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Data: U.S. Census; Map: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals

San Diego County's population shrank last year amid a massive drop in immigration, following a nationwide trend, new U.S. Census data shows.

Why it matters: The data offers the best look yet at how tighter immigration enforcement is affecting America's demographic makeup.

Zoom in: San Diego's population growth has slowed in recent years. That's partially because the city's high cost of living has forced locals out. In the past, immigrants moving in offset that drop — until last year.

We saw the sixth-largest numeric population decline among U.S. counties in 2025, and experts say a continued slowdown could shrink the local workforce and economy.

By the numbers: San Diego County's population dropped by about 5,300, to 3.28 million people in 2025, the first year-over-year decline since 2021, according to the census data.

That was driven by a 65% drop in net international migration following the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration, the Union-Tribune reported. It's the single largest decline in 15 years.

Every one of California's 58 counties saw a drop in the number of foreign-born arrivals, and 30 saw population declines, per the U-T.

Between the lines: "The nation's largest counties ... are often international migration hubs," per Census Bureau demographer George M. Hayward.

"With fewer gains from international migration, these types of counties saw their population growth diminish or even turn into loss."

The big picture: The U.S. overall still grew by 0.5% between 2024-25, but that's down from 1% over the previous period.

Nationwide natural change (births minus deaths) held steady, while international migration plummeted from about 2.8 million people to 1.3 million.

Caveat: The Census' international migration data include foreigners and Americans coming home from abroad, including military service members.

San Diego's population decline driven by immigration slowdown

The area's recent population growth was supported by immigrants moving in — until last year.

A choropleth map of U.S. counties showing estimated population change from July 2024 to 2025. The U.S. overall grew by +0.5%. Kaufman County, Texas, grew the most of any county with a population over 100,000: +5.7%. Pinellas County, Florida shrank the most: -1.2%. 

San Diego County&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="population" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/03/17/san-diego-population-growth-pandemic" data-vars-content-id="32abc3d2-6a19-4161-bfc8-ab3f17bb18d1" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s population decline driven by immigration slowdown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/03/17/san-diego-population-growth-pandemic" target="_self">population</a> shrank last year amid a massive drop in immigration, following a nationwide trend, new U.S. Census data shows.Why it matters: The data offers the best look yet at how <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tighter immigration enforcement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/07/18/ice-arrests-noncriminals-san-diego-2025" data-vars-content-id="32abc3d2-6a19-4161-bfc8-ab3f17bb18d1" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s population decline driven by immigration slowdown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/07/18/ice-arrests-noncriminals-san-diego-2025" target="_self">tighter immigration enforcement</a> is affecting America&#x27;s demographic makeup.

News

Politics

Scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla have created a new tool to better understand how aging affects our brains.

Why it matters: Aging is a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's that affect millions of Americans.

Zoom in: The tool is a detailed "atlas" of mouse brain cells that can tell researchers more about how human brains deteriorate and lose function as we age, potentially leading to earlier, more targeted treatments, Salk professor and scientist Joseph Ecker told Axios.

Any researcher, scientist or company can access the publicly available atlas, published online in Cell in March, and use it as a reference map of a healthy, aging brain.

"You need to have that before you can understand what's going wrong in disease," Ecker said.

For example, the level of detail in the atlas can show how gene activity changes across brain regions and cell types during the aging process, which could help researchers identify which cell types to target in future therapies, Ecker explained.

The intrigue: They found that not all parts of the brain age at the same pace, which helps explain why some people lose certain abilities, like memory, faster than others, he said.

Zoom out: A record 7.2 million Americans over 65 are now living with Alzheimer's, and the risk increases with age.

The odds of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's are higher in San Diego than in many other parts of the country, and those diagnoses are key to driving new tests, clinical trials and treatments.

Detecting early signs and addressing cognitive decline sooner can help prevent or delay the disease, which is particularly important for San Diego County's growing senior population.

San Diego scientists build brain atlas to help disease research

Salk researchers say mouse brain atlas could lead to earlier, more targeted treatments for aging brains.

Animated illustration of a spinning brain rendered in a halftone pattern made of sparkle shapes. The sparkle shapes grow and shrink as the brain turns. 

Scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla have created a new tool to better understand how aging affects our brains.Why it matters: Aging is a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="major risk factor" data-vars-click-url="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31501588/" data-vars-content-id="426e72b4-ef43-4bb7-8f3f-f2a8e37179ce" data-vars-headline="San Diego scientists build brain atlas to help disease research" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31501588/" target="_blank">major risk factor</a> for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer&#x27;s and Parkinson&#x27;s that affect millions of Americans.

Health

Local nonprofits have teamed up to offer accessible exercise, in-home care and food programs all in one place for San Diego's growing senior population.

Why it matters: These programs aim to help the 730,000 residents over age 60 stay active, social and independent, potentially helping reduce the burden of rising health care costs and food insecurity.

Driving the news: Challenge Center opened a larger new adaptive fitness center in Kearny Mesa in March to meet the growing demand for services for people with disabilities or mobility limitations.

They've added classes and new equipment and are expanding the team to provide physical therapy and personal training beyond what insurance typically covers, executive director Tiffany Piquilloud told Axios.

The team raises money to subsidize classes and cover up to 75% of the cost for clients, she said.

Zoom in: The new space also allowed Challenge Center to partner with neighbors ElderHelp and Meals on Wheels to create a hub for care through a pilot program.

It connects each of their services for seniors, including housing, nutrition, transportation and rehab.

"Diet, exercise and in-home support is a really great combination for keeping people successfully aging in place," Piquilloud said. "We want them to age all over the place … Be a part of their community."

Nonprofits partner to help seniors stay active and independent

Challenge Center's new adaptive fitness facility also connects seniors to social services.

Trainer in a blue shirt assists a woman in a red wheelchair as she pulls a pulley cord for an upper-body exercise in a bright gym, with blue walls and treadmills in the background.

The new adaptive fitness center in Kearny Mesa offers personal training for seniors and people with disabilities. Photo: Courtesy pf Challenge Center

Local nonprofits have teamed up to offer accessible exercise, in-home care and food programs all in one place for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Diego&#x27;s growing senior population" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/07/16/san-diego-age-old-65" data-vars-content-id="608a2c14-9923-4c53-86fd-a0a3e6b7407a" data-vars-headline="Nonprofits partner to help seniors stay active and independent" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/07/16/san-diego-age-old-65" target="_self">San Diego&#x27;s growing senior population</a>.Why it matters: These programs aim to help the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="730,000 residents over age 60" data-vars-click-url="https://sdscf.org/longevity-fund/" data-vars-content-id="608a2c14-9923-4c53-86fd-a0a3e6b7407a" data-vars-headline="Nonprofits partner to help seniors stay active and independent" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sdscf.org/longevity-fund/" target="_blank">730,000 residents over age 60</a> stay active, social and independent, potentially helping reduce the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="burden of rising health care costs and food insecurity" data-vars-click-url="https://sdvoice.info/state-of-seniors-report-is-now-live/" data-vars-content-id="608a2c14-9923-4c53-86fd-a0a3e6b7407a" data-vars-headline="Nonprofits partner to help seniors stay active and independent" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sdvoice.info/state-of-seniors-report-is-now-live/" target="_blank">burden of rising health care costs and food insecurity</a>.

Women's sports fans will soon be able to cheer on their favorite teams at One of Us, San Diego's first women's sports bar.

Why it matters: Viewership and attendance for women's sports are soaring, and local fans are desperate for a place where they don't have to fight to get those games on TVs.

Zoom in: One of Us is set to open on University Avenue in North Park this month as a reliable spot for fans to see San Diego Wave, Mojo and Rebellion games, plus WNBA and NCAA basketball, Team USA rugby, soccer and more.

Hundreds of people have come out for their pop-up watch parties at neighborhood bars over the past year, which is how they've built a community, raised money and saw demand for a permanent space, co-owner Kalani Millsaps told Axios.

"It's not just simply about watching what's on the TVs," Millsaps said. "This is where you're going to come and make friends."

The vibe: The new bar and restaurant will have a brewery feel that's brighter and more elevated than a traditional sports bar or corner dive, with open garage door windows, high ceilings and a coal-fired pizza oven.

The dozen or so TVs are strategically placed behind the bar and around the dining room, so fans have a good view no matter where they're sitting.

Sip on cocktails, beer and wine, while the kitchen serves up pizza, shareable bar food like wings and tater tots, plus salads and sandwiches.

What's next: Get a feel for the vibe at One of Us' NCAA Women's Basketball Championship watch party at Kairoa Brewing in University Heights on Sunday afternoon.

San Diego's 1st women's sports bar opening in North Park

One of Us opens in North Park, giving fans a dedicated space to watch women's sports.

A crowded bar filled with diverse, cheering patrons at tables, some raising hands. TV screens hang overhead, showing a performance; exposed wooden ceiling, plants, and warm lighting.

The One of Us women's sports watch parties have been bumpin'! Photo: Courtesy of One of Us Bar

Women&#x27;s sports fans will soon be able to cheer on their favorite teams at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="One of Us" data-vars-click-url="https://www.oneofusbar.com/" data-vars-content-id="cf4f47e6-49a8-4830-a90e-13da1d0e0d82" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s 1st women&#x27;s sports bar opening in North Park" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.oneofusbar.com/" target="_blank">One of Us</a>, San Diego&#x27;s first women&#x27;s sports bar.Why it matters: Viewership and attendance for women&#x27;s sports are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="soaring" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/15/usa-today-womens-sports-stories" data-vars-content-id="cf4f47e6-49a8-4830-a90e-13da1d0e0d82" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s 1st women&#x27;s sports bar opening in North Park" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/15/usa-today-womens-sports-stories" target="_self">soaring</a>, and local fans are desperate for a place where they don&#x27;t have to fight to get those games on TVs.

Sports

San Diego parents are spending thousands of dollars a month to pay for child care — if they can even find it.

We asked readers and experts for tips on how to manage the rising costs, and they offered some helpful guidance beyond applying for financial support.

Reader Rachel S. rerouted income typically put into a 401K to pay for child care, understanding that it's a "temporary expense and we can start investing more again when they start school," she said.

"The important part is to actually remember to invest that part of your income again when you're no longer using it for child care!" she added.

Take advantage of a Dependent Care FSA if your employer offers one, said Courtney Baltiyskyy, a policy analyst with the San Diego YMCA.

That allows you to contribute tax-free to an account that can be used for child care, including summer camps and after-school programs.

🧩 Stack child care options and lean on your village

As a single parent, Dianne O. said she put her daughter in a church preschool and then had a private provider cover care for the rest of the afternoon. Still, that combo cost about a third of her salary.

Now retired, she takes care of a neighbor's child from 6am–8:30am, and then another person takes that kid to elementary school.

"I understand this single parent's pain and stress," she said, so she generally just charges "perks like an avocado or a small bag of veggies from the farmers market."

The YMCA preschool programs take state subsidy vouchers and offer scholarships, Baltiyskyy said.

Families who don't qualify for a state voucher or are on the waiting list can still apply for scholarships.

Kim McDougal, senior vice president of social services at YMCA of San Diego County, encourages parents to talk to their employers about setting up a child care benefit program and flexible scheduling.

The business community should help solve the local child care crisis as they benefit from reliable, focused and present employees, she said.

The Trump administration expanded tax credits and reimbursements for businesses' child care expenses, which could also incentivize companies to make on-site facilities.

Case in point: The YMCA helped March and Ash dispensary build a program that gives all staff members $4,500 a year toward the cost of any type of child care, including summer camps, McDougal said.

The San Diego YMCA is the county's designated resource and referral provider, which means their website lists all available licensed and home child care providers.

Baltiyskyy said they will also make phone calls to find child care for anyone in the county — for free!

"It's really a choose-your-own adventure and how we can help you find child care that meets your needs," she told Axios. "The language you'd like your provider to speak, the types of curriculum or methodology that are being used, the geographic distance from home or work and the cost. Our navigators actually take on the responsibility of contacting providers that have an open slot that meet that family's need, and we'll call and see if the family can stop by."

To get started, call 800-481-2151, Monday through Friday, 8am–5pm.

You can also pull state inspections of any child care provider and sign up for alerts for new inspections here.

💭 Our thought bubble: Get started on the search as soon as you find out you're pregnant, and consider in-home day cares, which are typically more affordable.

How San Diego parents navigate soaring child care costs

From tax-free spending to help finding care, here's some guidance from parents and experts.

Illustration of a stroller with money inside of it.

San Diego parents are spending thousands of dollars a month to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pay for child care" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-costs-map-zip-code-infant-preschool-rates-ymca?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="f558f57d-bbeb-47cb-b628-8854d7725740" data-vars-headline="How San Diego parents navigate soaring child care costs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-costs-map-zip-code-infant-preschool-rates-ymca?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" target="_self">pay for child care</a> — if they can even <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="find it" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-deserts-two-thirds-families-ymca-map?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="f558f57d-bbeb-47cb-b628-8854d7725740" data-vars-headline="How San Diego parents navigate soaring child care costs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-deserts-two-thirds-families-ymca-map?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" target="_self">find it</a>.We asked readers and experts for tips on how to manage the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rising costs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-costs-infant-preschool-prices-ymca?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="f558f57d-bbeb-47cb-b628-8854d7725740" data-vars-headline="How San Diego parents navigate soaring child care costs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-costs-infant-preschool-prices-ymca?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" target="_self">rising costs</a>, and they offered some helpful guidance beyond applying for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="financial support" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-subsidy-waitlist-7000-families-ymca?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="f558f57d-bbeb-47cb-b628-8854d7725740" data-vars-headline="How San Diego parents navigate soaring child care costs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-subsidy-waitlist-7000-families-ymca?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" target="_self">financial support</a>.

Education

AA choropleth map of U.S. counties showing estimated population change from July 2024 to 2025. The U.S. overall grew by +0.5%. Kaufman County, Texas, grew the most of any county with a population over 100,000: +5.7%. Pinellas County, Florida shrank the most of any county with a population over 100,000: -1.2%. 

Kate Murphy

Featured stories

San Diego's 1st women's sports bar opening in North Park

San Diego's population decline driven by immigration slowdown

San Diego scientists build brain atlas to help disease research

Nonprofits partner to help seniors stay active and independent

How San Diego parents navigate soaring child care costs