Fort Defiance, AZ Demographics

A map of Fort Defiance's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Native American/Other	2,841	3,207	84.8%	90.6%
Multiracial	182	70	5.4%	2.0%
Hispanic	146	77	4.4%	2.2%
White	97	122	2.9%	3.4%
Asian	63	50	1.9%	1.4%
Black	22	15	0.7%	0.4%

Fort Defiance, Arizona has an estimated population of 3,351, a decrease from the 3,541 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 84.8% Native American/Other, 5.4% Multiracial, 4.4% Hispanic, 2.9% White, 1.9% Asian, and 0.7% Black. This demographic dot map shows the population of Fort Defiance, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Fort Defiance has become considerably more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Arizona overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Fort Defiance, that probability was 17.8% in 2020 and 27.5% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Fort Defiance is ranked the 121st most populous place in Arizona, out of 467 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Fort Defiance was ranked the 114th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Fort Defiance's White Population

97 residents of Fort Defiance, or 2.9% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Fort Defiance is significantly lower than in Arizona overall, where 52.6% of the population is White. Fort Defiance ranks 344th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 467 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Defiance's White population has declined by an estimated 20.5%. White residents' share of Fort Defiance's population has decreased from 3.4% to 2.9%.

Fort Defiance is more White than neighboring Window Rock (2% White), Tse Bonito (0% White), Black Hat (0% White), and Navajo (0.5% White). Fort Defiance is less White than neighboring St. Michaels (3.6% White).

Fort Defiance's Black Population

22 residents of Fort Defiance, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Fort Defiance is slightly lower than in Arizona overall, where 4.4% of the population is Black. Fort Defiance ranks 213th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 467 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Defiance's Black population has grown by an estimated 46.7%. Black residents' share of Fort Defiance's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Fort Defiance is more Black than neighboring Window Rock (0% Black), St. Michaels (0% Black), Tse Bonito (0% Black), Black Hat (0% Black), and Navajo (0% Black).

Fort Defiance's Asian Population

63 residents of Fort Defiance, or 1.9% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Fort Defiance is comparable to the share in Arizona overall, where 3.5% of the population is Asian. Fort Defiance ranks 82nd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 467 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Defiance's Asian population has grown by an estimated 26.0%. Asian residents' share of Fort Defiance's population has increased from 1.4% to 1.9%.

Fort Defiance is more Asian than neighboring Window Rock (0.4% Asian), Tse Bonito (0% Asian), Black Hat (0% Asian), and Navajo (0.6% Asian). Fort Defiance is less Asian than neighboring St. Michaels (2.5% Asian).

Fort Defiance's Hispanic Population

146 residents of Fort Defiance, or 4.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Fort Defiance is significantly lower than in Arizona overall, where 31.4% of the population is Hispanic. Fort Defiance ranks 383rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 467 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Defiance's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 89.6%. Hispanic residents' share of Fort Defiance's population has increased from 2.2% to 4.4%.

Fort Defiance is more Hispanic than neighboring St. Michaels (0% Hispanic), Tse Bonito (0% Hispanic), and Navajo (0.8% Hispanic). Fort Defiance is less Hispanic than neighboring Window Rock (5.4% Hispanic), and Black Hat (100% Hispanic).

Fort Defiance's Native American/Other Population

2,841 residents of Fort Defiance, or 84.8% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Fort Defiance is significantly higher than in Arizona overall, where 3.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Fort Defiance ranks 90th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 467 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Defiance's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 11.4%. Native American/Other residents' share of Fort Defiance's population has decreased from 90.6% to 84.8%.

Fort Defiance is more Native American/Other than neighboring Black Hat (0% Native American/Other). Fort Defiance is less Native American/Other than neighboring Window Rock (90.4% Native American/Other), St. Michaels (93% Native American/Other), Tse Bonito (100% Native American/Other), and Navajo (95.2% Native American/Other).

Fort Defiance's Multiracial Population

182 residents of Fort Defiance, or 5.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Fort Defiance is comparable to the share in Arizona overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Fort Defiance ranks 301st statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 467 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Defiance's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 160.0%. Multiracial residents' share of Fort Defiance's population has increased from 2.0% to 5.4%.

Fort Defiance is more Multiracial than neighboring Window Rock (1.8% Multiracial), St. Michaels (1% Multiracial), Tse Bonito (0% Multiracial), Black Hat (0% Multiracial), and Navajo (3% 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.