How many Latinos live in Arizona? Here's what to know
Arizona, which shares a nearly 400-mile border with Mexico, has a large and fast-growing Latino population.
Some Latinos trace their roots back generations to when Arizona was part of Mexico and, before that, Nueva España (New Spain). They didn't cross the border. The border crossed them, as the saying goes.
Arizona is also experiencing an influx of Latinos moving here from other U.S. states, drawn for the same reasons other people are moving to Arizona: jobs, economic opportunities, climate, the cost of living, and lifestyle, among others.
Arizona is also receiving newly arrived immigrants from Mexico, but the state also has experienced an influx of Latinos from other parts of Latin America, including Guatemala, Cuba, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, and Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.
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How many Latinos are in Arizona?
Arizona's Latino population grew nearly 16% from 2010 to 2020, faster than the overall population, which grew about 12%.
The state’s non-Latino population increased by 10.3% during that period.
Arizona's Latino population accounted for 39.1% of the state’s population growth during that decade, according to the National Association of Latino Elected Officials Education Fund.
There are 2.3 million Latinos in Arizona, according to 2021 U.S. Census Bureau data, up from nearly 2 million in 2010, and 1.3 million in 2000.
Latinos make up about 33% of Arizona's total population of nearly 7.4 million, up from nearly 30% in 2010 and 25% in 2000.
In comparison, Latinos make up 19% of the total U.S. population, according to Census Bureau data.
At 33%, Arizona has the fourth largest Latino population of any state in terms of their share of the total population.
New Mexico, 48%, ranks first, California, 39.4%, ranks second, and Texas, 39.3%, ranks third.
How many Latinos are in Phoenix?
Latinos make up nearly 43% of the 1.6 million people in Phoenix, Arizona's largest city. Latinos make up nearly 45% of the 547,000 people in Tucson, the second-largest Arizona city, and almost 28% of the 513,000 people in Mesa, the third-largest city.
Which Arizona county has the most Latinos?
According to the census, 1.3 million Latinos live in Maricopa County. That means more than half of Arizona's 2.3 million Latinos live in just one of the state's 15 counties.
Santa Cruz County, which borders Mexico and includes the border city of Nogales, has the largest Latino population by share of any county in Arizona. More than 83% of Santa Cruz County's population is Latino.
Apache County, in the northeast corner of Arizona, has the smallest Latino population by both number and share of the total population. There are 3,861 Latinos in Apache County. Less than 6% of Apache County's residents are Latino.
Which countries of origin are the most common for Arizona Latinos?
The vast majority of Latinos residing in Arizona are of Mexican origin. About 2 million Latinos in Arizona are of Mexican origin. That is about 85% of the 2.3 million Latinos in Arizona. What's more, Latinos of Mexican origin make up more than 25% of the state's total population.
Puerto Ricans are the second largest Hispanic or Latino group in Arizona, followed by Spaniards, Guatemalans, Salvadorans and Cubans.
What share of eligible voters in Arizona are Latinos?
While Latinos make up about 33% of the total population in Arizona, they make up 25% of eligible voters, according to a 2022 report by the Pew Research Center.
At 19%, Latinos make up an even smaller share of total registered voters in Arizona, according to a 2020 report by the National Association of Latino Elected Officials Education Fund.
Daniel Gonzalez covers race, equity and opportunity. Reach the reporter at daniel.gonzalez@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8312.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How many Latinos live in Arizona?
