It should be noted, however, that Los Angeles County is, by far, the most populous county in the United States. Seven of the nation's 30 most populous counties saw even larger percentage decreases than did Los Angeles County (four of five New York City counties, Santa Clara and Alameda Counties in California, and Cook County in Illinois). Furthermore, Los Angeles County suffered the loss of more than 24,400 lives to COVID-19 by the Census 2021 population estimate date of July 1, 2021.


California Demographic Research Unit Estimates
As of January 1

Year Estimated Population Change From Previous Year (%)
2022 9,861,224 -0.71%
2021 9,931,338 -2.02%
2020 10,135,614 -0.27%
2019 10,163,139 -0.29%
2018 10,192,593 +0.11%
2017 10,181,162 +0.30%
2016 10,150,386 +0.25%
2015 10,124,800 +0.45%
2014 10,078,942 +0.53%
2013 10,025,721 +0.69%
2012 9,956,888 +0.77%
2011 9,881,070 +0.60%
2010* 9,822,121 +0.21%
2009 9,801,096 +0.16%
2008 9,785,474 +0.05%
2007 9,780,808 -0.18%
2006 9,798,609 -0.18%
2005 9,816,153 +0.09%
2004 9,806,944 +0.51%
2003 9,756,914 +0.80%
2002 9,679,212 +0.93%
2001 9,590,080 +1.19%
2000* 9,477,651 +1.58%
1999 9,330,171 +1.13%
1998 9,225,813 +0.86%
1997 9,147,051 +0.46%
1996 9,104,719 +0.01%
1995 9,103,896 +0.10%
1994 9,095,157 +0.25%
1993 9,072,159 +0.71%
1992 9,007,999 +1.12%
1991 8,908,269 +0.86%
1990* 8,832,500 +1.45%
1989 8,706,200 +1.41%
1988 8,585,300 +1.57%
1987 8,452,200 +2.00%
1986 8,286,100 +2.03%
1985 8,121,000 +1.70%
1984 7,985,000 +1.76%
1983 7,846,900 +2.04%
1982 7,689,900 +1.79%
1981 7,554,900 +1.52%
1980 7,441,700 +1.03%
1979 7,365,900 +0.88%
1978 7,301,400 +0.77%
1977 7,250,600 +0.44%
1976 7,219,100 +0.92%
1975 7,153,200 +0.74%
1974 7,101,000 +0.22%
1973 7,085,100 +0.06%
1972 7,080,600 +0.02%
1971 7,079,000 ---

* As of April 1. See full (or dicennial) U.S. Census counts for each year ending in "0."

Source: California Dept. of Finance


U.S. Census Bureau Intercensal Estimates

1-Year Estimates (Except Where Noted), As of July 1

Year Population Change From Previous Year
2021 9,829,544 -1.60%
2020 9,989,165 -0.50%
2019 10,039,107 -0.35%
2018 10,073,906 -0.29%
2017 10,103,711 -0.02%
2016 10,105,708 +0.20%
2015 10,085,416 +0.45%
2014 10,040,072 +0.48%
2013 9,992,484 +0.57%
2012 9,935,375 +0.60%
2011 9,876,482 +0.54%
2010* 9,823,246 +0.37%
2009 9,787,400 +0.54%
2008 9,735,147 +0.36%
2007 9,700,359 -0.39%
2006 9,737,955 -0.49%
2005 9,786,373 -0.07%
2004 9,793,263 +0.27%
2003 9,767,145 +0.63%
2002 9,705,913 +0.83%
2001 9,626,034 +0.92%
2000* 9,538,191 2.17%
1999 9,335,377 +1.21%
1998 9,223,629 +1.05%
1997 9,128,162 +0.75%
1996 9,059,826 +0.30%
1995 9,032,685 -0.20%
1994 9,050,863 -0.16%
1993 9,065,083 +0.38%
1992 9,031,160 +1.08%
1991 8,934,855 +0.67%
1990* 8,875,559 +0.93%
1989 8,793,710 +1.45%
1988 8,667,680 +1.33%
1987 8,553,844 +1.91%
1986 8,393,640 2.58%
1985 8,182,906 +1.76%
1984 8,041,685 +1.52%
1983 7,920,955 +1.98%
1982 7,767,422 2.08%
1981 7,608,796 +1.42%
1980* 7,502,452 +1.37%
1979 7,401,021 +0.67%
1978 7,351,757 +1.38%
1977 7,251,637 +0.55%
1976 7,211,683 +1.33%
1975 7,116,806 +0.44%
1974 7,085,800 +0.64%
1973 7,040,446 -0.23%
1972 7,056,632 -0.66%
1971 7,103,651 +0.70%
1970* 7,054,316 ---

* See full (or dicennial) U.S. Census counts for each year ending in "0."

Intercensal (between census) numbers are census estimates, calculated for each July 1, between full dicennial census counts each tenth year ending in a "0." The estimates are produced by the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program (PEP) from demographic components of population change, such as births, deaths, and migration.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau