Despite national growth falling percentage wise across the country, 2020 Census Bureau data shows the state of New Mexico saw its population grow by about 3 percent, or 58,000 people, KRQE reported.
“This past decade’s 7.4% increase was lower than the previous decade’s 9.7% increase and was, in fact, the second-lowest percent increase ever,” U.S. Census Bureau Population senior demographer Marc Perry said at a news conference. “Only the 1930s had slower growth. The slowdown in growth over the past 3 decades is even more pronounced at the county level."
In New Mexico, the majority of the new residents are in the Sandoval County area, which overall attracted 17,000 new people and experienced a 13% increase population spike, making the state now home to one of the most diverse populations in the country.
Further data shows that since 2010, most of the more populous counties across the state have gained even more population, with Eddy County seeing the largest increase at 16 percent, while Lea and Sandoval counties netted average increases of 14% gained respectively.
Director and Senior Advisor of Race and Ethnic Research and Outreach Nicholas Jones notes that’s not the only difference.
“The U.S. population is much more multiracial and more racially and ethnically diverse than what we measured in the past,” he added, emphasizing that nearly 19% of the U.S. population is now Hispanic or Latino.
In New Mexico, nearly 48% of the population now identifies as Hispanic or Latino, with some counties having increases as large as 75% of the population.
With population totals being relied on to shape such decisions as which politicians are elected to represent which communities, the political map now being drawn stands to influence the look for the state for at least the next decade.