California is a state on the west coast of the United States with a total population of 38 million people and the third-largest state by size (423,970 km2). California has hundreds of cities and municipalities. Los Angeles is the biggest city in California by population (3.8 million) and size (1,213 km2), with a population density of 3,124 persons per square km. San Diego and San Jose are the second and third-largest cities, with 1.4 million and 1 million residents, respectively. Sacramento is the state capital of California and the sixth most populous city in the state, with 500,000 residents and a population density of 1,839 people per square mile. Santa Ana has the greatest population density, with 4,618 people per square kilometer.
| Rank | Name | Population | Area (km²) | Density ( inhabitants/km²) | County | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | 3,884,307 | 1,213 | 3,124 | Los Angeles | |
| 2 | San Diego | 1,355,896 | 842 | 1,545 | San Diego | |
| 3 | San Jose | 998,537 | 457 | 2,083 | Santa Clara | |
| 4 | San Francisco | 837,442 | 121 | 6,630 | San Francisco | |
| 5 | Fresno | 509,924 | 293 | 1,691 | Fresno | |
| 6 | Sacramento | 479,686 | 253 | 1,839 | Sacramento | |
| 7 | Long Beach | 469,428 | 130 | 3,548 | Los Angeles | |
| 8 | Oakland | 406,253 | 144 | 2,700 | Oakland | |
| 9 | Bakersfield | 363,630 | 384 | 9,03 | Kern | |
| 10 | Anaheim | 345,012 | 129 | 2,599 | Orange | |
| 11 | Santa Ana | 334,227 | 70 | 4,618 | Orange | |
| 12 | Riverside | 316,619 | 210 | 1,445 | Riverside | |
| 13 | Stockton | 298,118 | 159 | 1,826 | Stockton | |
| 14 | Chula Vista | 256,780 | 128 | 1,897 | San Diego | |
| 15 | Irvine | 236,716 | 169 | 1,247 | Orange | |
| 16 | Fremont | 224,922 | 200 | 1,067 | Alameda | |
| 17 | San Bernardino | 213,708 | 159 | 1,318 | San Bernardino | |
| 18 | Modesto | 204,933 | 114 | 1,750 | Stanislaus | |
| 19 | Oxnard | 203,007 | 69 | 2,840 | Ventura | |
| 20 | Fontana | 203,003 | 109 | 1,784 | San Bernardino | |
| 21 | Moreno Valley | 201,175 | 132 | 1,456 | Riverside | |
| 22 | Huntington Beach | 197,575 | 69 | 2,738 | Orange | |
| 23 | Glendale | 196,021 | 78 | 2,431 | Los Angeles | |
| 24 | Santa Clarita | 179,590 | 136 | 1,291 | Los Angeles | |
| 25 | Garden Grove | 175,140 | 46 | 3,676 | Orange |
