SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Many of California's problems—loss of wildlife habitat and open space, recurring budget shortfalls, overcrowded and failing schools—are caused by or exacerbated by population growth, according to a new analysis from the nonpartisan group, Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS).

Official state projections indicate that the state will grow from 39 million to 54 million by 2040, an increase from today's level equivalent to the entire populations of Nicaragua, Norway, and New Zealand. Immigration and children born to immigrants comprise virtually all of California's net population growth.

The ramifications of past and future growth form the basis of Sustainable California: the Unmentionable Problem of Population, authored by CAPS Senior Writing Fellow Ric Oberlink. It includes several pieces of legislation that would reduce immigration and population growth.

"Politicians, by their nature, focus on short-term issues and choose to ignore the long-term crisis of population growth that lies beneath so many problems. With this report, we hope to make it a little harder for all of California's political candidates to disregard the issue," said Marilyn DeYoung, Chairman of the Board of CAPS.

Among the points highlighted in this report:

California already has a higher population density than Europe ; by mid-century, its density will be higher than that of China .

already has a higher population density than ; by mid-century, its density will be higher than that of . Because of immigration, California is the least-educated state in the nation as measured by the share of its workers who have completed high school.

is the least-educated state in the nation as measured by the share of its workers who have completed high school. While the state engages in a struggle to close a budget gap of several billion dollars, it spends an estimated $21.8 billion annually on services to illegal aliens.

annually on services to illegal aliens. Population growth is a leading cause of environmental problems such as loss of farmland and water shortages.

"Californians understand that the continuing population growth has negative consequences for themselves and for the state. We must insist that elected officials act on these concerns," stated DeYoung.

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SOURCE Californians for Population Stabilization