Los Angeles — the city that sold the world on sunshine, stardom, and endless possibility — is now losing residents faster than any other major city in California. New data from the California Department of Finance shows the city of Los Angeles posted the largest population loss of any of the state’s ten biggest cities, shedding 0.9% of its residents. Zoom out to the county level and the picture gets starker: Los Angeles County lost roughly 64,000 people in a single year, the biggest drop of any county in the state — and, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the largest numeric decline of any county in the entire United States.
TL;DR: Los Angeles is the California city losing the most residents. The county shed about 64,000 people in 2025 (53,934 per Census estimates for July 2024–July 2025), the city itself lost 0.9% of its population, and more than 300,000 residents have left the county since 2020. Sky-high housing costs, taxes, wildfire fallout, and remote work are driving the exodus — mostly toward the Inland Empire, Las Vegas, and the Sunbelt.
The Numbers Behind the Exodus
The figures come from two of the most authoritative sources available. The California Department of Finance, as reported by the New York Post, recorded a statewide net loss of 54,000 residents as of January 1 — a 0.14% decline that marked California’s first year of population loss since the pandemic. Of that statewide drop, Los Angeles County alone accounted for more people leaving than the net state total, losing roughly 64,000 residents.
Separately, U.S. Census Bureau estimates released in March 2026 put the county’s July 2024–July 2025 loss at 53,934 residents — again, the largest numeric decline of any county in America. The county’s population slid from 9,748,868 to 9,694,934, continuing a slide from over 10 million in 2020. In half a decade, more than 300,000 people have left.
It isn’t just Los Angeles. Long Beach lost 0.2% of its residents and Anaheim lost 0.1%, while Orange County shed 8,520 people, San Diego County lost 5,294, and Ventura County dropped 2,580, according to Fox Business. The pain is concentrated on the coast — while inland counties like Fresno and Riverside kept growing.
Where Is Everyone Going?
They’re not going far — at least not at first. Census data shows Riverside and San Bernardino counties gained 21,131 residents directly from Los Angeles County, as families trade coastal prices for Inland Empire space. Las Vegas absorbed more than 21,000 former Angelenos last year, drawn by Nevada’s lack of state income tax and cheaper housing.
Moving-company data tells the same story from a different angle. An iMoving analysis reported by ConsumerAffairs found Oceanside and Redding drawing the most net arrivals within California, while San Jose posted the highest net departures at around 3%, followed by Pasadena at 2.7%. And a PODS moving study covered by Moneywise ranked Los Angeles first in outbound moves for the second consecutive year, with San Francisco second and San Diego fifth.
Why They’re Leaving
Ask ten departing Angelenos and you’ll hear variations on the same themes:
- Housing costs. California’s median home prices sit at record highs near $900,000, according to the California Association of Realtors. Renters fare no better — Los Angeles rents remain among the highest in the nation.
- Taxes. California’s top income tax rate is the highest of any state, and departing high earners take a disproportionate share of tax revenue with them.
- Wildfires and insurance. The Palisades and Eaton fires rank among the most destructive in state history, destroying roughly 12,500 homes, per the Governor’s budget office — which directly attributes part of LA County’s decline to wildfire displacement. Insurers have responded by canceling policies by the tens of thousands.
- Remote work. The pandemic untethered millions of workers from offices, and many saw little reason to pay coastal prices once the commute disappeared.
- Quality of life. Visible homelessness, crime concerns, and congestion round out the list of push factors cited by movers and analysts alike.
The state’s own budget analysts add a crucial nuance: net domestic migration out of California hit an estimated -216,000 in 2024-25, roughly in line with pre-pandemic levels. What changed is that foreign immigration — which historically offset those departures — slowed sharply, dropping to an estimated 126,000. Fewer arrivals plus steady departures equals shrinkage.
What It Means for Those Staying
A shrinking population isn’t just a statistic — it’s a fiscal problem. Fewer residents means a smaller tax base to fund parks, police, schools, and infrastructure. Federal funding formulas tied to population could mean fewer dollars flowing back to the region. School districts facing enrollment drops have already begun closing campuses.
Real estate developers warn of a vicious cycle: as high earners leave, the tax burden concentrates on those who remain, giving even more people a reason to go. Whether Los Angeles stabilizes or keeps sliding will depend on housing construction, insurance market recovery, and whether employers keep pulling workers back to offices.
For now, the data tells an unambiguous story: no California city is losing people faster than Los Angeles.
FAQ
Which California city is losing the most residents?
Los Angeles. The city posted a 0.9% population loss — the largest of any of California’s ten most populous cities — and Los Angeles County lost about 64,000 residents in 2025, the most of any county in the state, according to the California Department of Finance.
How many people has Los Angeles County lost since 2020?
More than 300,000. The county fell from over 10 million residents in 2020 to 9,694,934 by mid-2025, per U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
Is all of California losing population?
No. The state lost a net 54,000 residents overall, but inland counties like Fresno, Riverside, and San Bernardino continued growing. Sacramento, the state capital, actually grew 1.3% — the most of any large city.
Where are people leaving Los Angeles moving to?
Mostly nearby: Riverside and San Bernardino counties gained over 21,000 former LA County residents, and Las Vegas absorbed 21,000+. Within California, Oceanside and Redding show the strongest net arrivals, per moving-company data.
Why are people leaving Los Angeles?
The main drivers are record-high housing costs, the nation’s highest top income tax rate, wildfire displacement and an insurance crisis, remote work freeing people from commutes, and quality-of-life concerns including homelessness and congestion.
Did the wildfires cause the population drop?
They contributed. The Governor’s budget office directly attributes part of LA County’s 2024-25 decline to the Palisades and Eaton fires, which destroyed roughly 12,500 homes and rank among the most destructive fires in state history.
Is San Francisco losing people too?
Yes. San Francisco ranked second in outbound moves in the PODS study, and San Jose showed the highest net departures (around 3%) in iMoving’s analysis. The Bay Area faces the same cost pressures as LA.
How does LA’s loss compare nationally?
Los Angeles County’s decline of 53,934 residents (July 2024–July 2025) was the largest numeric population loss of any county in the United States, according to Census Bureau estimates.
Will Los Angeles’ population recover?
Uncertain. Recovery would likely require more housing construction, stabilization of the home insurance market, job growth, and a rebound in international immigration — which historically offset domestic departures but has slowed.
What does population loss mean for people who stay in LA?
A smaller tax base to fund public services, potential school closures from falling enrollment, reduced federal funding tied to population counts, and pressure on property values if demand keeps softening.
