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Largest cities in California, 2010 to 2025

Los Angeles is California's largest city at about 3.87 million in 2025, below its 2019 peak of 3.98 million; San Jose has slipped under 1 million.

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What the data shows

  • In 2025, Los Angeles ranks #1 with 3.87M, ahead of San Diego (1.41M) and San Jose (0.99M).
  • Los Angeles holds #1 for the whole period, 2010 to 2025.

About this chart

Los Angeles holds the top spot by a wide margin, with 3,869,089 people in the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimate, nearly three times San Diego's 1,406,106. But the biggest cities have stalled. Los Angeles peaked at about 3.98 million in 2019, San Jose at about 1.04 million in 2017, and San Francisco at about 0.88 million in 2018. San Jose is now at 989,814 and San Francisco at 826,079.

The growth is in the Central Valley and the capital region. Bakersfield is up about 21% since 2010 to 422,165, Sacramento up about 15% to 536,449 and Fresno up about 12% to 555,549. Long Beach is the only city on the list that has shrunk since 2010. The figures are for incorporated city limits, not metro areas, and the series switches from Vintage 2020 to Vintage 2025 estimates at 2020.

The data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, city and town population estimates (Vintage 2020 for 2010–2019, Vintage 2025 for 2020–2025), incorporated places, July 1, millions. Retrieved November 4, 2026. City limits only (not metro areas).

Largest cities in California, City population in millions, 2010 to 2025, 2010–2025
DateLos AngelesSan DiegoSan JoseSan FranciscoFresnoSacramentoLong BeachOaklandBakersfieldAnaheim
20103.80M1.31M0.96M0.81M0.50M0.47M0.46M0.39M0.35M0.34M
20113.82M1.32M0.97M0.82M0.50M0.47M0.46M0.40M0.35M0.34M
20123.85M1.34M0.98M0.83M0.51M0.47M0.47M0.40M0.36M0.35M
20133.88M1.35M1.00M0.84M0.51M0.48M0.47M0.41M0.36M0.35M
20143.90M1.37M1.02M0.85M0.51M0.48M0.47M0.41M0.37M0.35M
20153.93M1.39M1.03M0.86M0.52M0.49M0.47M0.42M0.37M0.35M
20163.96M1.40M1.04M0.87M0.52M0.49M0.47M0.42M0.37M0.35M
20173.98M1.41M1.04M0.88M0.52M0.50M0.47M0.42M0.38M0.35M
20183.98M1.42M1.04M0.88M0.53M0.50M0.46M0.42M0.38M0.35M
20193.98M1.42M1.03M0.88M0.53M0.51M0.46M0.42M0.38M0.35M
20203.90M1.38M1.01M0.88M0.54M0.53M0.47M0.44M0.41M0.35M
20213.83M1.37M0.98M0.82M0.54M0.53M0.46M0.44M0.41M0.35M
20223.83M1.38M0.98M0.81M0.55M0.53M0.45M0.44M0.41M0.34M
20233.85M1.39M0.98M0.82M0.55M0.53M0.45M0.44M0.42M0.34M
20243.87M1.40M0.99M0.82M0.56M0.54M0.45M0.44M0.42M0.34M
20253.87M1.41M0.99M0.83M0.56M0.54M0.45M0.44M0.42M0.34M

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Suggested caption: “Los Angeles peaked in 2019. Bakersfield is up 21% since 2010.” Credit the source in your caption; it heads off the 'source?' comments.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in California?

In 2025, Los Angeles ranks #1 with 3.87M, followed by San Diego (1.41M) and San Jose (0.99M). Source: U.S. Census Bureau, city and town population estimates (Vintage 2020 for 2010–2019, Vintage 2025 for 2020–2025), incorporated places, July 1, millions.

What is the largest city in California?

Los Angeles is the largest city in California, with 3,869,089 people in the Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate. San Diego is second at 1,406,106 and San Jose third at 989,814. These are incorporated city limits, not metro areas.

Why is Los Angeles's population so much smaller than the Los Angeles metro area?

These figures count only people inside the city of Los Angeles, which is 3,869,089 in 2025. Metro areas include many neighboring cities and counties and are far larger. This page ranks cities by their legal limits, so it does not match a metro figure.

Which California cities are growing fastest?

Bakersfield grew the fastest of the ten cities shown, about 21% from 348,760 in 2010 to 422,165 in 2025. Sacramento rose about 15% and Oakland about 13% over the same period. Los Angeles grew only about 2%, and Long Beach fell about 3%.

Where does this data come from?

U.S. Census Bureau, city and town population estimates (Vintage 2020 for 2010–2019, Vintage 2025 for 2020–2025), incorporated places, July 1, millions. Retrieved November 4, 2026. City limits only (not metro areas). You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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