Chaves County Demographics

A map of Chaves County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Hispanic	37,529	37,097	58.4%	56.9%
White	23,168	24,445	36.1%	37.5%
Black	971	947	1.5%	1.5%
Multiracial	950	1,359	1.5%	2.1%
Native American/Other	901	698	1.4%	1.1%
Asian	698	611	1.1%	0.9%

Chaves County, New Mexico has an estimated population of 64,217, a slight decrease from the 65,157 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 58.4% Hispanic, 36.1% White, 1.5% Black, 1.5% Multiracial, 1.4% Native American/Other, and 1.1% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Chaves County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Chaves has become slightly less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than New Mexico overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Chaves County, that probability was 53.4% in 2020 and 52.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Chaves County is ranked the 10th most populous county in New Mexico, out of 33 counties. Chaves County was ranked the 10th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Chaves County's White Population

23,168 residents of Chaves County, or 36.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Chaves County is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 36% of the population is White. Chaves County ranks 20th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 33 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Chaves County's White population has declined by an estimated 5.2%. White residents' share of Chaves County's population has decreased from 37.5% to 36.1%.

Chaves County is more White than neighboring De Baca County (35.3% White), and Lea County (31% White). Chaves County is less White than neighboring Eddy County (42.9% White), Lincoln County (60.2% White), and Roosevelt County (48.1% White).

Chaves County's Black Population

971 residents of Chaves County, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Chaves County is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 1.8% of the population is Black. Chaves County ranks 8th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 33 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Chaves County's Black population has grown by an estimated 2.5%. Black residents' share of Chaves County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.5%.

Chaves County is more Black than neighboring Eddy County (1.2% Black), De Baca County (0.1% Black), Lincoln County (0.8% Black), and Roosevelt County (0.6% Black). Chaves County is less Black than neighboring Lea County (3.1% Black).

Chaves County's Asian Population

698 residents of Chaves County, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Chaves County is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Chaves County ranks 12th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 33 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Chaves County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 14.2%. Asian residents' share of Chaves County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.1%.

Chaves County is more Asian than neighboring Eddy County (0.6% Asian), De Baca County (0% Asian), Lincoln County (0.5% Asian), Roosevelt County (0.5% Asian), and Lea County (0.7% Asian).

Chaves County's Hispanic Population

37,529 residents of Chaves County, or 58.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Chaves County is higher than in New Mexico overall, where 48.4% of the population is Hispanic. Chaves County ranks 10th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 33 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Chaves County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 1.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Chaves County's population has increased from 56.9% to 58.4%.

Chaves County is more Hispanic than neighboring Eddy County (51.6% Hispanic), Lincoln County (33% Hispanic), and Roosevelt County (44.8% Hispanic). Chaves County is less Hispanic than neighboring De Baca County (63.6% Hispanic), and Lea County (62.7% Hispanic).

Chaves County's Native American/Other Population

901 residents of Chaves County, or 1.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Chaves County is lower than in New Mexico overall, where 9% of the population is Native American/Other. Chaves County ranks 27th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 33 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Chaves County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 29.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Chaves County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.4%.

Chaves County is more Native American/Other than neighboring De Baca County (0.8% Native American/Other), Roosevelt County (0.9% Native American/Other), and Lea County (0.6% Native American/Other). Chaves County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Eddy County (1.5% Native American/Other), and Lincoln County (3.3% Native American/Other).

Chaves County's Multiracial Population

950 residents of Chaves County, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Chaves County is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 3.1% of the population is Multiracial. Chaves County ranks 25th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 33 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Chaves County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 30.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Chaves County's population has decreased from 2.1% to 1.5%.

Chaves County is more Multiracial than neighboring De Baca County (0.1% Multiracial). Chaves County is less Multiracial than neighboring Eddy County (2.3% Multiracial), Lincoln County (2.2% Multiracial), Roosevelt County (5% Multiracial), and Lea County (1.8% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.