New Mexico Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

New Mexico's 2,114,768 residents make it the 36th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +550.9% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 17 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, New Mexico is:

53.6% White (alone)
2.1% Black or African American
5.9% Asian
12.0% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.0% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the New Mexico state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in New Mexico is $62,125, with per-capita income at $34,823. 13.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 3.4%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in New Mexico: 39.2 years (US median ~39). The population is 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

Largest Cities in New Mexico

Albuquerque city — population 562,488
Las Cruces city — population 112,612
Rio Rancho city — population 106,533
Santa Fe city — population 88,224
Roswell city — population 47,823

Largest Counties in New Mexico

Bernalillo County — population 674,357
Doña Ana County — population 221,665
Santa Fe County — population 155,175
Sandoval County — population 151,538
San Juan County — population 121,178

How New Mexico Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 36th of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete New Mexico state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

New Mexico has a population of 2,114,768 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 36th among the 50 states. Population density is 17 people per square mile.

New Mexico is gaining population, with a +550.9% change since 1910 (327,301 → 2,114,768). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

53.6% of New Mexico's population identifies as White, 2.1% as Black or African American, 5.9% as Asian, and 12.0% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in New Mexico is $62,125 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $34,823. 13.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in New Mexico is 39.2 years. The population is 49.7% male and 50.3% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the New Mexico state page.

The largest cities in New Mexico by population: Albuquerque city (562,488), Las Cruces city (112,612), Rio Rancho city (106,533), Santa Fe city (88,224), Roswell city (47,823).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). New Mexico ranks 36th. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. New Mexico's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.