British Population in California by City : 2025 Ranking & Insights

The British population in California totals 175,313, according to recent U.S. Census estimates. Leading cities include Los Angeles (16,769), followed by San Diego (8,227) and San Francisco (5,819), each hosting visible segments of the community. While these urban centers anchor much of the population, the statewide total points to a broader presence in unincorporated areas and smaller towns beyond major city boundaries. The analysis below explores how British residents are distributed across California''s urban and rural landscape.

Top 5 cities with the largest British population in California

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  • 1
    Los Angeles
    British population in Los Angeles is 16,769
    0.43% of Los Angeles population is British
  • 2
    San Diego
    British population in San Diego is 8,227
    0.59% of San Diego population is British
  • 3
    San Francisco
    British population in San Francisco is 5,819
    0.70% of San Francisco population is British
  • 4
    San Jose
    British population in San Jose is 2,997
    0.30% of San Jose population is British
  • 5
    Oakland
    British population in Oakland is 2,477
    0.57% of Oakland population is British

Overview of British population in California

  • Population Count and Percentage: American Community Survey data indicate California contains 175,313 British residents (0.45% of 39.2 million total state population), positioning the state at the 100th percentile nationally among U.S. states for British population concentrations.
  • Comparison to State and National Averages: U.S. Census data documents California's British population of 0.45% corresponding to the national average, placing the state as demographically representative of typical U.S. distribution patterns.
  • Share of Total National Population: Official American Community Survey data indicates California's 175,313 British residents constitute 11.7% of the nation's total British population of 1.5 million, placing the state among jurisdictions with the highest demographic concentrations, with 11.7% of all American British Americans residing within state boundaries.
  • Population Density per Square Mile: U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey data indicates California's density of 1.1 British Americans per square mile exceeds the national average of 0.42 per square mile by more than double, establishing the state as a significant concentration center for British demographic communities.
  • Need additional overviews? Extended research data available for purchase and license. ➔

473 Cities in California Ranked by British Population

View Methodology
American Community Survey data [1] show British population in California present in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, along with several other incorporated cities reporting non-zero populations. The table below provides broader statistics, including total population figures, density measures, and demographic distributions based on current ACS data for all incorporated cities included in this analysis*.
cities in California ranked by British population count
Rank by British Population
City
British Population
% of Total City Population
% of Total California British Population
5 Year Rank Trend
1 Los Angeles 16,769 0.43% 9.57%
2 San Diego 8,227 0.59% 4.69%
3 San Francisco 5,819 0.70% 3.32%
4 San Jose 2,997 0.30% 1.71%
5 Oakland 2,477 0.57% 1.41%
6 Long Beach 2,389 0.52% 1.36%
7 Sacramento 2,136 0.41% 1.22%
8 1,587 0.29% 0.91%
9 1,559 1.24% 0.89%
10 1,494 0.98% 0.85%
11 1,450 1.21% 0.83%
12 1,432 0.46% 0.82%
13 1,388 0.34% 0.79%
14 1,292 1.13% 0.74%
15 1,196 0.85% 0.68%
16 1,187 0.38% 0.68%
17 1,118 0.89% 0.64%
18 1,093 0.62% 0.62%
19 1,062 1.21% 0.61%
20 992 1.08% 0.57%
21 979 0.72% 0.56%
22 966 0.49% 0.55%
23 940 0.41% 0.54%
24 913 0.60% 0.52%
25 903 1.07% 0.52%
26 892 0.72% 0.51%
27 882 2.55% 0.50%
28 881 0.80% 0.50%
29 867 0.82% 0.49%
30 840 0.49% 0.48%
31 828 0.36% 0.47%
32 816 0.42% 0.47%
33 810 0.98% 0.46%
34 781 0.77% 0.45%
35 756 0.22% 0.43%
36 739 0.34% 0.42%
37 729 0.41% 0.42%
38 726 1.61% 0.41%
39 717 0.50% 0.41%
40 710 1.02% 0.41%
41 707 0.76% 0.40%
42 691 1.16% 0.39%
43 670 0.73% 0.38%
44 663 0.92% 0.38%
45 662 0.24% 0.38%
46 661 0.44% 0.38%
47 657 1.03% 0.37%
48 656 1.51% 0.37%
49 651 0.84% 0.37%
50 646 0.50% 0.37%
51 641 0.81% 0.37%
51 641 0.78% 0.37%
52 638 1.33% 0.36%
53 634 1.03% 0.36%
54 631 0.94% 0.36%
55 629 0.73% 0.36%
56 614 1.75% 0.35%
57 607 0.19% 0.35%
58 599 0.78% 0.34%
59 578 0.95% 0.33%
60 574 1.75% 0.33%
61 568 0.88% 0.32%
62 560 0.92% 0.32%
63 554 0.39% 0.32%
64 540 1.05% 0.31%
65 533 0.68% 0.30%
65 533 0.38% 0.30%
66 530 0.50% 0.30%
67 528 0.82% 0.30%
68 516 0.63% 0.29%
69 496 0.48% 0.28%
70 489 0.42% 0.28%
70 489 0.44% 0.28%
71 487 0.73% 0.28%
72 480 0.55% 0.27%
72 480 0.47% 0.27%
73 468 0.42% 0.27%
74 465 0.38% 0.27%
75 461 0.37% 0.26%
76 440 0.68% 0.25%
77 434 0.62% 0.25%
78 431 0.41% 0.25%
78 431 0.25% 0.25%
79 428 0.38% 0.24%
80 424 0.87% 0.24%
81 423 0.94% 0.24%
82 422 1.67% 0.24%
83 404 0.51% 0.23%
84 398 1.06% 0.23%
85 392 0.65% 0.22%
86 391 0.49% 0.22%
87 372 1.01% 0.21%
88 370 0.43% 0.21%
89 369 0.71% 0.21%
89 369 0.55% 0.21%
90 368 1.24% 0.21%
91 367 0.32% 0.21%
92 359 0.23% 0.20%
92 359 1.09% 0.20%
93 356 0.49% 0.20%
94 355 0.67% 0.20%
95 348 1.30% 0.20%
96 344 0.46% 0.20%
97 342 0.86% 0.20%
97 342 0.49% 0.20%
98 341 0.69% 0.19%
99 338 0.48% 0.19%
100 333 0.11% 0.19%
101 330 0.61% 0.19%
102 326 1.24% 0.19%
103 324 0.27% 0.18%
104 322 0.34% 0.18%
105 320 0.98% 0.18%
106 316 0.40% 0.18%
107 315 0.33% 0.18%
108 312 1.01% 0.18%
109 307 1.55% 0.18%
110 306 0.18% 0.17%
111 299 1.55% 0.17%
111 299 0.63% 0.17%
112 297 0.57% 0.17%
113 296 0.17% 0.17%
114 290 0.43% 0.17%
115 288 0.61% 0.16%
116 287 1.11% 0.16%
117 285 0.78% 0.16%
118 283 0.48% 0.16%
119 280 0.63% 0.16%
120 279 0.31% 0.16%
121 278 0.34% 0.16%
121 278 0.32% 0.16%
121 278 1.64% 0.16%
122 276 0.45% 0.16%
123 275 0.89% 0.16%
124 273 0.58% 0.16%
124 273 2.15% 0.16%
125 272 0.49% 0.16%
125 272 1.35% 0.16%
125 272 0.28% 0.16%
126 268 0.38% 0.15%
127 267 0.81% 0.15%
127 267 1.37% 0.15%
128 266 1.16% 0.15%
129 260 1.14% 0.15%
130 257 1.03% 0.15%
131 255 0.16% 0.15%
132 253 0.66% 0.14%
133 252 0.49% 0.14%
134 250 1.78% 0.14%
134 250 1.97% 0.14%
135 249 0.14% 0.14%
136 242 2.40% 0.14%
136 242 0.33% 0.14%
137 241 0.27% 0.14%
138 240 0.11% 0.14%
139 232 0.11% 0.13%
140 227 0.23% 0.13%
140 227 0.17% 0.13%
141 224 0.73% 0.13%
142 219 0.37% 0.12%
142 219 0.20% 0.12%
143 214 0.30% 0.12%
143 214 0.72% 0.12%
144 209 0.23% 0.12%
145 206 0.68% 0.12%
146 204 0.78% 0.12%
147 203 0.18% 0.12%
148 201 0.12% 0.11%
149 199 0.38% 0.11%
149 199 0.39% 0.11%
150 195 1.61% 0.11%
151 194 0.52% 0.11%
152 191 0.21% 0.11%
153 188 0.38% 0.11%
153 188 1.11% 0.11%
153 188 0.09% 0.11%
153 188 0.44% 0.11%
154 185 1.47% 0.11%
155 184 0.21% 0.11%
155 184 0.86% 0.11%
156 176 0.54% 0.10%
157 174 1.52% 0.10%
158 173 0.21% 0.10%
158 173 0.25% 0.10%
159 169 0.61% 0.10%
160 167 0.96% 0.10%
160 167 0.96% 0.10%
161 165 0.39% 0.09%
162 164 0.08% 0.09%
162 164 0.51% 0.09%
163 163 1.18% 0.09%
163 163 0.88% 0.09%
164 162 1.37% 0.09%
165 161 0.39% 0.09%
166 159 4.06% 0.09%
167 155 0.18% 0.09%
168 154 0.47% 0.09%
169 153 0.26% 0.09%
170 152 0.92% 0.09%
170 152 0.24% 0.09%
170 152 0.20% 0.09%
171 151 0.44% 0.09%
172 149 0.27% 0.09%
173 148 0.48% 0.08%
174 147 1.50% 0.08%
175 145 0.49% 0.08%
175 145 0.16% 0.08%
175 145 0.52% 0.08%
176 144 0.86% 0.08%
176 144 1.37% 0.08%
176 144 0.65% 0.08%
177 143 0.57% 0.08%
178 141 0.45% 0.08%
179 140 1.07% 0.08%
179 140 1.09% 0.08%
180 139 0.22% 0.08%
181 138 1.26% 0.08%
181 138 0.29% 0.08%
182 133 0.39% 0.08%
183 132 0.23% 0.08%
183 132 0.66% 0.08%
184 131 0.71% 0.07%
184 131 0.13% 0.07%
185 130 1.01% 0.07%
186 129 0.16% 0.07%
187 126 1.67% 0.07%
187 126 0.18% 0.07%
188 125 1.49% 0.07%
189 122 5.87% 0.07%
189 122 4.65% 0.07%
190 121 0.39% 0.07%
191 120 0.27% 0.07%
191 120 0.08% 0.07%
191 120 1.33% 0.07%
192 119 0.46% 0.07%
192 119 1.66% 0.07%
192 119 0.13% 0.07%
193 117 0.47% 0.07%
193 117 2.70% 0.07%
194 116 0.48% 0.07%
195 115 0.36% 0.07%
195 115 0.43% 0.07%
196 112 0.75% 0.06%
197 110 0.30% 0.06%
198 108 0.10% 0.06%
199 107 0.07% 0.06%
200 105 0.37% 0.06%
201 104 0.80% 0.06%
202 102 0.40% 0.06%
203 101 0.79% 0.06%
204 99 0.18% 0.06%
204 99 0.12% 0.06%
205 98 1.85% 0.06%
205 98 0.13% 0.06%
206 97 0.22% 0.06%
206 97 0.37% 0.06%
207 96 0.37% 0.05%
208 95 0.86% 0.05%
209 91 0.26% 0.05%
210 89 1.75% 0.05%
211 87 0.53% 0.05%
212 86 1.22% 0.05%
212 86 0.08% 0.05%
213 85 0.18% 0.05%
214 84 1.37% 0.05%
214 84 0.36% 0.05%
214 84 0.76% 0.05%
215 82 0.65% 0.05%
216 81 1.03% 0.05%
217 80 0.98% 0.05%
218 79 2.08% 0.05%
218 79 0.88% 0.05%
219 78 0.15% 0.04%
220 75 0.39% 0.04%
221 74 0.21% 0.04%
222 73 0.71% 0.04%
222 73 0.35% 0.04%
223 70 0.50% 0.04%
223 70 1.45% 0.04%
223 70 0.68% 0.04%
224 69 0.53% 0.04%
224 69 0.62% 0.04%
224 69 0.64% 0.04%
225 68 0.33% 0.04%
226 67 0.07% 0.04%
227 65 0.35% 0.04%
227 65 0.18% 0.04%
227 65 0.43% 0.04%
228 62 0.60% 0.04%
228 62 0.58% 0.04%
229 61 0.24% 0.03%
230 59 0.09% 0.03%
231 57 0.57% 0.03%
231 57 0.20% 0.03%
232 56 0.75% 0.03%
232 56 0.46% 0.03%
233 55 0.73% 0.03%
234 54 0.31% 0.03%
235 53 0.12% 0.03%
235 53 0.14% 0.03%
236 52 0.46% 0.03%
237 51 1.47% 0.03%
237 51 0.08% 0.03%
237 51 0.48% 0.03%
238 50 0.06% 0.03%
239 49 0.05% 0.03%
239 49 6.05% 0.03%
240 48 0.16% 0.03%
241 47 0.24% 0.03%
241 47 0.09% 0.03%
241 47 0.08% 0.03%
241 47 0.08% 0.03%
241 47 0.62% 0.03%
242 46 0.14% 0.03%
242 46 0.66% 0.03%
243 45 0.09% 0.03%
243 45 0.55% 0.03%
243 45 0.08% 0.03%
243 45 0.21% 0.03%
244 44 0.07% 0.03%
244 44 0.73% 0.03%
245 43 1.35% 0.02%
245 43 0.20% 0.02%
245 43 0.58% 0.02%
246 42 0.08% 0.02%
246 42 0.56% 0.02%
247 41 0.24% 0.02%
247 41 0.51% 0.02%
248 40 0.15% 0.02%
249 38 0.18% 0.02%
249 38 1.57% 0.02%
249 38 0.08% 0.02%
249 38 0.34% 0.02%
250 37 2.43% 0.02%
250 37 0.03% 0.02%
250 37 0.66% 0.02%
250 37 0.07% 0.02%
251 36 0.48% 0.02%
251 36 0.13% 0.02%
252 35 0.11% 0.02%
252 35 0.33% 0.02%
253 34 0.07% 0.02%
253 34 0.66% 0.02%
254 33 0.65% 0.02%
254 33 1.04% 0.02%
254 33 0.13% 0.02%
255 31 0.92% 0.02%
255 31 0.10% 0.02%
256 30 0.56% 0.02%
257 29 0.11% 0.02%
257 29 0.10% 0.02%
258 28 0.25% 0.02%
258 28 0.48% 0.02%
259 27 0.07% 0.02%
260 26 0.81% 0.01%
261 24 0.19% 0.01%
261 24 0.04% 0.01%
261 24 0.26% 0.01%
262 23 0.11% 0.01%
263 22 0.05% 0.01%
263 22 0.30% 0.01%
264 20 0.03% 0.01%
264 20 1.29% 0.01%
264 20 1.35% 0.01%
264 20 0.29% 0.01%
264 20 0.08% 0.01%
264 20 0.59% 0.01%
265 19 0.38% 0.01%
265 19 0.91% 0.01%
265 19 0.04% 0.01%
265 19 0.02% 0.01%
265 19 0.03% 0.01%
265 19 0.06% 0.01%
266 18 0.36% 0.01%
267 16 0.10% 0.01%
267 16 0.10% 0.01%
268 15 0.31% 0.01%
268 15 0.61% 0.01%
269 14 0.02% 0.01%
269 14 0.66% 0.01%
270 13 0.17% 0.01%
270 13 0.17% 0.01%
271 12 0.44% 0.01%
271 12 0.02% 0.01%
271 12 0.08% 0.01%
272 11 0.05% 0.01%
272 11 0.18% 0.01%
273 10 0.02% 0.01%
273 10 0.03% 0.01%
273 10 0.05% 0.01%
274 9 0.24% 0.01%
274 9 0.02% 0.01%
274 9 0.04% 0.01%
274 9 0.07% 0.01%
275 8 0.53% 0.00%
275 8 0.14% 0.00%
275 8 0.10% 0.00%
276 7 0.89% 0.00%
276 7 0.05% 0.00%
276 7 0.14% 0.00%
276 7 0.10% 0.00%
277 6 0.03% 0.00%
277 6 0.03% 0.00%
278 5 0.60% 0.00%
278 5 0.02% 0.00%
279 4 0.06% 0.00%
280 3 0.21% 0.00%
280 3 0.01% 0.00%
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
281 0 - -
Need the complete table? Full rankings and the underlying data sets for California and other locations are available for purchase or license.

Methodology

This ranking list is based on data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The ACS is one of the most reliable sources for understanding population trends across different locations, and it provides estimates for various racial and ethnic groups at city, county, state and all geography levels down to the Census block group.
This list ranks city in California by their British population, using the most recent ACS data available.

How the Census defines British population

The U.S. Census Bureau allows people to self-identify their ancestry, meaning individuals can write upto ancestries when responding to the survey. In this ranking, we include everyone who identifies as having British ancestry, whether alone or in combination with another ancestry.
Here are a few important things to know about how ancestry is reported:
  • Some people identify as British alone, while others identify as British along with another race (such as British and German).
  • We’ve used the “British alone or in any combination” category unless noted otherwise, which gives a broader picture of the British population in each area.

How We Ranked the Data

This ranking is based on the total number of people who identified as British alone or in combination in city. To provide additional context, we’ve also included two key percentages:
  1. % of Total City Population – This shows what percentage of the total state population identifies as British .
  2. % of Total California British Population – This tells us how much of the entire U.S. British population lives in that state.
To keep things simple, all population numbers have been rounded to the nearest whole number, and percentages are rounded to one decimal place. Because of rounding, some percentages may not add up to exactly 100%.

Things to Keep in Mind

Like all survey-based data, ACS estimates come with some limitations. Here are a few things to be aware of:
  • In places with very small British populations, the numbers may not be reported at all due to privacy protections or sampling variability in the survey.
  • Since the ACS is based on a sample, the numbers are estimates, not exact counts. That means they may slightly differ from other sources like the decennial U.S. Census.
  • City that don’t have any reported British population are not included in the ranking but are listed separately below for reference.
This ranking is meant to provide a clear, data-driven look at where British populations are most concentrated while keeping the numbers easy to understand.

Sources

  1. 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.
  2. 2023.