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Texas vs California population, 1990 to 2025

California leads Texas in 2025 population: 39,355,309 vs 31,709,821. Compare annual state data from 1990.

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What the data shows

  • Texas: 17M in 1990, 31.7M in 2025 (1.9× higher).
  • California: 30M in 1990, 39.4M in 2025. It peaked at 39.5M in 2020.

About this chart

California had the larger population in 2025: 39,355,309 versus 31,709,821 for Texas, a gap of 7,645,488. Over the full period from 1990, Texas grew by 86.0%, while California grew by 31.4%. California was ahead in 1990 and remained ahead at every annual observation in the displayed series. The comparison uses the same reference year for both states.

The Census series compares July 1 resident populations for Texas and California. In 1990, their counts were 17,044,714 and 29,950,111, respectively. Estimates from different Census vintages are joined across decades, and revisions can affect the measured trend. These state totals include residents throughout each state rather than only its cities. They describe the scale and direction of population change but do not, on their own, separate births, deaths and migration.

The data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 (vintages 1999, 2000–2010 intercensal, 2020 and 2025), people. Retrieved November 5, 2026. July 1 resident population estimates. Different Census vintages are joined across decades; revisions can affect comparisons.

Texas vs California population, Resident population, 1990 to 2025, 1990–2025
DateTexasCalifornia
199017M30M
199117.3M30.4M
199217.7M30.9M
199318M31.1M
199418.3M31.3M
199518.7M31.5M
199619M31.8M
199719.4M32.2M
199819.7M32.7M
199920M33.1M
200020.9M34M
200121.3M34.5M
200221.7M34.9M
200322M35.3M
200422.4M35.6M
200522.8M35.8M
200623.4M36M
200723.8M36.3M
200824.3M36.6M
200924.8M37M
201025.2M37.3M
201125.6M37.6M
201226.1M37.9M
201326.5M38.3M
201427M38.6M
201527.5M38.9M
201627.9M39.1M
201728.3M39.3M
201828.6M39.4M
201929M39.4M
202029.2M39.5M
202129.6M39.2M
202230.1M39.1M
202330.7M39.2M
202431.3M39.4M
202531.7M39.4M

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Frequently asked questions

Which has a larger population, Texas or California?

California had the larger population in 2025, at 39,355,309 compared with 31,709,821 for Texas. The gap was 7,645,488 residents.

How have Texas and California changed since 1990?

Texas moved from 17,044,714 to 31,709,821, a 86.0% increase. California moved from 29,950,111 to 39,355,309, a 31.4% increase.

What exactly is being compared?

Census July 1 resident population estimates for the two whole states. The series combines Census vintages and does not isolate the causes of population change.

Where does this data come from?

U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 (vintages 1999, 2000–2010 intercensal, 2020 and 2025), people. Retrieved November 5, 2026. July 1 resident population estimates. Different Census vintages are joined across decades; revisions can affect comparisons. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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Related data

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Population of Texas

Texas grew 51.4% from 20.94M in 2000 to 31.71M in 2025. Census July 1 resident population estimates.

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Texas's economy vs countries

$2.93T Texas GDP in 2025 vs Italy's $2.55T. BEA state and World Bank country output in current US dollars.

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Largest cities in Texas

2,397,315 people in Houston; Fort Worth passed one million by 2025. Census city-limit estimates, not metro populations.