Alabama vs California: Population
California has a larger population than Alabama by 34,513,944 people.
National Rankings
Where They Rank Nationally
See where both states fall among all 50 states for population.
Top 10 States — Population
California
Texas
Florida
New York
Pennsylvania
Illinois
Ohio
Georgia
North Carolina
Michigan
Alabama
Alabama ranks 24th and California ranks 1st nationally for population.
Related Context
Population in Context
Raw headcount only tells part of the story — density and education round it out.
What This Means
Alabama vs California: Population in context
California has a population of 39,538,223, compared with 5,024,279 in Alabama — roughly 7.9× the Alabama figure. Total resident population (2020 Census).
People Also Ask
Alabama vs California Population — Common Questions
Q What is Alabama's population?
Alabama's population is 5,024,279.
Q What is California's population?
California's population is 39,538,223.
Q Which state has a higher population — Alabama or California?
California has a larger population than Alabama by 34,513,944 people.
Q How much more population does California have compared to Alabama?
+34,513,944 people.
More Comparisons: Alabama vs California
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Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.