UNITED STATES · STATES · DRAFT
California
CAUnited States national overview in the World Factbook ↗
DRAFT · Dated statistical and subject baseline. Figures retain their individual reference years.
Introduction
Background ⓘ
California entered the Union without first having an organized territorial government, following its acquisition from Mexico in 1848.
Geography
People
Government
Economy
Median household income ⓘ
102,159 2025 USD ± 390 (90% confidence) (2025)
Per capita income ⓘ
52,079 2025 USD ± 274 (90% confidence) (2025)
People below poverty level ⓘ
4,397,101 people ± 64,515 (90% confidence) (2025)
Population with poverty status determined ⓘ
38,634,955 people ± 9,142 (90% confidence) (2025)
Poverty rate ⓘ
11.4% (2025)
Housing
National Park Service places
Places associated with this state or territory in the NPS directory.
- Cabrillo National Monument ↗
- Castle Mountains National Monument ↗
- César E. Chávez National Monument ↗
- Channel Islands National Park ↗
- Death Valley National Park ↗
- Devils Postpile National Monument ↗
- Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site ↗
- Fort Point National Historic Site ↗
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area ↗
- John Muir National Historic Site ↗
- Joshua Tree National Park ↗
- Kings Canyon National Park ↗
- Lassen Volcanic National Park ↗
- Lava Beds National Monument ↗
- Manzanar National Historic Site ↗
- Mojave National Preserve ↗
- Muir Woods National Monument ↗
- Pinnacles National Park ↗
- Point Reyes National Seashore ↗
- Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial ↗
- Redwood National Park ↗
- Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park ↗
- San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park ↗
- Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area ↗
- Sequoia National Park ↗
- Tule Lake National Monument ↗
- Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area ↗
- Yosemite National Park ↗
Further reading
- Official government ↗
- USAFacts population profile ↗
Secondary presentation of Census data; not independent corroboration of Census estimates.
Source records
- Background
U.S. Census Bureau, Guide to 2010 State and Local Census Geography: California ↗
Reference period: Not supplied by source.
Retrieved: 2026-10-31.
- Total area
U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 National States Gazetteer ↗
Reference period: 2025. 2025 Gazetteer geography. Land and water area in square miles, published to three decimal places. Total is calculated as land plus water; territory boundaries are statistical geography.
Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:11:28.1089007Z.
Original source value: 163,693.835 square miles.
- Land area
U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 National States Gazetteer ↗
Reference period: 2025. 2025 Gazetteer geography. Land and water area in square miles, published to three decimal places. Total is calculated as land plus water; territory boundaries are statistical geography.
Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:11:28.1089007Z.
Original source value: 155,860.399 square miles.
- Water area
U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 National States Gazetteer ↗
Reference period: 2025. 2025 Gazetteer geography. Land and water area in square miles, published to three decimal places. Total is calculated as land plus water; territory boundaries are statistical geography.
Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:11:28.1089007Z.
Original source value: 7,833.436 square miles.
- Boundaries
U.S. Census Bureau, Guide to 2010 State and Local Census Geography: California ↗
Reference period: Not supplied by source. Census Bureau bordering-state list; includes water boundaries and point contacts, where listed. The District of Columbia is a federal district.
Retrieved: 2026-10-31.
- Resident population
U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025 ↗
Reference period: 2025-07-01. July 1 resident population estimate; Vintage 2025. Includes all ages. Earlier vintages are revised by this release.
Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:09:32.917713Z.
Original source value: 39,355,309 people.
- Resident population estimate, 2020
U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025 ↗
Reference period: 2020-07-01. July 1, 2020 resident population estimate from the same Vintage 2025 series; not the April 1 decennial census count.
Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:09:32.917713Z.
Original source value: 39,527,808 people.
- Population change, 2020–2025
U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025 ↗
Reference period: 2020-07-01/2025-07-01. Calculated percentage change between July 1 population estimates in the same Vintage 2025 series.
Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:09:32.917713Z.
Original source value: -0.44%.
- Capital
U.S. Census Bureau, Guide to 2010 State and Local Census Geography: California ↗
Reference period: Not supplied by source.
Retrieved: 2026-10-31.
- Statehood
U.S. Census Bureau, Guide to 2010 State and Local Census Geography: California ↗
Reference period: Not supplied by source. Date of admission to the Union.
Retrieved: 2026-10-31.
- Median household income
U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B19013 ↗
Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. Median household income in the past 12 months, in 2025 inflation-adjusted dollars. Universe: households. Sampling estimate; margin of error uses a 90% confidence level.
Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:11.8995582Z.
Original source value: 102,159 2025 USD ± 390 (90% confidence).
- Per capita income
U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B19301 ↗
Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. Per capita income in the past 12 months, in 2025 inflation-adjusted dollars. Universe: total population. Sampling estimate; margin of error uses a 90% confidence level.
Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:16.6293232Z.
Original source value: 52,079 2025 USD ± 274 (90% confidence).
- People below poverty level
U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B17001 ↗
Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. People whose income in the past 12 months was below the poverty level. Universe: population for whom poverty status is determined. Sampling estimate; margin of error uses a 90% confidence level.
Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:16.8869346Z.
Original source value: 4,397,101 people ± 64,515 (90% confidence).
- Population with poverty status determined
U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B17001 ↗
Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. Denominator for the poverty count. Excludes people for whom poverty status is not determined. Sampling estimate; margin of error uses a 90% confidence level.
Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:16.8869346Z.
Original source value: 38,634,955 people ± 9,142 (90% confidence).
- Poverty rate
U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B17001 ↗
Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. Calculated as B17001_E002 / B17001_E001 × 100. Population for whom poverty status is determined. Rounded to one decimal. Source counts and their 90% margins of error are retained as separate facts; a margin of error for this derived rate has not been calculated.
Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:16.8869346Z.
Original source value: 11.4%.
- Housing units
U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B25001 ↗
Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. Total housing units, occupied and vacant. ACS estimate; not the annual Population Estimates Program housing-unit series. Sampling estimate; margin of error uses a 90% confidence level.
Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:17.0506096Z.
Original source value: 14,994,887 housing units ± 864 (90% confidence).