Copyright © 2022 Albuquerque Journal
More than half of the states in the country saw growth over the past year, including the country as a whole. But New Mexico lost thousands of people, according to recently published population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
New Mexico’s population decreased by 3,333 from July 2021 through July of this year, according to the federal data. For comparison, the country as a whole grew by roughly 1.25 million residents, an increase of 0.4%.
“There was a sizeable uptick in population growth last year compared to the prior year’s historically low increase,” Kristie Wilder, a demographer in the Population Division at the U.S. Census Bureau, said in a Thursday news release. “A rebound in net international migration, coupled with the largest year-over-year increase in total births since 2007, is behind this increase.”
New Mexico is not alone, though, in the decrease of its population. According to the Census Bureau, 17 other states saw a decrease in that time period – up from 15 states and the District of Columbia a year prior. That includes Michigan, New Jersey, Hawaii and others.
In fact, New Mexico’s loss of population is minimal compared to California, New York and Illinois, which all realized decreases of more than 100,000 people in their respective populations, according to the data.
While the state has, overall, lost thousands over the past year, it has also realized growth. The growth comes in total net migration, which stood at 1,389. International migration grew with 5,893 people moving to the state, while 4,504 people moved out of New Mexico to other states.
When looking at births and deaths, which fall under vital events, the state realized a decline of 4,295. That’s because deaths – which stood at 25,250 – outweighed the estimated 20,955 births, the data shows.
New Mexico’s current population estimate of 2,113,344 is an increase from 2,059,179 in 2010. Increases in New Mexico’s population largely kept happening – with the exception of 2014 and 2015, which had slight decreases – from 2010 through 2020, according to federal data. The last two recorded population estimates, in 2021 and this year, however, show decreases.
Florida over the past year was the fastest growing state – the first time it has led the country since 1957 – with a 1.9% population increase year over year.
