| Metropolitan Area Residents (Orange County PMSA) |
| 1980: | 1,933,000 |
| 1990: | 2,410,668 |
| 2000: | 2,846,289 |
| Percent change, 1990–2000: | 18.1% |
| U.S. rank in 1980: | 2nd (CMSA) |
| U.S. rank in 1990: | 2nd (CMSA) |
| U.S. rank in 2000: | 2nd (CMSA) |
| City Residents |
| 1980: | 219,494 |
| 1990: | 266,406 |
| 2000: | 328,014 |
| 2003 estimate: | 332,361 |
| Percent change, 1990–2000: | 23.1% |
| U.S. rank in 1980: | 62nd |
| U.S. rank in 1990: | 59th (State rank: 10th) |
| U.S. rank in 2000: | 64th (State rank: 10th) |
| Density: | 6,702.0 people per square mile (2000) |
| Racial and ethnic characteristics | (2000) |
| White | 179,627 |
| Black or African American | 8,735 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 3,041 |
| Asian | 39,311 |
| Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander | 1,393 |
| Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race) | 153,374 |
| Other | 95,907 |
| Percent of residents born in state: | 44.4% (2000) |
| Age characteristics | (2000) |
| Population under 5 years old | 30,206 |
| Population 5 to 9 years old | 30,282 |
| Population 10 to 14 years old | 24,837 |
| Population 15 to 19 years old | 22,959 |
| Population 20 to 24 years old | 25,020 |
| Population 25 to 34 years old | 58,417 |
| Population 35 to 44 years old | 51,578 |
| Population 45 to 54 years old | 36,063 |
| Population 55 to 59 years old | 12,436 |
| Population 60 to 64 years old | 9,443 |
| Population 65 to 74 years old | 14,383 |
| Population 75 to 84 years old | 9,177 |
| Population 85 years and older | 3,213 |
| Median age | 30.3 years |
| Births | (Orange County; 2002) |
| Total number | 44,796 |
| Deaths | (Orange County; 2002) |
| Total number | 16,789 (of which, 216 were infants under the age of 1 year) |
| Money income | (1999) |
| Per capita income | $18,266 |
| Median household income | $47,122 |
| Total households | 96,902 |
| Number of households with income of . . . | |
| less than $10,000 | 5,769 |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 4,777 |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 10,812 |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 12,769 |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 16,954 |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 20,236 |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 11,532 |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 9,461 |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 2,486 |
| $200,000 or more | 2,106 |
| Percent of families below poverty level: | 10.4% (37.7 % of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years) |
| 2002 FBI Crime Index Total: | 12,198 |