Union County vs. New Mexico
Comparative Trends Analysis:
Population Growth and Change, 1969-2022
Introduction
Union County vs. New Mexico
Union County:
2022 Population = 3,980
2022 Percent of State = 0.19%
New Mexico:
2022 Population = 2,113,344
2022 Percent of U.S. = 0.63%
Attracting and retaining people to live, work, raise a family, and retire underlies the economic vitality of any region. Population growth is both a cause--and a consequence--of economic growth. Patterns of population growth and change reflect differences among regions to attract and retain people both as producers and consumers in their economy.
The following graphs offer a broad overview of trends in the pattern of population growth and change of Union County with comparisons to New Mexico and the nation at large. This analysis features alternative approaches toward discussing, diagnosing and comparing Union County vs. New Mexico's population growth over 1969-2022. The data used are those compiled by the Regional Income and Product Divisions of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce.
Population, 1969-2022
Population, 1969-2022
Figure 1.
Figure 1 traces Union County's annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, Union County's population dropped from 5,000 in 1969 to 3,980 in 2022, for a net loss of -1,020, or -20.40%.
NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities.
Population, 1969-2022
Population, 1969-2022
Figure 2.
Figure 2 traces New Mexico's annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, New Mexico's population rose from 1,011,000 in 1969 to 2,113,344 in 2022, for a net gain of 1,102,344, or 109.04%.
NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities.
Population Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Population Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Figure 3.
Figure 3 portrays Union County's population growth in a broader context by offering direct comparisons across time with New Mexico, the United States. The growth indices shown here express each region's population in 1969 as a base figure of 100, and the populations in later years as a percentage of the 1969 base figure. This method allows for more direct comparison of differences in population growth between regions that may differ vastly in size.
Union County's overall population growth was -20.40% over 1969-2022 trailed New Mexico's increase of 109.04%, and fell below the United States' increase of 65.57%.
Population as a Percent of the New Mexico Total: 1969-2022
Population as a Percent of the New Mexico Total: 1969-2022
Figure 4.
Another interesting and insightful way of contrasting the population growth of Union County is to trace its individual percentage contributions to New Mexico's statewide population over time, as shown in Figure 4. A rising share means a region's population grew faster, or declined less, than New Mexico's population, while a declining share shows it grew more slowly.
In 1969, Union County's population totaled 0.49% of New Mexico's population, while in 2022 it comprised 0.19% thereby yielding a -0.31% share-shift.
   
 
Population Share-Shift
2022 vs. 1969
 
Share-
Shift*
 
2022
vs.
1969
-0.31%
=
0.19%
-
0.49%
 
   
Union County Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Union County Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Figure 5.
Figure 5 highlights the short-run pattern of Union County's population growth by tracking the year-to-year percent change over 1970-2022. The average annual percent change for the entire 53-year period is also illustrated on this chart to provide a benchmark for gauging periods of relative high--and relative low--growth against the backdrop of the long-term average.
On average, Union County's population contracted at an annual rate of -0.40% over 1970-2022. The county recorded its highest growth in 1982 (8.39%) and posted its lowest growth in 1987 (-5.96%). In 2022, Union County's population declined by -2.86%
Union County Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Union County Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Figure 6.
Over the past five decades some counties have experienced extreme swings in growth, and often such swings have tended to coincide with the decades themselves. Figure 6 again traces the annual percent change in Union County's population since 1970, but this time they are displayed with average growth rates for the decade of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020-2022.
During the 1970s, Union County's annual population growth rate averaged -0.29%. It averaged -1.26% throughout the 1980s, -0.18% throughout the 1990s, 0.86% during the 2000s, -1.02% throughout the 2010s, -0.82% thus far this decade (2020-2022).
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Figure 7.
Figure 7 compares the decade average growth rates for Union County noted in the previous graph with the corresponding decade averages for New Mexico and the nation. As the chart reveals, Union County's average annual population growth recorded under New Mexico's average during the 1970s (-0.29% vs. 2.39%), amounted to less than New Mexico's average during the 1980s (-1.26% vs. 1.62%), recorded under New Mexico's average during the 1990s (-0.18% vs. 1.86%), amounted to less than New Mexico's average during the 2000s (0.86% vs. 1.20%), trailed New Mexico's average throughout the 2010s (-1.02% vs. 0.36%), and trailed New Mexico's average over the 3 year period of the current decade, 2020-2022 (-0.82% vs. 0.05%).
Finally, relative to nationwide population growth trends, Union County fell under the nation over the 1970s (-0.29% vs. 1.10%), recorded underneath the nation throughout the 1980s (-1.26% vs. 0.95%), lagged the nation over the 1990s (-0.18% vs. 1.23%), posted below the nation throughout the 2000s (0.86% vs. 0.95%), fell below the nation during the 2010s (-1.02% vs. 0.74%), and trailed the nation over 2020-2022 (-0.82% vs. 0.31%).
   
 
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change
 
 
 
-0.40
-0.29
-1.26
-0.18
0.86
-1.02
-0.82
-2.86
 
1.40
2.39
1.62
1.86
1.20
0.36
0.05
-0.16
 
0.96
1.10
0.95
1.23
0.95
0.74
0.31
0.38
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
Union County:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
5,000
100.0
N
0.49
1970
 
4,942
98.8
-1.16
0.48
1971
 
5,021
100.4
1.60
0.48
1972
 
5,245
104.9
4.46
0.49
1973
 
5,054
101.1
-3.64
0.46
1974
 
5,032
100.6
-0.44
0.45
1975
 
4,891
97.8
-2.80
0.42
1976
 
4,921
98.4
0.61
0.41
1977
 
4,982
99.6
1.24
0.41
1978
 
5,048
101.0
1.32
0.40
1979
 
4,839
96.8
-4.14
0.38
1980
 
4,743
94.9
-1.98
0.36
1981
 
4,815
96.3
1.52
0.36
1982
 
5,219
104.4
8.39
0.38
1983
 
5,120
102.4
-1.90
0.37
1984
 
5,091
101.8
-0.57
0.36
1985
 
4,912
98.2
-3.52
0.34
1986
 
4,849
97.0
-1.28
0.33
1987
 
4,560
91.2
-5.96
0.31
1988
 
4,442
88.8
-2.59
0.30
1989
 
4,234
84.7
-4.68
0.28
1990
 
4,115
82.3
-2.81
0.27
1991
 
4,147
82.9
0.78
0.27
1992
 
4,106
82.1
-0.99
0.26
1993
 
4,147
82.9
1.00
0.25
1994
 
4,240
84.8
2.24
0.25
1995
 
4,315
86.3
1.77
0.25
1996
 
4,270
85.4
-1.04
0.24
1997
 
4,244
84.9
-0.61
0.24
1998
 
4,218
84.4
-0.61
0.24
1999
 
4,155
83.1
-1.49
0.23
2000
 
4,192
83.8
0.89
0.23
2001
 
4,138
82.8
-1.29
0.23
2002
 
4,138
82.8
0.00
0.22
2003
 
4,080
81.6
-1.40
0.22
2004
 
4,107
82.1
0.66
0.22
2005
 
4,198
84.0
2.22
0.22
2006
 
4,210
84.2
0.29
0.21
2007
 
4,286
85.7
1.81
0.22
2008
 
4,380
87.6
2.19
0.22
2009
 
4,523
90.5
3.26
0.22
2010
 
4,542
90.8
0.42
0.22
2011
 
4,421
88.4
-2.66
0.21
2012
 
4,418
88.4
-0.07
0.21
2013
 
4,368
87.4
-1.13
0.21
2014
 
4,277
85.5
-2.08
0.20
2015
 
4,196
83.9
-1.89
0.20
2016
 
4,192
83.8
-0.10
0.20
2017
 
4,225
84.5
0.79
0.20
2018
 
4,134
82.7
-2.15
0.20
2019
 
4,081
81.6
-1.28
0.19
2020
 
4,072
81.4
-0.22
0.19
2021
 
4,097
81.9
0.61
0.19
2022
 
3,980
79.6
-2.86
0.19
Source: Calculations by the New Mexico Regional Economic Analysis Project (NM-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
New Mexico:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
1,011,000
100.0
N
0.50
1970
 
1,023,206
101.2
1.21
0.50
1971
 
1,053,258
104.2
2.94
0.51
1972
 
1,077,815
106.6
2.33
0.52
1973
 
1,104,225
109.2
2.45
0.52
1974
 
1,129,568
111.7
2.30
0.53
1975
 
1,162,682
115.0
2.93
0.54
1976
 
1,195,162
118.2
2.79
0.55
1977
 
1,225,245
121.2
2.52
0.56
1978
 
1,251,848
123.8
2.17
0.56
1979
 
1,280,539
126.7
2.29
0.57
1980
 
1,309,400
129.5
2.25
0.58
1981
 
1,332,747
131.8
1.78
0.58
1982
 
1,363,822
134.9
2.33
0.59
1983
 
1,394,362
137.9
2.24
0.60
1984
 
1,416,719
140.1
1.60
0.60
1985
 
1,438,360
142.3
1.53
0.60
1986
 
1,462,728
144.7
1.69
0.61
1987
 
1,478,519
146.2
1.08
0.61
1988
 
1,490,336
147.4
0.80
0.61
1989
 
1,503,901
148.8
0.91
0.61
1990
 
1,521,574
150.5
1.18
0.61
1991
 
1,555,305
153.8
2.22
0.61
1992
 
1,595,442
157.8
2.58
0.62
1993
 
1,636,453
161.9
2.57
0.63
1994
 
1,682,398
166.4
2.81
0.64
1995
 
1,720,394
170.2
2.26
0.65
1996
 
1,752,326
173.3
1.86
0.65
1997
 
1,774,839
175.6
1.28
0.65
1998
 
1,793,484
177.4
1.05
0.65
1999
 
1,808,082
178.8
0.81
0.65
2000
 
1,821,204
180.1
0.73
0.65
2001
 
1,831,690
181.2
0.58
0.64
2002
 
1,855,309
183.5
1.29
0.65
2003
 
1,877,574
185.7
1.20
0.65
2004
 
1,903,808
188.3
1.40
0.65
2005
 
1,932,274
191.1
1.50
0.65
2006
 
1,962,137
194.1
1.55
0.66
2007
 
1,990,070
196.8
1.42
0.66
2008
 
2,010,662
198.9
1.03
0.66
2009
 
2,036,802
201.5
1.30
0.66
2010
 
2,064,892
204.2
1.38
0.67
2011
 
2,082,110
205.9
0.83
0.67
2012
 
2,090,254
206.8
0.39
0.66
2013
 
2,096,509
207.4
0.30
0.66
2014
 
2,095,037
207.2
-0.07
0.66
2015
 
2,096,003
207.3
0.05
0.65
2016
 
2,099,630
207.7
0.17
0.65
2017
 
2,101,053
207.8
0.07
0.64
2018
 
2,103,101
208.0
0.10
0.64
2019
 
2,110,146
208.7
0.33
0.64
2020
 
2,118,390
209.5
0.39
0.64
2021
 
2,116,677
209.4
-0.08
0.64
2022
 
2,113,344
209.0
-0.16
0.63
Source: Calculations by the New Mexico Regional Economic Analysis Project (NM-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN
 
   

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
United States:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
201,298,000
100.0
N
1970
 
203,798,722
101.2
1.24
1971
 
206,817,509
102.7
1.48
1972
 
209,274,882
104.0
1.19
1973
 
211,349,205
105.0
0.99
1974
 
213,333,635
106.0
0.94
1975
 
215,456,585
107.0
1.00
1976
 
217,553,859
108.1
0.97
1977
 
219,760,875
109.2
1.01
1978
 
222,098,244
110.3
1.06
1979
 
224,568,579
111.6
1.11
1980
 
227,224,719
112.9
1.18
1981
 
229,465,744
114.0
0.99
1982
 
231,664,432
115.1
0.96
1983
 
233,792,014
116.1
0.92
1984
 
235,824,907
117.2
0.87
1985
 
237,923,734
118.2
0.89
1986
 
240,132,831
119.3
0.93
1987
 
242,288,936
120.4
0.90
1988
 
244,499,004
121.5
0.91
1989
 
246,819,222
122.6
0.95
1990
 
249,622,814
124.0
1.14
1991
 
252,980,941
125.7
1.35
1992
 
256,514,224
127.4
1.40
1993
 
259,918,588
129.1
1.33
1994
 
263,125,821
130.7
1.23
1995
 
266,278,393
132.3
1.20
1996
 
269,394,284
133.8
1.17
1997
 
272,646,925
135.4
1.21
1998
 
275,854,104
137.0
1.18
1999
 
279,040,168
138.6
1.15
2000
 
282,162,411
140.2
1.12
2001
 
284,968,955
141.6
0.99
2002
 
287,625,193
142.9
0.93
2003
 
290,107,933
144.1
0.86
2004
 
292,805,298
145.5
0.93
2005
 
295,516,599
146.8
0.93
2006
 
298,379,912
148.2
0.97
2007
 
301,231,207
149.6
0.96
2008
 
304,093,966
151.1
0.95
2009
 
306,771,529
152.4
0.88
2010
 
309,378,433
153.7
0.85
2011
 
311,841,632
154.9
0.80
2012
 
314,344,331
156.2
0.80
2013
 
316,735,375
157.3
0.76
2014
 
319,270,047
158.6
0.80
2015
 
321,829,327
159.9
0.80
2016
 
324,367,742
161.1
0.79
2017
 
326,623,063
162.3
0.70
2018
 
328,542,157
163.2
0.59
2019
 
330,233,102
164.1
0.51
2020
 
331,511,512
164.7
0.39
2021
 
332,031,554
164.9
0.16
2022
 
333,287,557
165.6
0.38
Source: Calculations by the New Mexico Regional Economic Analysis Project (NM-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PN
 
   
Copyright © 2023. Pacific Northwest Regional Economic Analysis Project (PNREAP). All Rights Reserved.

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