Counties in California by population under 18

Tulare County had the highest population under 18 of 58 counties in 2021, at 29.8%. San Francisco County had the lowest, at 13.7%. The median was 20.8% and the figure for California was 22.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest29.8Tulare County
Median20.858 counties
California22.1History

Map of counties, 2021

Alameda County: 20.3 %Alpine County: 14.8 %Amador County: 15.7 %Butte County: 20.7 %Calaveras County: 17.8 %Colusa County: 27.5 %Contra Costa County: 22.2 %Del Norte County: 20.8 %El Dorado County: 20.1 %Fresno County: 27.6 %Glenn County: 25.9 %Humboldt County: 19.5 %Imperial County: 27.3 %Inyo County: 20.2 %Kern County: 28.4 %Kings County: 26.8 %Lake County: 21.1 %Lassen County: 17.6 %Los Angeles County: 20.6 %Madera County: 27.5 %Marin County: 19.6 %Mariposa County: 17.7 %Mendocino County: 20.4 %Merced County: 28.5 %Modoc County: 19.8 %Mono County: 19.4 %Monterey County: 25 %Napa County: 19.5 %Nevada County: 17.3 %Orange County: 21.1 %Placer County: 22.2 %Plumas County: 17.2 %Riverside County: 24.6 %Sacramento County: 23.1 %San Benito County: 25.2 %San Bernardino County: 25.5 %San Diego County: 21.2 %San Francisco County: 13.7 %San Joaquin County: 26.3 %San Luis Obispo County: 17.9 %San Mateo County: 19.8 %Santa Barbara County: 22.4 %Santa Clara County: 20.8 %Santa Cruz County: 19 %Shasta County: 21.4 %Sierra County: 16.2 %Siskiyou County: 19.6 %Solano County: 21.7 %Sonoma County: 19.3 %Stanislaus County: 26.3 %Sutter County: 24.9 %Tehama County: 24.1 %Trinity County: 15.8 %Tulare County: 29.8 %Tuolumne County: 16.9 %Ventura County: 22 %Yolo County: 20.8 %Yuba County: 26.9 %
  • Under 18
  • 18 to 20
  • 20 to 21
  • 21 to 22
  • 22 to 26
  • 26 and over
%, 2021. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2021

Tulare County: 29.8 %Tulare County29.8Merced County: 28.5 %Merced County28.5Kern County: 28.4 %Kern County28.4Fresno County: 27.6 %Fresno County27.6Madera County: 27.5 %Madera County27.5Colusa County: 27.5 %Colusa County27.5Imperial County: 27.3 %Imperial County27.3Yuba County: 26.9 %Yuba County26.9Kings County: 26.8 %Kings County26.8Stanislaus County: 26.3 %Stanislaus County26.3San Joaquin County: 26.3 %San Joaquin County26.3Glenn County: 25.9 %Glenn County25.9San Bernardino County: 25.5 %San Bernardino County25.5San Benito County: 25.2 %San Benito County25.2Monterey County: 25 %Monterey County25Sutter County: 24.9 %Sutter County24.9Riverside County: 24.6 %Riverside County24.6Tehama County: 24.1 %Tehama County24.1Sacramento County: 23.1 %Sacramento County23.1Santa Barbara County: 22.4 %Santa Barbara County22.4Placer County: 22.2 %Placer County22.2Contra Costa County: 22.2 %Contra Costa County22.2Ventura County: 22 %Ventura County22Solano County: 21.7 %Solano County21.7Shasta County: 21.4 %Shasta County21.4San Diego County: 21.2 %San Diego County21.2Lake County: 21.1 %Lake County21.1Orange County: 21.1 %Orange County21.1Del Norte County: 20.8 %Del Norte County20.8Yolo County: 20.8 %Yolo County20.8Santa Clara County: 20.8 %Santa Clara County20.8Butte County: 20.7 %Butte County20.7Los Angeles County: 20.6 %Los Angeles County20.6Mendocino County: 20.4 %Mendocino County20.4Alameda County: 20.3 %Alameda County20.3Inyo County: 20.2 %Inyo County20.2El Dorado County: 20.1 %El Dorado County20.1San Mateo County: 19.8 %San Mateo County19.8Modoc County: 19.8 %Modoc County19.8Siskiyou County: 19.6 %Siskiyou County19.6Marin County: 19.6 %Marin County19.6Napa County: 19.5 %Napa County19.5Humboldt County: 19.5 %Humboldt County19.5Mono County: 19.4 %Mono County19.4Sonoma County: 19.3 %Sonoma County19.3Santa Cruz County: 19 %Santa Cruz County19San Luis Obispo County: 17.9 %San Luis Obispo County17.9Calaveras County: 17.8 %Calaveras County17.8Mariposa County: 17.7 %Mariposa County17.7Lassen County: 17.6 %Lassen County17.6Nevada County: 17.3 %Nevada County17.3Plumas County: 17.2 %Plumas County17.2Tuolumne County: 16.9 %Tuolumne County16.9Sierra County: 16.2 %Sierra County16.2Trinity County: 15.8 %Trinity County15.8Amador County: 15.7 %Amador County15.7Alpine County: 14.8 %Alpine County14.8San Francisco County: 13.7 %San Francisco County13.7Tulare County: 29.8 %Tulare County29.8Merced County: 28.5 %Merced County28.5Kern County: 28.4 %Kern County28.4Fresno County: 27.6 %Fresno County27.6Madera County: 27.5 %Madera County27.5Colusa County: 27.5 %Colusa County27.5Imperial County: 27.3 %Imperial County27.3Yuba County: 26.9 %Yuba County26.9Kings County: 26.8 %Kings County26.8Stanislaus County: 26.3 %Stanislaus County26.3San Joaquin County: 26.3 %San Joaquin County26.3Glenn County: 25.9 %Glenn County25.9San Bernardino County: 25.5 %San Bernardino County25.5San Benito County: 25.2 %San Benito County25.2Monterey County: 25 %Monterey County25Sutter County: 24.9 %Sutter County24.9Riverside County: 24.6 %Riverside County24.6Tehama County: 24.1 %Tehama County24.1Sacramento County: 23.1 %Sacramento County23.1Santa Barbara County: 22.4 %Santa Barbara County22.4Placer County: 22.2 %Placer County22.2Contra Costa County: 22.2 %Contra Costa County22.2Ventura County: 22 %Ventura County22Solano County: 21.7 %Solano County21.7Shasta County: 21.4 %Shasta County21.4San Diego County: 21.2 %San Diego County21.2Lake County: 21.1 %Lake County21.1Orange County: 21.1 %Orange County21.1Del Norte County: 20.8 %Del Norte County20.8Yolo County: 20.8 %Yolo County20.8Santa Clara County: 20.8 %Santa Clara County20.8Butte County: 20.7 %Butte County20.7Los Angeles County: 20.6 %Los Angeles County20.6Mendocino County: 20.4 %Mendocino County20.4Alameda County: 20.3 %Alameda County20.3Inyo County: 20.2 %Inyo County20.2El Dorado County: 20.1 %El Dorado County20.1San Mateo County: 19.8 %San Mateo County19.8Modoc County: 19.8 %Modoc County19.8Siskiyou County: 19.6 %Siskiyou County19.6Marin County: 19.6 %Marin County19.6Napa County: 19.5 %Napa County19.5Humboldt County: 19.5 %Humboldt County19.5Mono County: 19.4 %Mono County19.4Sonoma County: 19.3 %Sonoma County19.3Santa Cruz County: 19 %Santa Cruz County19San Luis Obispo County: 17.9 %San Luis Obispo County17.9Calaveras County: 17.8 %Calaveras County17.8Mariposa County: 17.7 %Mariposa County17.7Lassen County: 17.6 %Lassen County17.6Nevada County: 17.3 %Nevada County17.3Plumas County: 17.2 %Plumas County17.2Tuolumne County: 16.9 %Tuolumne County16.9Sierra County: 16.2 %Sierra County16.2Trinity County: 15.8 %Trinity County15.8Amador County: 15.7 %Amador County15.7Alpine County: 14.8 %Alpine County14.8San Francisco County: 13.7 %San Francisco County13.7
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Tulare County29.8-0.4 pts
2Merced County28.5-0.3 pts
3Kern County28.4-0.3 pts
4Fresno County27.6-0.2 pts
5Madera County27.5-0.3 pts
6Colusa County27.5-0.5 pts
7Imperial County27.3-0.3 pts
8Yuba County26.9-0.2 pts
9Kings County26.8-0.1 pts
10Stanislaus County26.3-0.2 pts
11San Joaquin County26.3-0.3 pts
12Glenn County25.9-0.1 pts
13San Bernardino County25.5-0.3 pts
14San Benito County25.2-0.2 pts
15Monterey County25-0.5 pts
16Sutter County24.9-0.2 pts
17Riverside County24.6-0.3 pts
18Tehama County24.1-0.1 pts
19Sacramento County23.1-0.3 pts
20Santa Barbara County22.4+0.2 pts
21Placer County22.2-0.3 pts
22Contra Costa County22.2-0.4 pts
23Ventura County22-0.4 pts
24Solano County21.7-0.2 pts
25Shasta County21.40 pts
26San Diego County21.2-0.2 pts
27Lake County21.1+0.2 pts
28Orange County21.1-0.4 pts
29Del Norte County20.8+0.3 pts
30Yolo County20.80 pts
31Santa Clara County20.8-0.4 pts
32Butte County20.7+0.1 pts
33Los Angeles County20.6-0.3 pts
34Mendocino County20.4-0.2 pts
35Alameda County20.3-0.2 pts
36Inyo County20.20 pts
37El Dorado County20.1-0.3 pts
38San Mateo County19.8-0.4 pts
39Modoc County19.8-0.4 pts
40Siskiyou County19.60 pts
41Marin County19.6-0.4 pts
42Napa County19.5-0.4 pts
43Humboldt County19.5-0.1 pts
44Mono County19.4-0.4 pts
45Sonoma County19.3-0.3 pts
46Santa Cruz County19+0.1 pts
47San Luis Obispo County17.9-0.1 pts
48Calaveras County17.8+0.2 pts
49Mariposa County17.7+0.5 pts
50Lassen County17.6+0.4 pts
51Nevada County17.3-0.2 pts
52Plumas County17.2-0.2 pts
53Tuolumne County16.90 pts
54Sierra County16.20 pts
55Trinity County15.8+0.1 pts
56Amador County15.70 pts
57Alpine County14.8-0.5 pts
58San Francisco County13.7+0.4 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Residents aged 0 to 17 as a percentage of total population on 1 July. United States: Census Bureau county population estimates by age; states and the nation are sums of their counties.

Uses the US age of majority. Not comparable with population_0_14_share, which stops at 14.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 0 to 17 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 0 to 17 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties (Counties in California by population under 18, 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html

MLA 9

Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 0 to 17 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties, Counties in California by population under 18, 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 25 June 2026, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-under-18/california-counties?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 0 to 17 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties. Counties in California by population under 18, 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-under-18/california-counties?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 0 to 17 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties, Counties in California by population under 18, 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-under-18/california-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_california_by_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 0 to 17 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties: Counties in California by population under 18, 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-under-18/california-counties?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 0 to 17 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 0 to 17 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties: Counties in California by population under 18, 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/25
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-under-18/california-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/population-under-18/california-counties?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 0 to 17 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
Embed this chart

Paste this code into a web page or a blog post. The chart shows the latest figures as they are published, with the source and a link back to this page.

Sites that read oEmbed links, such as WordPress, can show the chart when you paste the link to this page.

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

Rank Counties in California by population under 18 using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"population_0_17_share","level":"province","within":"California","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=population_0_17_share&level=province&within=California&limit=10

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

Which county has the highest population under 18?

Tulare County, with 29.8% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest population under 18?

San Francisco County, with 13.7% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex: residents aged 0 to 17 as a percentage of the total on 1 July, 2010 to 2019 from the 2010 to 2020 intercensal file and 2020 onwards from the latest vintage; states and the nation summed from counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Population under 18: other rankings

Counties in California: more rankings