Race and Ethnicity in New Mexico 2024 | Ancestry in New Mexico

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New Mexico Population by Race and Ethnicity

New Mexico the 36th largest U.S. state by population has a racially and ethnically diverse population. As of 2020, Hispanic or Latino Americans are the largest group in New Mexico followed by White (Non-Hispanic) population.

also read about the Population of New Mexico

Ethnic and Racial Percentage

In 2020, the Hispanic or Latino population was the largest group in New Mexico, comprising 47.74% of the total population. It was followed by the White alone (non-Hispanic) population whose share was 36.50%.

American Indians were the third-largest group at 8.91%. Two or more races are at 2.82% and Black or African American was at 1.81%.

The ethnic composition of New Mexico is as follows

Race and Origin	Actual Population	Percentage 2020
Hispanic or Latino	1,010,811	47.74%
White alone	772,952	36.50%
American Indians and Alaska Natives alone	188,610	8.91%
two or more races:	59,767	2.82%
Black or African American alone	38,330	1.81%
Asian alone	35,261	1.67%
Some Other Race alone	10,340	0.49%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islanders	1,451	0.07%
Total:	2,117,522

Source: US Census 2020

also read about religion in New Mexico

*US Census recognized five racial categories (White, Black or African American, Asian American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) as well as people of two or more races. It also classified respondents as "Hispanic or Latino" or "Not Hispanic or Latino", identifying Hispanic and Latino as an ethnicity (not a race), which comprises the largest minority group in the nation.

Ancestry in New Mexico

As per Census Studies and estimate German, English, Irish, American, and Italian have made the five largest ancestry groups in New Mexico. In 2020, 4.5% of the population considered themselves to be of only American ancestry (regardless of race or ethnicity). Many of these were of English or Scotch-Irish or European descent; however, their families have lived in the state for so long that they choose to identify as having “American” ancestry or do not know their ancestry.

The Largest Ancestry in New Mexico is as follows

#	ANCESTRY	Estimate	Percent
1	German	153,283	7.3%
2	English	130,930	6.2%
3	Irish	128,386	6.1%
4	American	94,440	4.5%
5	Italian	41,266	2.0%
6	French	33,441	1.6%
7	Scottish	30,695	1.5%
8	Polish	21,440	1.0%
9	Swedish	14,767	0.7%
10	Norwegian	14,624	0.7%
11	Scotch-Irish	14,543	0.7%
12	Dutch	14,229	0.7%
13	Welsh	11,070	0.5%
14	Russian	7,865	0.4%
15	Subsaharan African	6,826	0.3%
16	Danish	5,998	0.3%
17	Greek	5,522	0.3%
18	Arab	5,125	0.2%
19	Czech	4,599	0.2%
20	French Canadian	4,557	0.2%
21	Swiss	4,424	0.2%
22	Hungarian	4,029	0.2%
23	Portuguese	2,397	0.1%
24	Lithuanian	2,194	0.1%
25	Ukrainian	2,135	0.1%
26	Slovak	1,613	0.1%
27	West Indian	1,353	0.1%

Source: US Census 2020

also read about List of Counties in New Mexico

European ancestry in New Mexico

Non-Hispanic Whites account for nearly 36.50% of New Mexico’s population. German, English, and Irish Americans have made up the three largest European ancestry groups in New Mexico. As per the Census report, German Americans made up 7.3% of the population and numbered 153,283 members. Irish Americans made up 6.1% of the population and numbered 128,386

English Americans made up 6.2% of the population and number 130,930 followed by Italian ancestry at 2 % of the population and number 41,266.

Hispanics and Latinos in New Mexico

Hispanics and Latinos are the largest groups in New Mexico. Around 47.74% of New Mexico’s Population claims Hispanic or Latin American ethnicity. Hispanics and Latinos constitute nearly half of all residents, giving New Mexico the highest proportion of Hispanic ancestry among the fifty states. This broad classification includes descendants of Spanish colonists who settled between the 16th and 18th centuries as well as recent immigrants from Latin America (particularly Mexico and Central America).

African Americans in New Mexico

African Americans are a smaller minority in the state. As of 2020, those of African ancestry accounted for 1.81% of New Mexico’s population. There are approximately 55,000 Black people in New Mexico, according to the U.S. Census. About half live in the Albuquerque metropolitan area.

Asian Americans in New Mexico

Asian Americans are a sizable minority group in New Mexico. Americans of Asian descent formed 1.67 % of the population. Its ethnic Asian population has grown rapidly since the late 1990s; the majority are Indians, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and ethnic Chinese.

Native Americans in New Mexico

Native Americans are the third-largest group in New Mexico. Native Americans made up 8.91 % of New Mexico’s population and number 188,610 individuals as of 2020. There are 23 tribes located in New Mexico – nineteen Pueblos, three Apache tribes (the Fort Sill Apache Tribe, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the Mescalero Apache Tribe), and the Navajo Nation, and a considerable urban Indian population which is also served by the Indian Affairs Department.

The nineteen Pueblos are comprised of the Pueblos of Acoma, Cochiti, Isleta, Jemez, Laguna, Nambe, Ohkay Owingeh, Picuris, Pojoaque, Sandia, San Felipe, San Ildefonso, Santa Ana, Santa Clara, Santo Domingo, Taos, Tesuque, Zuni, and Zia. Each Tribe is a sovereign nation with its own government, lifeways, traditions, and culture; and each tribe has a unique relationship with the federal and state governments.

Multi-Race in New Mexico

Multiracial individuals are also a visible minority in New Mexico. People identifying as multiracial form 2.82% of the population, and number around 60,000 people.

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