Editing California (section)

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of California}}

===Population===
{{US Census population
| 1850 = 92597
| 1860 = 379994
| 1870 = 560247
| 1880 = 864694
| 1890 = 1213398
| 1900 = 1485053
| 1910 = 2377549
| 1920 = 3426861
| 1930 = 5677251
| 1940 = 6907387
| 1950 = 10586223
| 1960 = 15717204
| 1970 = 19953134
| 1980 = 23667902
| 1990 = 29760021
| 2000 = 33871648
| 2010 = 37253956
| 2020 = 39538223
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 39431263
| footnote = Sources: 1790–1990, 2000, 2010, 2020, 2024<ref name="dof.ca.gov">{{Cite web |title=California Grew By 356,000 Residents in 2013 |url=http://www.dof.ca.gov/research/demographic/reports/estimates/e-1/documents/E-1_2014_Press_Release.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502002520/http://www.dof.ca.gov/research/demographic/reports/estimates/e-1/documents/E-1_2014_Press_Release.pdf |archive-date=May 2, 2014 |access-date=September 26, 2016}}</ref><ref name="census_1790_1990">{{Cite web |date=August 20, 1993 |title=1990 Census of Population and Housing, Unit Counts, United States, 1990 CPH-2-1 |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-1-1.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-1-1.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=January 1, 2012 |website=Population and Housing Unit Counts, Population Estimates 1790–1990, pages 26–27 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration}}</ref><ref name="Census2020">{{Cite web |title=Population, Population Change, and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2020 (NST-EST2020-alldata) |url=http://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222173239/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates.html |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=April 26, 2021 |website=census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts: California |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/CA | website=Census.gov | publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref>{{break}}Chart does not include indigenous population figures.{{break}}Studies indicate that the Native American{{break}}population in California in 1850 was close to 150,000{{break}}before declining to 15,000 by 1900.<ref name="americanindiantah1">{{Cite web |title=American Indian Civics Project: Indians of Northern California: A Case Study of Federal, State, and Vigilante Intervention, 1850–1860 |url=http://americanindiantah.com/lesson_plans/ml_indians_in_northern_california.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317041607/http://americanindiantah.com/lesson_plans/ml_indians_in_northern_california.html |archive-date=March 17, 2012 |access-date=March 21, 2012 |publisher=Americanindiantah.com}}</ref>
}}

Presently, close to one out of every nine United States residents live in California.<ref name="PPIC">{{cite web |last1=Johnson |last2=Mejia |last3=McGhee |first1=Hans |first2=Marisol |first3=Eric |title=California's Population |url=https://www.ppic.org/publication/californias-population/ |website=Public Policy Institute of California |access-date=March 14, 2024}}</ref><ref name=40Mill>{{Cite news |url=https://calmatters.org/explainers/california-population-migration-census-demographics-immigration/ |first1=Judy |last1=Lin |first2=Adria |last2=Watson |title=Explainer: California migration: The story of 40 million |date=June 24, 2022 }}</ref> The [[United States Census Bureau]] reported that the population of California was 39.54 million on [[2020 United States census|April 1, 2020]], a 6.13% increase since the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]].<ref name=Census2020/> During that decade, the state's population grew more slowly than the rest of the nation, resulting in the loss of one seat on the US House of Representatives, the first loss in its entire history.<ref name=PPIC/> The estimated state population in 2023 was 38.94 million.<ref name=40Mill/> For well over a century (1900&ndash;2020), California experienced steady population growth. Even while the rate of growth began to slow by the 1990s, some growth continued into the first two decades of the 21st century; California added an average of around 400,000 people per year to its population during the period 1940–2020.<ref>{{Cite news|first1=Eric |last1=McGhee |first2=Marisol Cuellar |last2=Mejia |first3=Hans|last3=Johnson|url=https://www.ppic.org/blog/californias-stalled-population-growth/|title=California's Stalled Population Growth|date=April 26, 2021|publisher=[[Public Policy Institute of California]]}}</ref><ref name=Byler>{{Cite news|first=David|last=Byler|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/03/31/why-californias-population-boom-has-stalled/|title=Why California's population boom has stalled|newspaper=Washington Post|date=March 31, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=California's shrinking population has big impacts|first=Dan|last=Walters|url=https://calmatters.org/commentary/2022/04/california-population-decline/|work=CalMatters|date=April 10, 2022}}</ref> Then in 2020, the state began to experience population declines continuing every year, attributable mostly to moves out of state but also due to declining [[birth rate]]s, [[COVID-19 pandemic deaths]], and less internal migration from other states to California.<ref name = PPIC/><ref>{{Cite news|author=Staff and agencies|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/02/california-population-decline-trend-covid|title=California's population shrinks for second year in a row|newspaper=The Guardian|date=May 2, 2022}}</ref> According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between 2021 and 2022, 818,000 California residents moved out of state<ref>{{Cite news |author=Angela Rodriguez |author2=Phillip Reese |date=November 2, 2023 |title=Again, more people are leaving California than moving in, data shows. Where are they going? |url=https://www.uniondemocrat.com/lifestyle/article_8e11bc68-79a4-11ee-998f-c71cde977c08.html |access-date=November 4, 2023 |newspaper=The Union Democrat |language=en}}</ref> with emigrants listing high cost of living,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Nearly half of California residents are considering leaving the state, a poll finds. Many cite the cost of living as the main reason. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/28/california-population-decline-costs-of-living-state/70363036007/ |access-date=November 5, 2023 |newspaper=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> high taxes,<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 18, 2023 |title=Opinion: From homelessness to high taxes, here's why I plan on moving from California to Florida |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/community-voices-project/story/2023-08-18/opinion-homelessness-high-taxes-california-libertarian-florida-moving-housing-crisis |access-date=November 5, 2023 |newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Register-2023">{{Cite news |author=Jim Doti |author2=Art Laffer |date=May 28, 2023 |title=James Doti and Art Laffer: California's lost adjusted gross income |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2023/05/28/james-doti-and-art-laffer-californias-lost-adjusted-gross-income/ |access-date=November 5, 2023 |newspaper=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}</ref> and a difficult business environment as the motivation.<ref name="Register-2023"/> The net loss of population in California between July 2020 and July 2023 was 433,000.<ref name=PPIC/>

[[File:California population density 2020.png|thumb|left|California's population density, 2020]]

The [[Greater Los Angeles Area]] is the second-largest [[metropolitan area]] in the United States (U.S.), while Los Angeles is the [[List of United States cities by population|second-largest city in the U.S.]] [[Los Angeles County]] has held the title of most populous U.S. county for decades, and it alone is more populous than 42 U.S. states.<ref name="LA County DPSS">{{Cite web |date=December 2005 |title=About Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services |url=https://dpss.lacounty.gov/dpss/about_dpss/dpss_overview.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417163102/http://dpss.lacounty.gov/dpss/about_dpss/dpss_overview.cfm |archive-date=April 17, 2010 |access-date=December 26, 2009 |publisher=Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services}}</ref><ref name="Baby Slump In L.A. County">{{Cite news |last=Barrett |first=Beth |date=September 19, 2003 |title=Baby Slump in L.A. County |pages=N4 |work=Los Angeles Daily News |publisher=Los Angeles Newspaper Group |url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/7215/baby_slump_in_la_county/index.html |access-date=December 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715060356/http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/7215/baby_slump_in_la_county/index.html |archive-date=July 15, 2010}}</ref> San Francisco is the most densely-populated city in California and [[List of United States cities by population density|one of the most densely populated cities in the U.S.]]. Four of the [[List of United States cities by population|top 20 most populous cities in the U.S.]] are in California: Los Angeles (2nd), [[San Diego]] (8th), [[San Jose, California|San Jose]] (13th), and San Francisco (17th). The [[center of population]] of California is located four miles west-southwest of the city of [[Shafter, California|Shafter]], [[Kern County, California|Kern County]].{{refn|The coordinates of the center of population are at {{Coord|35.491035|-119.347852|display=inline}}.<ref name="popCentersByState">{{Cite web |date=November 17, 2021 |title=Centers of Population for the 2020 Census |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/cenpop2020/CenPop2020_Mean_ST.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |website=United States Census}}</ref>
|group="note"}}

As of 2020, California ranked [[List of U.S. states and territories by life expectancy|fourth among states by life expectancy]], with a life expectancy of 79.0 years.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr71/nvsr71-02.pdf |access-date=January 2, 2025 |title=U.S. State Life Tables, 2020|first1=Elizabeth |last1=Arias |first2=Jiaquan |last2=Xu |first3=Betzaida |last3=Tejada-Vera |first4=Sherry |last4=Murphy |first5=Brigham|last5=Bastian|publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|journal=National Vital Statistics Reports|volume=71|number=2|date=August 23, 2022|pages=1–18 |pmid=36043888 }}</ref>

Starting in the year 2010, for the first time since the [[California Gold Rush]], California-born residents made up the majority of the state's population.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Teresa Watanabe |last2=Hector Becerra |date=April 1, 2010 |title=Native-born Californians regain majority status |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-apr-01-la-me-homegrown1-2010apr01-story.html |access-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref> Along with the rest of the United States, California's immigration pattern has also shifted over the course of the late 2000s to early 2010s.<ref name="Pew Mexican Immigration">{{Cite web |title=Net Migration from Mexico Falls to Zero—and Perhaps Less |url=http://www.pewhispanic.org/files/2012/04/PHC-04-23-Mexican-Migration.pdf |access-date=July 19, 2015 |publisher=Pew Hispanic Center |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924072108/http://www.pewhispanic.org/files/2012/04/PHC-04-23-Mexican-Migration.pdf }}</ref> Immigration from [[Latin America]]n countries has dropped significantly with most immigrants now coming from [[Asia]].<ref name="SacBee17JAN2013" /> In total for 2011, there were 277,304 immigrants. Fifty-seven percent came from Asian countries versus 22% from Latin American countries.<ref name="SacBee17JAN2013">{{Cite news |last1=Stephen Magagnini |last2=Phillip Reese |date=January 17, 2013 |title=Census shows Asians eclipse Latino arrivals to California |work=Sacramento Bee |url=http://www.sacbee.com/2013/01/17/5120459/asian-immigrants-to-california.html |access-date=January 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118232108/http://www.sacbee.com/2013/01/17/5120459/asian-immigrants-to-california.html |archive-date=January 18, 2013}}</ref> [[Net immigration]] from Mexico, previously the most common country of origin for new immigrants, has dropped to zero / less than zero since more Mexican nationals are departing for their home country than immigrating.<ref name="Pew Mexican Immigration" />

The state's population of [[undocumented immigrants]] has been shrinking in recent years, due to increased enforcement and decreased job opportunities for lower-skilled workers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 6, 2012 |title=Unauthorized Immigrants: 11.1 Million in 2011 |url=http://www.pewhispanic.org/2012/12/06/unauthorized-immigrants-11-1-million-in-2011/ |access-date=August 25, 2015 |website=Pew Research Center's Hispanic Trends Project}}</ref> The number of migrants arrested attempting to cross the Mexican border in the Southwest decreased from a high of 1.1{{spaces}}million in 2005 to 367,000 in 2011.<ref name="BusinessWeek">{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-03/californias-illegal-immigrant-shortage |title=California's Illegal Immigrant Shortage |website=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |date=May 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510045259/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-03/californias-illegal-immigrant-shortage |archive-date=May 10, 2012 }}</ref> Despite these recent trends, [[Illegal immigration to the United States|illegal]] [[Alien (law)|aliens]] constituted an estimated 7.3 percent of the state's population, the third highest percentage of any state in the [[Illegal immigrant population of the United States|country]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Slevin |first=Peter |date=April 30, 2010 |title=New Arizona law puts police in 'tenuous' spot |pages=A4 |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington, DC |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2010/04/29/GR2010042904397.html}}</ref><ref group="note">Behind [[Nevada]] and [[Arizona]]</ref> totaling nearly 2.6{{spaces}}million.<ref name="SDUT19042011">{{Cite news |last=Michael Gardner |date=April 19, 2011 |title=Cutting services to illegal immigrants isn't easy |work=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-cutting-services-to-illegal-immigrants-isnt-easy-2011apr19-htmlstory.html |access-date=August 8, 2017}}</ref> In particular, illegal immigrants tended to be concentrated in [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]], [[Monterey County, California|Monterey]], [[San Benito County, California|San Benito]], [[Imperial County, California|Imperial]], and [[Napa County, California|Napa Counties]]—the latter four of which have significant agricultural industries that depend on manual labor.<ref name="PPIC2011II">{{Cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Hans |last2=Hill |first2=Laura |date=July 2011 |title=Illegal Immigration |url=http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/atissue/AI_711HJAI.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/atissue/AI_711HJAI.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=January 15, 2013 |website=Publications |publisher=[[Public Policy Institute of California]]}}</ref> More than half of illegal immigrants originate from Mexico.<ref name="SDUT19042011" /> The state of California and some California cities, including [[Los Angeles]], [[Oakland]], and [[San Francisco]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 15, 2019 |title=Officials in Sanctuary Cities Condemn Trump's Proposal To Move Immigrant Detainees |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/04/15/713616857/officials-in-sanctuary-cities-condemn-trumps-proposal-to-move-immigrant-detainee?t=1567429578598}}</ref> have adopted [[Sanctuary city|sanctuary policies]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cities, States Resist—and Assist—Immigration Crackdown in New Ways |url=https://pew.org/2O8sa9I |website=pew.org|date=August 3, 2018 }}</ref>

According to [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development|HUD]]'s 2022 [[Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress|Annual Homeless Assessment Report]], there were an estimated 171,521 [[Homelessness|homeless]] people [[Homelessness in California|in California]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2007-2022 PIT Counts by State |url=https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huduser.gov%2Fportal%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fxls%2F2007-2022-PIT-Counts-by-State.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2022-AHAR-Part-1.pdf|title=The 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress}}</ref>

===Race and ethnicity===
[[File:Map of Californian Counties by Percentage of Hispanics or Latinos.png|thumb|right|[[Hispanics and Latinos in California|Hispanic and Latino Californians]] make up the state's largest ethnic group. The map displays California's counties by percentage of Hispanics and Latinos in the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]:<br />{{legend|#26619C|50% or more}}{{legend|#0087BD|25–49%}}{{legend|#6699CC|15–24%}}{{legend|#9EB9D4|5–15%}}]]
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"
|+ style="font-size:120%" |Racial and ethnic composition as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]
|-
! Race and ethnicity<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html |title=Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=August 12, 2021 |website=census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 26, 2021}}</ref>
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Alone
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
| [[Hispanics and Latinos in California|Hispanic or Latino]]<ref group="note">Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin are not distinguished between total and partial ancestry.</ref>
|align=right| {{bartable}}
|align=right| {{bartable|39.4|%|2||background:green}}
|-

| [[White Americans in California|White (non-Hispanic)]]
|align=right| {{bartable|34.7|%|2||background:gray}}
|align=right| {{bartable|38.3|%|2||background:gray}}
|-
| [[Asian Americans in California|Asian (non-Hispanic)]]
|align=right| {{bartable|15.1|%|2||background:purple}}
|align=right| {{bartable|17.0|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
| [[African Americans in California|African American (non-Hispanic)]]
|align=right| {{bartable|5.4|%|2||background:mediumblue}}
|align=right| {{bartable|6.4|%|2||background:mediumblue}}
|-
| [[Native Americans in California|Native American (non-Hispanic)]]
|align=right| {{bartable|0.4|%|2||background:gold}}
|align=right| {{bartable|1.3|%|2||background:gold}}
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic)]]
|align=right| {{bartable|0.3|%|2||background:pink}}
|align=right| {{bartable|0.7|%|2||background:pink}}
|-
| Other (non-Hispanic)
|align=right| {{bartable|0.6|%|2||background:brown}}
|align=right| {{bartable|1.3|%|2||background:brown}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
|+'''California Racial Breakdown of Population''' <ref>{{Cite web |title=CensusScope -- Population by Race |url=https://censusscope.org/us/s6/chart_race.html |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=censusscope.org}}</ref>
!Racial composition
!1950<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=California - Race and Hispanic Origin: 1850 to 1990 |url=http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/tab19.pdf |website=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327163812/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/tab19.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 }}</ref>
!1960<ref name=":0" />
!1970<ref name=":0" />
!1980<ref name=":0" />
!1990<ref name=":0" />
!2000<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=Decennial Census (2020, 2010, 2000) |url=https://www.census.gov/data/developers/data-sets/decennial-census.html |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=Census.gov}}</ref>
!2010<ref>{{Cite web |title=2010 Census: California State Profile |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10_thematic/2010_Profile/2010_Profile_Map_California.pdf |website=US Census Bureau}}</ref>
!2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=040XX00US06&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20(PL%2094-171) |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
|-
|[[White American|White]]
|93.7%
|92%
|89%
|76.2%
|69%
|59.6%
|57.6%
|41.2%
|-
|[[African American|Black]]
|4.4%
|5.6%
|7%
|7.7%
|7.4%
|6.7%
|6.2%
|5.6%
|-
|[[Asian American|Asian]]
|1.7%
|2%
|2.8%
|5.3%
|9.6%
|10.9%
|13%
|15.4%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]]
|0.2%
|0.2%
|0.5%
|0.9%
|0.8%
|1%
|1%
|1.6%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]]
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|0.4%
|0.4%
|0.4%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|'Some other race']]
|—
|0.1%
|0.7%
|10%
|13.2%
|16.8%
|17%
|21.2%
|-
|[[Multiracial American|Two or more races]]
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|4.8%
|4.9%
|14.6%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|'''Hispanic or Latino''']] '''(Any race)'''
|'''—'''
|'''—'''
|'''13.7%'''
|'''19.2%'''
|'''25.8%'''
|'''32.4%'''
|'''37.6%'''
|'''39.4%'''
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic whites|''Non-Hispanic White'']]
|—
|—
|''76.3%''
|''66.6%''
|''57.2%''
|''46.7%''
|''40.2%''
|''34.7%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic Black''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''7.5%''
|''7.0%''
|''6.4%''
|''5.8%''
|''5.4%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic Asian''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''5.3%''
|''9.1%''
|''10.8%''
|''12.8%''
|''15.1%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic Native American''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''0.9%''
|''0.6%''
|''0.5%''
|''0.4%''
|''0.4%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic Pacific Islander''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''0.3%''
|''0.3%''
|''0.3%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic 'some other race'''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''0.5%''
|''0.2%''
|''0.2%''
|''0.2%''
|''0.6%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic two or more races''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''2.7%''
|''2.4%''
|''4.1%''
|}
According to the United States Census Bureau in 2022 the population self-identified as (alone or in combination): 56.5% [[White Americans|White]] (including [[Hispanic White Americans|Hispanic Whites]]),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02008 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02008&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> 33.7% [[non-Hispanic whites|non-Hispanic white]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03002 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03002&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> 18.1% [[Asian American|Asian]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02011 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02011&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> 7.3% Black or [[African American]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02009 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02009&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> 3.2% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] and [[Alaska Native]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02010 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02010&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> 0.9% [[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander American|Pacific Islander]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02012 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02012&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> and 34.3% [[Some Other Race|some other race]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02013 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02013&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> These numbers add up to more than 100% because respondents can select multiple racial identities. 19% of Californians identified as two or more races in 2022, although excluding respondents who selected "some other race", only 5% identified as two or more races.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02001 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02001&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06#valueType%7Cpercentage |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>

By ethnicity, in 2018 the population was 60.7% non-Hispanic (of any race) and 39.3% [[Hispanics and Latinos in California|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race). Hispanics are the largest single ethnic group in California.<ref name="2018CensusDemo">[https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/RHI125215/06 2018 U.S. Census QuickFacts], [[United States Census Bureau]], 2018.</ref> [[Non-Hispanic whites]] constituted 36.8% of the state's population.<ref name=2018CensusDemo/> ''[[Californio]]s'' are the [[Hispanic]] residents native to California, who make up the [[Spanish language in California|Spanish-speaking]] community that has existed in California since 1542, of varying [[Mexican American]]/[[Chicano]], [[Criollo people|Criollo Spaniard]], and Mestizo origin.<ref>as quoted in Clark, Donald T. (2008). ''Santa Cruz County Place Names'' p.442, Scotts Valley, California, Kestrel Press.</ref> However, they make up only a small part of California's Hispanic population today, estimated at 500,000. California has the largest Mexican, [[Salvadoran Americans|Salvadoran]], and [[Guatemalan Americans|Guatemalan]] populations in the US, together making up over 90% of the state's Latino population.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/09/2020-census-dhc-a-hispanic-population.html|title=Colombian and Honduran Populations Surpassed a Million for First Time; Venezuelan Population Grew the Fastest of all Hispanic Groups Since 2010|first=US Census|last=Bureau|website=Census.gov}}</ref>

According to 2022 estimates from the [[American Community Survey]], 32.4% of the population had [[Mexican Americans|Mexican]] ancestry, 6.6% had [[German Americans|German]] ancestry, 6.1% had [[English Americans|English]] ancestry, 5.6% had [[Irish people|Irish]] ancestry, 4.9% had [[Chinese Americans|Chinese]] ancestry, 4.3% had [[Filipino Americans|Filipino]] ancestry, 4% had [[Central America]]n ancestry (Mostly [[Salvadoran Americans|Salvadoran]] and [[Guatemalan Americans|Guatemalan]]), 3.4% had [[Italian Americans|Italian]] ancestry, 2.8% listed themselves as [[American ancestry|American]], and 2.5% had [[Indian Americans|Indian]] ancestry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B04006 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B04006&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03001 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03001&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02018 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02018&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>

[[File:Ethnic Origins in California.png|thumb|330x330px|Ethnic origins in California]]

{{as of|2011}}, 75.1% of California's population younger than age 1 were minorities, meaning they had at least one parent who was not non-Hispanic white (white Hispanics are counted as minorities).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Exner |first=Rich |date=June 3, 2012 |title=Americans under age 1 now mostly minorities, but not in Ohio: Statistical Snapshot |url=http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/index.ssf/2012/06/americas_under_age_1_populatio.html |access-date=September 20, 2016 |website=cleveland.com |publisher=Advance Ohio}}</ref>

In terms of total numbers, California has the largest population of White Americans in the United States, an estimated 22,200,000 residents including people identifying as white in combination with any other race. The state has the 5th largest population of African Americans in the United States, an estimated 2,250,000 residents. California's Asian American population is estimated at 7.1{{spaces}}million, constituting a third of the nation's total. California's Native American population of 504,000 is the most of any state, with 103,030 identifying as Non-Hispanic and belonging mostly to the [[Indigenous peoples of California]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03002 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03002&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02001 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02001&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> Most of the state's Native American population identifies as Hispanic and belongs to Indigenous Mexican or Central American ethnic groups, including 185,200 identifying as [[Indigenous peoples of Mexico|Mexican American Indian]] and 67,904 identifying as [[Central american indians|Central American Indian]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02014 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02014&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>

According to estimates from 2011, California has the largest [[Majority-minority state|minority population]] in the United States by numbers, making up 60% of the state population.<ref name="CensusQuickFacts">{{Cite web |title=California QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06000.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228054319/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06000.html |archive-date=December 28, 2009 |access-date=December 26, 2009 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> Over the past 25 years, the population of [[non-Hispanic whites]] has declined, while [[Hispanic and Latino American|Hispanic]] and [[Asian American|Asian]] populations have grown. Between 1970 and 2011, non-Hispanic whites declined from 80% of the state's population to 40%, while [[Hispanic and Latino American|Hispanics]] grew from 32% in 2000 to 38% in 2011.<ref>"[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/05/MNSG1DQ1BL.DTL Whites in state 'below the replacement' level]". [[San Francisco Chronicle]]. June 5, 2010.</ref> It is currently projected that Hispanics will rise to 49% of the population by 2060, primarily due to domestic births rather than immigration.<ref name="Economist CA Hispanics">{{Cite news |date=June 20, 2015 |title=Latino mojo |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21654583-latino-mojo}}</ref> With the decline of immigration from Latin America, Asian Americans now constitute the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in California; this growth is primarily driven by immigration from [[China]], [[India]], and the [[Philippines]], respectively.<ref name="Asians CA">{{Cite web |last=Wendell Cox |title=Asians: America's Fastest Growing Minority |url=http://www.newgeography.com/content/004825-asians-americas-fastest-growing-minority |access-date=July 19, 2015 |publisher=NewsGeography}}</ref>
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===Languages===
{{main|Languages of California}}
{{see also|California English|Spanish language in California}}
{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-open" style="margin-left:1em; float:right"
|+ '''Languages spoken in California by more than 100,000 persons'''
|-
! Language !! Population{{break}}<small>({{as of|2021|lc=y}})</small><ref name="Language2021">{{Cite web |title=American Community Survey: LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME BY ABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH FOR THE POPULATION 5 YEARS AND OVER|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=punjabi&g=040XX00US06&tid=ACSDT1Y2021.B16001&moe=false|access-date=July 23, 2023|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> !! [[Percentage|%]]
|-
|[[California English|English]]
|20,763,638
|{{Percentage|20,763,638|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Spanish language in California|Spanish]]
|10,434,308
|{{Percentage|10,434,308|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Chinese language in the United States|Chinese]]
|1,244,445
|{{Percentage|1,244,445|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Tagalog language in the United States|Tagalog]]
|757,488
|{{Percentage|757,488|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Vietnamese language in the United States|Vietnamese]]
|544,046
|{{Percentage|544,046|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Korean Americans|Korean]]
|356,901
|{{Percentage|356,901|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Arabic language in the United States|Arabic]]
|231,612
|{{Percentage|231,612|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Persian language in the United States|Persian]]
|221,650
|{{Percentage|221,650|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Armenian language in the United States|Armenian]]
|211,614
|{{Percentage|211,614|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Hindi]]
|208,148
|{{Percentage|208,148|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Russian language in the United States|Russian]]
|178,176
|{{Percentage|178,176|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Punjabi American|Punjabi]]
|156,763
|{{Percentage|156,763|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Japanese American|Japanese]]
|135,992
|{{Percentage|135,992|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[French language in the United States|French]]
|126,371
|{{Percentage|126,371|37,027,601|2}}
|}

[[California English|English]] serves as California's [[de jure]] and [[de facto]] [[official language]]. According to the 2021 [[American Community Survey]] conducted by the [[United States Census Bureau]], 56.08% (20,763,638) of California residents age{{spaces}}5 and older spoke only [[English language|English]] at home, while 43.92% spoke another language at home. 60.35% of people who speak a language other than English at home are able to speak English "well" or "very well", with this figure varying significantly across the different linguistic groups.<ref name="Language2021"/> Like most [[U.S. state]]s (32 out of 50), California law enshrines English as its [[official language]], and has done so since the passage of [[List of California ballot propositions 1980–1989#November 4, 1986|Proposition 63]] by California voters in 1986. Various government agencies do, and are often required to, furnish documents in the various languages needed to reach their intended audiences.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Driver's License or ID Card Renewal |url=http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#languages |publisher=California Department of Motor Vehicles}}</ref><ref name="AB 800 Analysis">{{Cite web |last=Wesson |first=Herb |author-link=Herb Wesson |date=July 17, 2001 |title=AB 800 Assembly Bill—Bill Analysis |url=http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/01-02/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_800_cfa_20020116_162757_sen_comm.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123142018/http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/01-02/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_800_cfa_20020116_162757_sen_comm.html |archive-date=November 23, 2010 |access-date=December 27, 2009 |publisher=California State Assembly |page=3 |quote=In 1986, California voters amended the state constitution to provide that the Legislature and officials of the State of California shall take all steps necessary to insure that the role of English as the common language of the State of California is preserved and enhanced. The Legislature shall make no law which diminishes or ignores the role of English as the common language of California.}}</ref><ref name="Hull English already official">{{Cite news |last=Hull |first=Dana |date=May 20, 2006 |title=English already is 'official' in California |work=[[San Jose Mercury News]]}}</ref>

{{multiple image
| align             = left
| width             = 150
| image1            = California Constitution 1849 title page.jpg
| image2            = Proclama al Pueblo de California (1849) (cropped).jpg
| footer            = The [[Constitution of California]] was written in both [[California English|English]] (left) and [[Spanish language in California|Spanish]] (right) by both American and [[Californio]] delegates.
}}

[[Spanish language in California|Spanish]] is the most commonly spoken language in California, behind English, spoken by 28.18% (10,434,308) of the population (in 2021).<ref name="Language2021"/> The Spanish language has been spoken in California since 1542 and is deeply intertwined with California's cultural landscape and history.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Gifford | first1=Bernard R. | last2=Valdés | first2=Guadalupe | title=The Linguistic Isolation of Hispanic Students in California's Public Schools: The Challenge of Reintegration | journal=Teachers College Record: The Voice of Scholarship in Education | volume=108 | issue=14 | date=2006 | issn=0161-4681 | doi=10.1177/016146810610801408 | pages=125–154 |url=https://www.ousd.org/cms/lib07/CA01001176/Centricity/Domain/3542/Linguistic%20Isolation%20gifford%20valdes.pdf| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015233107/https://www.ousd.org/cms/lib07/CA01001176/Centricity/Domain/3542/Linguistic%20Isolation%20gifford%20valdes.pdf | archive-date=October 15, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2016/12/15/california-losing-ability-hablar-espanol/ideas/connecting-california/|title=Is California Losing Its Ability to Hablar Español? &#124; Connecting California|first=Joe|last=Mathews |date=December 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|quote=Spanish is deeply intertwined in our society | last=Good | first=Greta | title=10.4 million people speak Spanish in California–here's how you can learn, too | website=SFGATE | date=2021-03-31 | url=https://www.sfgate.com/shopping/article/10-4-million-people-speak-Spanish-in-16067234.php}}</ref> Spanish was the official administrative language of California through the Spanish and Mexican eras, until 1848. Following the U.S. [[Conquest of California]] and the [[Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo]], the U.S. Government guaranteed the rights of Spanish-speaking Californians. The first [[Constitution of California]] was written in both languages at the [[California Constitutional Conventions|Monterey Constitutional Convention of 1849]] and protected the rights of Spanish speakers to use their language in government proceedings and mandating that all government documents be published in both English and Spanish.<ref>{{cite web | last=Edwards | first=Andrew | title=English, Spanish share long history in California | website=Los Angeles Daily News | date=2010-07-18 | url=https://www.dailynews.com/2010/07/18/english-spanish-share-long-history-in-california/}}</ref>

Despite the initial recognition of Spanish by early American governments in California, the revised 1879 constitution stripped the rights of Spanish speakers and the official status of Spanish.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.languagepolicy.net/archives/1879con.htm|title=Spanish Language Rights in California: Debates over the 1879 Constitution|website=languagepolicy.net}}</ref> The growth of the [[English-only movement]] by the mid-20th century led to the passage of [[1986 California Proposition 63]], which enshrined English as the only official language in California and ended Spanish language instruction in schools.<ref name="Time Bilingual">{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4041224/history-california-bilingual-education/|title=The Complicated History Behind California's Vote on Bilingual Education|date=November 2, 2016|magazine=Time}}</ref> [[2016 California Proposition 58]] reversed the prohibition on [[bilingual education]], though there are still many barriers to the proliferation of Spanish bilingual education, including a shortage of teachers and lack of funding.<ref>{{cite web | last=Garcia | first=Karen | title=How second- and third-generation Latinos are reclaiming the Spanish language | website=Los Angeles Times | date=2023-01-31 | url=https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2023-01-31/how-language-affects-identity-for-latinos }}</ref><ref name="Time Bilingual"/><ref>{{cite web | last=Sanchez | first=Claudio | title=After Nearly 2 Decades, Californians Revisit Ban On Bilingual Education | website=NPR | date=2016-10-29 | url=https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/10/29/499867678/the-debate-over-bilingual-education-in-california }}</ref> The [[government of California]] has since made efforts to promote Spanish language access and bilingual education,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ksbw.com/article/dollar178-million-grant-uplifts-california-spanish-speaking-students/41236323|title=$1.78 million grant uplifts California Spanish-speaking students|first=Christian|last=Balderas|date=September 16, 2022|website=KSBW}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Kelley | first=Cindy | title=California wants most students to be bilingual by 2040. Here's why. | website=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=2022-03-10 | url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2022/03/10/california-wants-most-students-to-be-bilingual-by-2040-heres-why/ }}</ref> as have private educational institutions in California.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2021/03/10/el-eco-leads-more-spanish-language-courses-california-lutheran/4551110001/|title=California Lutheran University staff create more Spanish-language options|first=Shivani|last=Patel|website=Ventura County Star}}</ref> Many businesses in California promote the usage of Spanish by their employees, to better serve both California's Hispanic population and the larger [[Hispanophone|Spanish-speaking world]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sponsored/will-spanish-overtake-english-as-the-most-spoken-language-of-california/article_0a193d8e-88f9-11ec-b067-bbf4bca11bba.html|title=Will Spanish Overtake English as the Most Spoken Language of California?|date=February 8, 2022|website=San Mateo Daily Journal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://janerosenthal.com/live-in-california-learn-spanish/|title=Should You Lean Spanish If You Live in California? &#124; Jane Rosenthal Author|first=Janes|last=Team|date=January 17, 2023|website=Jane Rosenthal}}</ref>

California has historically been one of the most linguistically diverse areas in the world, with more than 70 indigenous languages derived from 64 root languages in six language families.<ref name="Native Languages 1770">{{Cite map |publisher=Coyote Press |title=Native Tribes, Groups, Language Families and Dialects of California in 1770 |url=http://www.californiaprehistory.com/tribmap.html |edition=1966 |access-date=December 27, 2009 |archive-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430112732/http://www.californiaprehistory.com/tribmap.html }}</ref><ref name="Indian Root Languages 1994">{{Cite map |publisher=California State Parks |title=California Indians Root Languages and Tribal Groups |url=http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23545 |edition=1994 |access-date=December 27, 2009}}</ref> A survey conducted between 2007 and 2009 identified 23 different indigenous languages among California farmworkers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013 |title=Indigenous Farmworker Study—Indigenous Mexicans in California Agriculture. Section V. Language and Culture |url=http://indigenousfarmworkers.org/final_report_section_v.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://indigenousfarmworkers.org/final_report_section_v.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref> All of California's indigenous languages are [[endangered language|endangered]], although there are now efforts toward [[language revitalization]].<ref group="note">The following are a list of the indigenous languages: Root languages of California: Athabaskan Family: Hupa, Mattole, Lassik, Wailaki, Sinkyone, Cahto, Tolowa, Nongatl, Wiyot, Chilula; Hokan Family: Pomo, Shasta, Karok, Chimiriko; Algonquian Family: Whilkut, Yurok; Yukian Family: Wappo; Penutian Family: Modok, Wintu, Nomlaki, Konkow, Maidu, Patwin, Nisenan, Miwok, Coast Miwok, Lake Miwok, Ohlone, Northern Valley Yokuts, Southern Valley Yokuts, Foothill Yokuts; Hokan Family: Esselen, Salinan, Chumash, Ipai, Tipai, Yuma, Halchichoma, Mohave; Uto-Aztecan Family: Mono Paiute, Monache, Owens Valley Paiute, Tubatulabal, Panamint Shoshone, Kawaisu, Kitanemuk, Tataviam, Gabrielino, Juaneno, Luiseno, Cuipeno, Cahuilla, Serrano, Chemehuevi</ref> California has the highest concentration nationwide of [[Chinese language in the United States|Chinese]], [[Vietnamese language in the United States|Vietnamese]] and [[Punjabi American|Punjabi]] speakers.

As a result of the state's increasing diversity and migration from other areas across the country and around the globe, linguists began noticing a noteworthy set of emerging characteristics of spoken [[American English]] in California since the late 20th century. This variety, known as [[California English]], has a [[vowel shift]] and several other phonological processes that are different from varieties of American English used in other regions of the United States.<ref name="Bucholtz">{{Cite journal |last1=Bucholtz |first1=Mary |display-authors=etal |date=December 2007 |title=Hella Nor Cal or Totally So Cal?: The Perceptual Dialectology of California |journal=Journal of English Linguistics |volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=325–352 |citeseerx=10.1.1.516.3682 |doi=10.1177/0075424207307780 |s2cid=64542514}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in California}}
{{see also|List of cathedrals in California}}
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Religious self-identification, per [[Public Religion Research Institute]]'s 2021 ''American Values Survey''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=February 24, 2023 |title=American Values Atlas: Religious Tradition in California|url=https://ava.prri.org/#religious/2021/States/religion/m/US-CA|access-date=April 4, 2023 |website=[[Public Religion Research Institute]]}}</ref>
| label1 = [[Catholic Church in the United States|Catholicism]]
| value1 = 34
| color1 = Purple
| label2 = [[Protestantism in the United States|Protestantism]]
| value2 = 27
| color2 = Blue
| label3 = [[Jehovah's Witnesses|Jehovah's Witness]]
| value3 = 1
| color3 = Teal
| label4 = [[Mormonism]]
| value4 = 1
| color4 = Lightblue
| label5 = [[Irreligion in the United States|Unaffiliated]]
| value5 = 28
| color5 = White
| label6 = [[Buddhism in the United States|Buddhism]]
| value6 = 2
| color6 = Yellow
| label7 = [[American Jews|Judaism]]
| value7 = 1
| color7 = Pink
| label8 = [[Hinduism in the United States|Hinduism]]
| value8 = 1
| color8 = Orange
| label9 = Other
| value9 = 5
| color9 = Black
}}
The largest [[religious denomination]]s by number of adherents as a percentage of California's population in 2014 were the Catholic Church with 28 percent, Evangelical Protestants with 20 percent, and Mainline Protestants with 10 percent. Together, all kinds of Protestants accounted for 32 percent. Those unaffiliated with any religion represented 27 percent of the population. The breakdown of other religions is 1% Muslim, 2% Hindu and 2% Buddhist.<ref name="pew2014">{{Cite web |last=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=May 12, 2015 |title=America's Changing Religious Landscape, ''Appendix D: Detailed Tables'' |url=http://www.pewforum.org/files/2015/05/Appendix-D-Detailed-Tables.pdf |access-date=June 5, 2015 |publisher=Pew Research Center |archive-date=May 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528123026/http://www.pewforum.org/files/2015/05/Appendix-D-Detailed-Tables.pdf }}</ref> This is a change from 2008, when the population identified their religion with the Catholic Church with 31 percent; Evangelical Protestants with 18 percent; and Mainline Protestants with 14 percent. In 2008, those unaffiliated with any religion represented 21 percent of the population. The breakdown of other religions in 2008 was 0.5% Muslim, 1% Hindu and 2% Buddhist.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Religious Affiliation by State in the U.S |url=http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=June 24, 2010 |website=U.S. Religious Landscape Study |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |page=103}}</ref> The ''[[American Jewish Year Book]]'' placed the total [[American Jews|Jewish]] population of California at about 1,194,190 in 2006.<ref>Ira M. Sheskin and Arnold Dashefsky, "Jewish Population of the United States, 2006", ''[[American Jewish Year Book]] 2006'', Volume 106 [https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/usjewpop.html]</ref> According to the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]] (ARDA) the largest denominations by adherents in 2010 were the [[Catholic Church]] with 10,233,334; [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] with 763,818; and the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] with 489,953.<ref name="www.thearda.com">{{Cite web |title=The Association of Religion Data Archives &#124; State Membership Report |url=http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/s/06/rcms2010_06_state_adh_2010.asp |access-date=December 16, 2013 |publisher=thearda.com |archive-date=December 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217000142/http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/s/06/rcms2010_06_state_adh_2010.asp }}</ref>
[[File:Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo (cropped2).jpg|thumb|The [[Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo (Monterey, California)|Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo]] in Monterey, built 1791–94, is the oldest [[parish]] in California.<ref>Clark, Donald T., Monterey County Place Names: A Geographical Dictionary (Kestrel Press, Carmel Valley, CA, 1991).</ref>|left]]
California has a large Catholic population due to the large numbers of Mexicans and Central Americans living within its borders. California has twelve dioceses and two archdioceses, the [[Archdiocese of Los Angeles]] and the [[Archdiocese of San Francisco]], the former being the largest archdiocese in the United States.

A [[Pew Research Center]] survey revealed that California is somewhat less religious than the rest of the states: 62 percent of Californians say they are "absolutely certain" of their belief in God, while in the nation 71 percent say so. The survey also revealed 48 percent of Californians say religion is "very important", compared to 56 percent nationally.<ref name="Helfland 2008">{{Cite news |last=Helfand |first=Duke |date=June 24, 2008 |title=State has a relaxed view on religion—Survey finds Californians are less certain about the existence of God than others in the U.S |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-24-me-faith24-story.html |access-date=December 27, 2009}}</ref>