California Losing Fewer Residents Than It Had Been

Only a net loss of 45,000 residents in 2012

California has been losing huge numbers of residents to other states since the recession—and not attracting as many in return. But new census figures suggest the trend may be shifting.

About 496,000 people came from other states to California in 2012, the largest number since 2007. About 540,000 left California for other states.

The net loss of 45,000 residents is a big improvement from prior years. For much of the last decade, California lost at least 100,000 more residents to other states than it gained.