<P> The United States Census Bureau estimates that the population of California was 39,250,017 on July 1, 2016, a 5.4% increase since the 2010 United States Census . The population is projected to reach 40 million by 2018 and 50 million by 2055 . </P> <P> Between 2000 and 2009, there was a natural increase of 3,090,016 (5,058,440 births minus 2,179,958 deaths). During this time period, international migration produced a net increase of 1,816,633 people while domestic migration produced a net decrease of 1,509,708, resulting in a net in - migration of 306,925 people . The state of California's own statistics show a population of 38,292,687 for January 1, 2009 . However, according to the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, since 1990 almost 3.4 million Californians have moved to other states, with most leaving to Texas, Nevada, and Arizona . </P> <P> California is the 2nd-most populous subnational entity in the Western Hemisphere and the Americas, with a population second to that of the state of São Paulo in Brazil . California's population is greater than that of all but 34 countries of the world . The Greater Los Angeles Area is the 2nd - largest metropolitan area in the United States, after the New York metropolitan area, while Los Angeles, with nearly half the population of New York City, is the second - largest city in the United States . Also, Los Angeles County has held the title of most populous United States county for decades, and it alone is more populous than 42 United States states . Including Los Angeles, four of the top 15 most populous cities in the U.S. are in California: Los Angeles (2nd), San Diego (8th), San Jose (10th), and San Francisco (13th). The center of population of California is located in the town of Buttonwillow, Kern County . </P> <P> The state has 482 incorporated cities and towns, of which 460 are cities and 22 are towns . Under California law, the terms "city" and "town" are explicitly interchangeable; the name of an incorporated municipality in the state can either be "City of (Name)" or "Town of (Name)". </P>

More than 1 000 dead exotic animals found in california complex