French Canadian Population in California by City : 2025 Ranking & Insights

The French Canadian population in California totals 84,919, according to recent U.S. Census estimates. Leading cities include Los Angeles (5,600), followed by San Diego (4,032) and San Francisco (2,098), 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 French Canadian residents are distributed across California''s urban and rural landscape.

Top 5 cities with the largest French Canadian population in California

View All
  • 1
    Los Angeles
    French Canadian population in Los Angeles is 5,600
    0.15% of Los Angeles population is French Canadian
  • 2
    San Diego
    French Canadian population in San Diego is 4,032
    0.29% of San Diego population is French Canadian
  • 3
    San Francisco
    French Canadian population in San Francisco is 2,098
    0.25% of San Francisco population is French Canadian
  • 4
    San Jose
    French Canadian population in San Jose is 1,479
    0.15% of San Jose population is French Canadian
  • 5
    Sacramento
    French Canadian population in Sacramento is 1,285
    0.24% of Sacramento population is French Canadian

Overview of French Canadian population in California

  • Population Count and Percentage: American Community Survey data indicate California contains 84,919 French Canadian residents (0.22% of 39.2 million total state population), positioning the state at the 85th percentile nationally among U.S. states for French Canadian population concentrations.
  • Comparison to State and National Averages: U.S. Census surveys show California's French Canadian demographic representation of 0.22% remains below the national average of 0.51%, positioning the state below typical U.S. demographic distribution patterns.
  • Share of Total National Population: Official American Community Survey records show California hosts 84,919 French Canadian residents, representing 5% of the nation's total French Canadian population of 1.7 million, establishing the state as a significant demographic concentration center within national boundaries.
  • Population Density per Square Mile: U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey data documents California contains 0.54 French-Canadian Americans per square mile, above the national average of 0.48 per square mile, indicating marginally stronger community presence than most U.S. states.
  • Need additional overviews? Extended research data available for purchase and license. ➔

473 Cities in California Ranked by French Canadian Population

View Methodology
American Community Survey data [1] show French Canadian 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 French Canadian population count
Rank by French Canadian Population
City
French Canadian Population
% of Total City Population
% of Total California French Canadian Population
5 Year Rank Trend
1 Los Angeles 5,600 0.15% 6.59%
2 San Diego 4,032 0.29% 4.75%
3 San Francisco 2,098 0.25% 2.47%
4 San Jose 1,479 0.15% 1.74%
5 Sacramento 1,285 0.24% 1.51%
6 Long Beach 1,096 0.24% 1.29%
7 Oakland 834 0.19% 0.98%
8 829 0.48% 0.98%
9 761 0.89% 0.90%
10 754 0.38% 0.89%
11 698 0.30% 0.82%
12 692 0.22% 0.81%
13 681 0.22% 0.80%
14 668 0.44% 0.79%
15 580 0.11% 0.68%
16 546 0.78% 0.64%
17 545 1.66% 0.64%
18 542 0.20% 0.64%
19 534 0.58% 0.63%
20 522 0.46% 0.61%
21 504 0.45% 0.59%
22 503 0.32% 0.59%
23 480 0.79% 0.57%
24 460 0.11% 0.54%
25 458 0.32% 0.54%
26 447 0.37% 0.53%
27 431 0.46% 0.51%
28 430 0.34% 0.51%
29 420 0.30% 0.49%
30 419 0.39% 0.49%
31 411 0.95% 0.48%
32 389 0.54% 0.46%
33 387 0.25% 0.46%
34 381 0.22% 0.45%
35 377 0.30% 0.44%
36 375 1.14% 0.44%
37 372 0.27% 0.44%
38 370 0.45% 0.44%
39 345 0.10% 0.41%
40 343 0.54% 0.40%
41 338 0.27% 0.40%
42 335 0.30% 0.39%
43 329 0.35% 0.39%
44 328 0.26% 0.39%
45 326 0.53% 0.38%
45 326 0.53% 0.38%
46 325 1.87% 0.38%
46 325 0.30% 0.38%
47 321 0.41% 0.38%
47 321 1.89% 0.38%
48 317 0.31% 0.37%
49 316 0.14% 0.37%
50 315 0.22% 0.37%
51 312 0.33% 0.37%
52 307 0.52% 0.36%
53 297 0.44% 0.35%
54 294 0.22% 0.35%
55 291 0.32% 0.34%
56 290 0.34% 0.34%
57 287 0.40% 0.34%
57 287 0.64% 0.34%
58 285 0.42% 0.34%
59 276 0.62% 0.33%
60 275 0.25% 0.32%
61 274 0.39% 0.32%
61 274 0.27% 0.32%
62 273 0.21% 0.32%
63 270 0.33% 0.32%
64 268 0.14% 0.32%
64 268 0.15% 0.32%
65 267 0.22% 0.31%
65 267 0.44% 0.31%
66 265 0.52% 0.31%
67 264 0.26% 0.31%
68 262 0.12% 0.31%
69 260 0.25% 0.31%
70 259 0.34% 0.31%
71 255 0.22% 0.30%
71 255 0.57% 0.30%
72 248 0.31% 0.29%
73 246 0.23% 0.29%
73 246 0.31% 0.29%
74 244 0.16% 0.29%
74 244 0.08% 0.29%
75 239 0.45% 0.28%
76 233 0.61% 0.27%
76 233 0.45% 0.27%
77 231 0.52% 0.27%
78 224 0.51% 0.26%
79 221 0.41% 0.26%
80 218 0.15% 0.26%
81 217 0.25% 0.26%
81 217 0.22% 0.26%
82 215 0.13% 0.25%
82 215 0.07% 0.25%
83 211 0.10% 0.25%
84 208 0.40% 0.24%
85 201 0.19% 0.24%
86 199 0.22% 0.23%
87 197 0.65% 0.23%
88 195 1.53% 0.23%
89 191 0.40% 0.22%
90 187 0.23% 0.22%
91 186 0.25% 0.22%
92 185 0.70% 0.22%
92 185 0.27% 0.22%
93 184 0.17% 0.22%
94 183 0.68% 0.22%
94 183 0.46% 0.22%
95 182 0.08% 0.21%
96 177 0.26% 0.21%
97 175 0.32% 0.21%
98 172 0.50% 0.20%
99 171 0.58% 0.20%
99 171 0.27% 0.20%
99 171 0.56% 0.20%
100 170 0.20% 0.20%
101 166 0.23% 0.20%
102 165 0.12% 0.19%
103 164 0.14% 0.19%
103 164 0.35% 0.19%
103 164 0.35% 0.19%
104 161 0.21% 0.19%
105 159 0.23% 0.19%
106 157 0.17% 0.18%
107 155 0.68% 0.18%
108 154 0.80% 0.18%
109 153 0.17% 0.18%
110 149 0.08% 0.18%
111 148 0.31% 0.17%
111 148 0.19% 0.17%
112 146 0.09% 0.17%
113 145 0.08% 0.17%
113 145 0.18% 0.17%
114 144 0.17% 0.17%
115 143 0.16% 0.17%
116 142 0.26% 0.17%
117 141 0.17% 0.17%
118 140 0.07% 0.16%
119 137 0.06% 0.16%
120 134 0.38% 0.16%
121 133 0.69% 0.16%
121 133 0.24% 0.16%
121 133 0.08% 0.16%
122 131 0.22% 0.15%
122 131 0.16% 0.15%
123 129 0.20% 0.15%
123 129 0.39% 0.15%
123 129 0.08% 0.15%
124 127 0.34% 0.15%
124 127 0.26% 0.15%
125 125 0.44% 0.15%
126 124 0.49% 0.15%
127 121 0.34% 0.14%
128 120 0.18% 0.14%
129 118 0.20% 0.14%
130 116 0.12% 0.14%
130 116 0.18% 0.14%
131 115 0.34% 0.14%
132 114 0.36% 0.13%
133 113 0.43% 0.13%
133 113 0.22% 0.13%
134 111 0.36% 0.13%
134 111 0.45% 0.13%
135 110 0.18% 0.13%
136 108 0.25% 0.13%
137 107 0.58% 0.13%
137 107 0.64% 0.13%
138 106 0.19% 0.12%
139 105 0.21% 0.12%
139 105 0.24% 0.12%
139 105 0.16% 0.12%
139 105 0.13% 0.12%
139 105 0.49% 0.12%
140 104 1.01% 0.12%
141 103 0.32% 0.12%
141 103 0.09% 0.12%
142 102 0.78% 0.12%
142 102 0.13% 0.12%
143 101 0.13% 0.12%
144 100 0.31% 0.12%
145 99 1.84% 0.12%
145 99 0.27% 0.12%
146 98 0.50% 0.12%
146 98 0.38% 0.12%
147 97 0.28% 0.11%
148 96 0.88% 0.11%
149 95 0.75% 0.11%
149 95 0.32% 0.11%
149 95 0.27% 0.11%
150 93 0.19% 0.11%
151 91 0.17% 0.11%
151 91 0.70% 0.11%
151 91 0.11% 0.11%
151 91 0.22% 0.11%
152 89 0.63% 0.10%
152 89 0.44% 0.10%
153 87 0.32% 0.10%
154 86 0.14% 0.10%
155 85 0.42% 0.10%
156 84 0.23% 0.10%
156 84 0.28% 0.10%
157 82 0.47% 0.10%
158 81 0.05% 0.10%
159 80 0.22% 0.09%
159 80 0.75% 0.09%
160 79 0.14% 0.09%
161 76 0.14% 0.09%
161 76 0.07% 0.09%
162 75 0.20% 0.09%
163 74 3.01% 0.09%
164 73 0.42% 0.09%
164 73 0.12% 0.09%
164 73 0.37% 0.09%
165 72 0.58% 0.08%
166 71 0.30% 0.08%
167 70 0.28% 0.08%
167 70 0.64% 0.08%
168 68 0.09% 0.08%
169 67 0.14% 0.08%
169 67 0.06% 0.08%
169 67 0.18% 0.08%
170 66 0.20% 0.08%
171 65 0.28% 0.08%
171 65 0.21% 0.08%
171 65 0.83% 0.08%
172 64 0.69% 0.08%
172 64 0.15% 0.08%
173 63 0.23% 0.07%
174 61 0.11% 0.07%
175 60 0.43% 0.07%
176 59 0.08% 0.07%
177 58 0.12% 0.07%
177 58 0.20% 0.07%
177 58 0.27% 0.07%
178 57 0.17% 0.07%
179 56 0.12% 0.07%
179 56 0.46% 0.07%
180 55 1.74% 0.06%
181 54 0.17% 0.06%
182 52 0.06% 0.06%
182 52 0.06% 0.06%
182 52 0.98% 0.06%
183 51 0.06% 0.06%
184 50 0.39% 0.06%
184 50 0.07% 0.06%
185 49 0.95% 0.06%
185 49 0.43% 0.06%
185 49 0.87% 0.06%
185 49 0.08% 0.06%
186 48 0.21% 0.06%
186 48 0.32% 0.06%
186 48 0.19% 0.06%
187 47 0.19% 0.06%
187 47 0.12% 0.06%
187 47 0.18% 0.06%
188 46 0.08% 0.05%
189 45 0.09% 0.05%
189 45 0.59% 0.05%
190 44 0.09% 0.05%
190 44 0.04% 0.05%
190 44 0.12% 0.05%
191 43 0.06% 0.05%
192 42 0.33% 0.05%
192 42 0.33% 0.05%
193 41 0.04% 0.05%
194 39 0.04% 0.05%
195 38 0.19% 0.04%
195 38 0.04% 0.04%
195 38 0.16% 0.04%
196 37 0.29% 0.04%
197 36 0.11% 0.04%
197 36 0.22% 0.04%
197 36 0.36% 0.04%
198 35 0.22% 0.04%
198 35 0.21% 0.04%
199 34 0.13% 0.04%
199 34 0.15% 0.04%
200 33 0.47% 0.04%
200 33 0.30% 0.04%
200 33 0.28% 0.04%
200 33 0.40% 0.04%
200 33 0.03% 0.04%
201 32 0.06% 0.04%
202 30 0.09% 0.04%
203 28 0.15% 0.03%
203 28 0.55% 0.03%
203 28 0.10% 0.03%
204 27 0.15% 0.03%
204 27 0.04% 0.03%
204 27 0.18% 0.03%
204 27 0.09% 0.03%
205 26 0.38% 0.03%
205 26 0.35% 0.03%
206 25 0.08% 0.03%
207 24 0.11% 0.03%
207 24 0.03% 0.03%
208 23 0.15% 0.03%
208 23 0.22% 0.03%
208 23 0.19% 0.03%
209 22 0.20% 0.03%
209 22 0.30% 0.03%
209 22 0.06% 0.03%
210 21 0.06% 0.02%
210 21 0.04% 0.02%
210 21 0.78% 0.02%
211 20 0.25% 0.02%
211 20 0.09% 0.02%
212 19 0.14% 0.02%
212 19 0.28% 0.02%
212 19 0.15% 0.02%
213 18 0.18% 0.02%
213 18 0.16% 0.02%
213 18 0.24% 0.02%
213 18 0.02% 0.02%
213 18 0.35% 0.02%
214 17 0.16% 0.02%
214 17 0.19% 0.02%
215 16 0.04% 0.02%
215 16 0.05% 0.02%
215 16 0.37% 0.02%
215 16 0.06% 0.02%
216 15 0.02% 0.02%
216 15 0.06% 0.02%
216 15 0.06% 0.02%
216 15 0.06% 0.02%
216 15 0.01% 0.02%
216 15 0.13% 0.02%
217 14 0.08% 0.02%
217 14 0.30% 0.02%
217 14 0.67% 0.02%
217 14 0.12% 0.02%
217 14 0.07% 0.02%
217 14 0.07% 0.02%
217 14 0.05% 0.02%
218 13 0.12% 0.02%
219 12 0.53% 0.01%
219 12 0.05% 0.01%
219 12 0.36% 0.01%
220 11 0.23% 0.01%
220 11 0.22% 0.01%
220 11 0.13% 0.01%
220 11 0.05% 0.01%
220 11 0.18% 0.01%
220 11 0.02% 0.01%
221 10 0.07% 0.01%
221 10 0.16% 0.01%
221 10 0.20% 0.01%
221 10 0.02% 0.01%
221 10 0.47% 0.01%
222 9 0.01% 0.01%
222 9 0.05% 0.01%
223 8 0.11% 0.01%
223 8 0.09% 0.01%
224 7 0.01% 0.01%
224 7 0.13% 0.01%
224 7 0.05% 0.01%
224 7 0.27% 0.01%
225 6 0.39% 0.01%
225 6 0.09% 0.01%
225 6 0.02% 0.01%
225 6 0.48% 0.01%
226 5 0.03% 0.01%
226 5 0.08% 0.01%
226 5 0.13% 0.01%
227 4 0.01% 0.00%
228 3 0.30% 0.00%
229 2 0.07% 0.00%
229 2 0.00% 0.00%
229 2 0.31% 0.00%
230 1 0.00% 0.00%
230 1 0.01% 0.00%
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 0 - -
231 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 French Canadian population, using the most recent ACS data available.

How the Census defines French Canadian 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 French Canadian 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 French Canadian alone, while others identify as French Canadian along with another race (such as French Canadian and German).
  • We’ve used the “French Canadian alone or in any combination” category unless noted otherwise, which gives a broader picture of the French Canadian population in each area.

How We Ranked the Data

This ranking is based on the total number of people who identified as French Canadian 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 French Canadian .
  2. % of Total California French Canadian Population – This tells us how much of the entire U.S. French Canadian 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 French Canadian 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 French Canadian 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 French Canadian populations are most concentrated while keeping the numbers easy to understand.

Sources

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