California sharply reduces future population estimates [View All]

[Kadie]

California sharply reduces future population estimates


The Associated Press
Last Updated: October 4, 2004, 06:30:22 AM PDT


LOS ANGELES (AP) - California's population is not growing nearly as fast as planners once thought it would and is expected to reach about 51 million residents by 2040 rather than the 58 million once forecast, according to new state estimates.

California, currently with about 36 million residents, will continue to grow, but only at about 400,000 people a year, rather than the 600,000 once forecast, according to state planners.

The drop is being attributed to a decrease in births, particularly among Hispanics.

Birth rates have declined among all ethnic and racial groups tracked by the state, but Hispanic women account for the largest number of births, according to Mary Heim, chief of the state Finance Department's demographic research section. Since 1990, however, their birth rates have decreased from an average of 3.41 children per mother to 2.6,

"I think you could safely say more than half the reduction is because of the reduced fertility among Latinas," Heim said.

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http://www.mercedsun-star.com/state_wire/story/9238827p-10139796c.html