Lea County, NM Population

Overview

72,743

Total Population

31.9

Median age

48.38%

Female population %

106.7:100

Gender ratio (M:F)

10-14 years

Largest age group

56.9

Total dependency ratio

White

Largest racial group

44,185

Hispanic population

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Age

Lea County's population is young compared to the rest of the country:

The median age in Lea County is 31.9, compared to 38.8 nationwide, according to the American Community Survey 2017 - 2021 5 Year estimates.
Lea County's population under 18 was 30.40%, compared to the 22.51% nationwide.
Lea County's elderly or the senior population (over 65 age) was 10.96% as compared to 16.04% nationwide.
Of the total population in Lea County, 25.32% were under the age of 15, 22.02% aged 15 to 29, 41.69% aged 30 to 64, 9.56% aged 65 to 84, and 1.40% were 85 years of age and older.

There are 2,359 less females than males in Lea County:

The female percentage in the USA is 50.50% while the male percentage is 49.50%, compared to 48.38% females and 51.62% males in Lea County, NM.
The Lea County, NM gender ratio is 106.7:100 i.e. 106.7 men to 100 women (1.067).
For male population, the largest age group is 10-14 years with a population of 3,342.
For the female population, the largest age group is 5-9 years with a population of 3,088.

Lea County's population has become increasingly diverse:

Racial distribution of Lea County population: 71.46% are White, 4.18% are Black or African American, 1.12% are American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.56% are Asian, 6.68% are some other race and 16% are multiracial.
Lea County's racial breakdown clearly shows that there is an absolute majority of White population in the county.
By ethnicity, 44,185 is Hispanic or Latino (of any race), and 28,558 (39.26% of the total population) is Non-Hispanic.
The largest racial group in Lea County is White with a population of 51,982 (71.46% of the total population).

Lea County's population has already reached its peak and is showing a trend of decline:

The peak population was 74,635 in the year 2020
From 2000 to 2010, Lea County's population increased by 9,415 (17.06%), as compared to the national growth of 9.63%.
From 2010 to 2020, Lea County's population increased by 10,037 (15.54%), according to Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program. For the same period, the rate of growth for the United States was 7.17%.
Between the year 2000 and 2022, Lea County's population was lowest in year 2001 at 54,951.