New Mexico currently has a growth rate of 0.64% annually, which ranks 30th in the country. The last nationwide census within the United States was carried out in 2010 and that survey revealed that the population of New Mexico was 2,059,179. This was the first time that numbers in the state had exceeded 2 million, and the figure represented an increase of 14.5% on those declared ten years earlier.
You can see details of each individual New Mexico county’s population increase and decrease between 2000 and 2010 using this interactive map. It’s important to note that, while the number of people in many counties increased, it fell in others, so the growth isn’t uniform.
The State of New Mexico in the deep south of the United States in the fifth largest state in the US by area. However, it is the sixth most sparsely populated territory in the country, indicating that total population isn't that high. The vast area of New Mexico is filled with mountain ranges, deserts and huge forests. So it’s not surprising that, although the total surface area of NM is 121,589 square miles (315,194 square kilometers), there is an average of just 17 people who live in each square mile. Overall, New Mexico is only the 45th most densely populated state in the United States.
Many of the state’s residents are crowded into Bernalillo County. Despite being the second smallest country in the state, Bernalillo is home to more than one-third of its residents -- 676,685 to be precise. That’s mainly because Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico, is within the county borders. The total population of Albuquerque is 559,121, making it the 32nd largest city in the US.
There are four other counties in New Mexico with more than 100,000 people -- Dona Ana (pop: 214,295), Santa Fe (pop: 148.686), Sandoval (pop: 139,394) and San Juan (pop: 118,737).
The median age is New Mexico is approximately 37.2 years of age. The ratio of females to males in the state is approximately split at 50.5% females and 49.5% males.
In religious terms, New Mexico comes in with 75% of the population affiliated with a Christian based faith, 4% with a non-Christian based faith, and 21% unaffiliated with any faith in particular.
New Mexico was acquired in part in 1845 when Texas joined the United States, and in part directly from Mexico in 1848 and 1853. New Mexico Territory was established in December 1850, including most of present-day Arizona and parts of Colorado and Nevada. New Mexico acquired essentially its present boundaries in 1863, and was admitted as a State on January 6, 1912.
In 1850 census coverage of New Mexico Territory included much of the present State but did not extend beyond it. The 1860 population refers essentially to the present State; it excludes the then Arizona County, which was located within present-day Arizona, as well as areas that became part of Colorado Territory in 1861.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of New Mexico was:
New Mexico has the highest percentage of Hispanics (48%) of any US state, which includes both recent immigrants from Latin America and descendants of Spanish colonists. 83% of the Hispanic population was native-born, while 17% was foreign-born. Most in the state claim a Spanish ancestry, particularly in the northern area of New Mexico. The state is one of four to be ethnically a minority-majority state.
The Hispanic and Latino population of any race was 48%. New Mexico also has a very high Native American population, which is second only to Alaska.
About 28% of the population over the age of 5 speaks Spanish at home, while 4% speak Navajo. There are also many in the state who speak New Mexican Spanish, an archaic form of 17th century Castilian Spanish from the colonists who arrived in the state between the 16th and 18th centuries.
50K
100K
150K
200K
250K
300K
350K
400K
450K
500K
550K
600K
650K
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
White | 1,250,614 | 59.2% |
Two or more races | 348,588 | 16.5% |
Other race | 233,978 | 11.08% |
Native American | 198,140 | 9.38% |
Black or African American | 44,894 | 2.13% |
Asian | 34,400 | 1.63% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 1,849 | 0.09% |
White
Two or more races
Other race
Native American
Black or African American
Asian
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 812,852 | 2.55 | 68.7 | 31.3 |
Married | 341,009 | 3.23 | 83.3 | 16.7 |
Non Family | 309,698 | 1.23 | 57.5 | 42.5 |
Female | 111,782 | 3.66 | 57.3 | 42.7 |
Male | 50,363 | 3.53 | 63.7 | 36.3 |
3.24
Average Family Size
2.55
Average Household Size
68.7%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 108,567 | 7.57% |
Associates Degree | 128,685 | 8.97% |
Bachelors Degree | 230,705 | 16.09% |
Graduate Degree | 186,199 | 12.99% |
High School Graduate | 372,067 | 25.95% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 76,092 | 5.31% |
Some College | 331,593 | 23.13% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
Hispanic | 639,329 | 510,745 | 119,486 |
White | 595,062 | 566,943 | 250,933 |
2+ Races | 208,065 | 176,226 | 50,224 |
Other Race | 154,631 | 113,705 | 21,111 |
Native American | 124,679 | 102,037 | 14,356 |
Black | 28,782 | 26,260 | 8,973 |
Asian | 24,772 | 22,071 | 13,384 |
Islander | 1,304 | 1,233 | 373 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 95.27%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 54.03%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $52,592 | $59,335 | $46,985 |
Graduate Degree | $73,050 | $91,444 | $65,010 |
High School Graduate | $32,566 | $37,294 | $26,287 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $24,742 | $30,261 | $17,795 |
Overall | $40,772 | $46,083 | $35,170 |
Some College | $37,601 | $45,423 | $31,821 |
$40,772
Average Earnings
$46,083
Average Male
$35,170
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
67.42% of New Mexico residents speak only English, while 32.58% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 25.43% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
Hispanic | 1,032,200 | 214,720 | 20.8% |
White | 738,031 | 88,353 | 11.97% |
Multiple | 340,311 | 61,340 | 18.02% |
Native | 195,056 | 61,060 | 31.3% |
Other | 229,912 | 53,175 | 23.13% |
Black | 41,883 | 9,074 | 21.67% |
Asian | 33,677 | 4,394 | 13.05% |
Islander | 1,806 | 416 | 23.03% |
18.28%
Overall Poverty Rate
16.87%
Male Poverty Rate
19.67%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in New Mexico is Native, with 31.3% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in New Mexico is White, with 11.97% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 4.19%. Among those working part-time, it was 21.58%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 26.58%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 32.21% |
High School | 19.12% |
Some College | 14.63% |
Bachelors or Greater | 6.17% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Male Unemployed | 34.62% |
Female Unemployed | 33.23% |
Female Employed | 11.1% |
Male Employed | 7.64% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $72,422 | $95,066 |
Households | $58,722 | $81,035 |
Married Families | $90,432 | $114,105 |
Non Families | $36,646 | $53,775 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
43.1%
Overall Marriage Rate
44.3%
Male Marriage Rate
41.8%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
136,662
Number of Veterans
122,327
Male Veterans
14,335
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Vietnam | 50,438 |
First Gulf War | 31,326 |
Second Gulf War | 30,555 |
Korea | 7,982 |
World War II | 2,151 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
65 to 74 | 35,844 |
75+ | 33,080 |
35 to 54 | 30,611 |
55 to 64 | 26,727 |
18 to 34 | 10,400 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 98,088 | 9.9% |
Hispanic | 42,685 | 5.64% |
2+ Races | 16,022 | 6.53% |
Other Race | 9,351 | 5.19% |
Native American | 7,148 | 4.89% |
Black | 5,025 | 14.92% |
Asian | 921 | 3.38% |
Islander | 107 | 7.23% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
8.03%
Veteran Poverty Rate
33.24%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
57.6%
Labor Force Participation
53.2%
Employment Rate
6.2%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
53.95%
Born in New Mexico
90.8%
Native Born
9.2%
Foreign Born
5.11%
Non Citizen
4.09%
Naturalized
90.8% of New Mexico residents were born in the United States, with 53.95% having been born in New Mexico. 5.11% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.