California Gold Rush Statistics

California Gold Rush Statistics

By the Numbers

California's Population in 1850: 

  • Female: 8%
  • Male: 92%5

Non-Indian Population of California

  • 1846: less than 8,000
  • 1850: 92,597
  • 1860: 379,9942
  • Number of migrants to California between 1848 and 1854: more than 300,0001

Indian Population of California

  • 1846: 150,000
  • 1860: 30,0003

Chinese Population of California

  • 1848: 7
  • 1852: 11,794
  • Out of 11,794 Chinese in California in 1852, number who were women: 74

Wage Averages

  • 1848 average daily wage for laborers on the Erie Canal: 88¢6
  • 1848 average daily earnings for California placer miners: $207