Central OC Times

There were 16,292 fewer people living in Orange County in 2021 compared to 2020, according to population estimates from the US Census Bureau.

This is less than a one percent fall in Orange County’s population, from 3,184,101 in 2020 to 3,167,809 in 2021.

Orange County had the third largest population in California in 2021.

The US Census Bureau found more than 73 percent of counties in the US saw a natural decrease in population in 2021. This is up from a 55.5 percent increase in 2020.

The Midwest suffered the most sustained population decreases, with many counties along the US East Coast and through the Rocky Mountains seeing increases.

The US population continues to grow, though at a slower rate than before.

County	2020 Estimated Population	2021 Estimated Population	% Change in Population From Year to Year
San Benito County	64,507	66,677	3.4%
Alpine County	1,198	1,235	3.1%
Calaveras County	45,327	46,221	2%
Yuba County	81,932	83,421	1.8%
Madera County	156,620	159,410	1.8%
Amador County	40,541	41,259	1.8%
Sierra County	3,228	3,283	1.7%
Merced County	281,726	286,461	1.7%
Placer County	405,741	412,300	1.6%
Riverside County	2,422,764	2,458,395	1.5%
Del Norte County	27,709	28,100	1.4%
Lassen County	32,719	33,159	1.3%
Nevada County	102,199	103,487	1.3%
San Joaquin County	780,517	789,410	1.1%
El Dorado County	191,114	193,221	1.1%
Lake County	68,174	68,766	0.9%
Kern County	909,997	917,673	0.8%
Plumas County	19,769	19,915	0.7%
Tulare County	473,736	477,054	0.7%
San Bernardino County	2,182,740	2,194,710	0.5%
Kings County	152,627	153,443	0.5%
Tuolumne County	55,516	55,810	0.5%
Fresno County	1,008,966	1,013,581	0.5%
Siskiyou County	43,962	44,118	0.4%
Yolo County	216,255	216,986	0.3%
San Luis Obispo County	282,231	283,159	0.3%
Mono County	13,206	13,247	0.3%
Colusa County	21,853	21,917	0.3%
Imperial County	179,489	179,851	0.2%
Sacramento County	1,586,241	1,588,921	0.2%
Shasta County	181,893	182,139	0.1%
Mariposa County	17,124	17,147	0.1%
Stanislaus County	552,710	552,999	0.1%
Modoc County	8,658	8,661	0%
Humboldt County	136,351	136,310	0%
Mendocino County	91,354	91,305	-0.1%
Trinity County	16,088	16,060	-0.2%
Tehama County	65,615	65,498	-0.2%
Monterey County	438,500	437,325	-0.3%
Inyo County	19,023	18,970	-0.3%
Glenn County	28,893	28,805	-0.3%
San Diego County	3,297,252	3,286,069	-0.3%
Solano County	453,274	451,716	-0.3%
Contra Costa County	1,165,562	1,161,413	-0.4%
Santa Barbara County	448,096	446,475	-0.4%
Ventura County	842,921	839,784	-0.4%
Sutter County	99,480	99,063	-0.4%
Sonoma County	488,345	485,887	-0.5%
Orange County	3,184,101	3,167,809	-0.5%
Marin County	261,776	260,206	-0.6%
Butte County	210,083	208,309	-0.8%
Santa Cruz County	270,353	267,792	-0.9%
Napa County	137,608	136,207	-1%
Los Angeles County	9,989,165	9,829,544	-1.6%
Alameda County	1,679,844	1,648,556	-1.9%
Santa Clara County	1,930,598	1,885,508	-2.3%
San Mateo County	762,453	737,888	-3.2%
San Francisco County	870,014	815,201	-6.3%