McKinley County Demographics

A map of McKinley County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Native American/Other	53,250	55,562	75.6%	76.2%
Hispanic	8,585	8,611	12.2%	11.8%
White	5,600	5,946	8.0%	8.2%
Multiracial	1,707	1,525	2.4%	2.1%
Asian	974	935	1.4%	1.3%
Black	315	323	0.4%	0.4%

McKinley County, New Mexico has an estimated population of 70,431, a decrease from the 72,902 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 75.6% Native American/Other, 12.2% Hispanic, 8.0% White, 2.4% Multiracial, 1.4% Asian, and 0.4% Black. This demographic dot map shows the population of McKinley County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

McKinley has become slightly more 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 McKinley County, that probability was 39.8% in 2020 and 40.6% in the most recent ACS estimates.

McKinley County is ranked the 8th most populous county in New Mexico, out of 33 counties. McKinley County was ranked the 8th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

McKinley County's White Population

5,600 residents of McKinley County, or 8.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in McKinley County is significantly lower than in New Mexico overall, where 36% of the population is White. McKinley County ranks 33rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 33 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McKinley County's White population has declined by an estimated 5.8%. White residents' share of McKinley County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 8.0%.

McKinley County is less White than neighboring Cibola County (19.5% White), San Juan County (36.2% White), Apache County (18.8% White), Sandoval County (40.9% White), and Catron County (74.4% White).

McKinley County's Black Population

315 residents of McKinley County, or 0.4% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in McKinley County is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 1.8% of the population is Black. McKinley County ranks 25th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 33 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McKinley County's Black population has declined by an estimated 2.5%. Black residents' share of McKinley County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

McKinley County is less Black than neighboring Cibola County (1.9% Black), San Juan County (0.6% Black), Apache County (1% Black), Sandoval County (2.1% Black), and Catron County (1.8% Black).

McKinley County's Asian Population

974 residents of McKinley County, or 1.4% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in McKinley County is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. McKinley County ranks 8th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 33 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McKinley County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 4.2%. Asian residents' share of McKinley County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.4%.

McKinley County is more Asian than neighboring Cibola County (0.7% Asian), San Juan County (0.8% Asian), Apache County (0.7% Asian), Sandoval County (1.3% Asian), and Catron County (0.3% Asian).

McKinley County's Hispanic Population

8,585 residents of McKinley County, or 12.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in McKinley County is significantly lower than in New Mexico overall, where 48.4% of the population is Hispanic. McKinley County ranks 33rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 33 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McKinley County's Hispanic population has remained roughly the same. Hispanic residents' share of McKinley County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 12.2%.

McKinley County is more Hispanic than neighboring Apache County (6.4% Hispanic). McKinley County is less Hispanic than neighboring Cibola County (32.9% Hispanic), San Juan County (19.8% Hispanic), Sandoval County (40% Hispanic), and Catron County (15.7% Hispanic).

McKinley County's Native American/Other Population

53,250 residents of McKinley County, or 75.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in McKinley County is significantly higher than in New Mexico overall, where 9% of the population is Native American/Other. McKinley County ranks 1st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 33 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McKinley County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 4.2%. Native American/Other residents' share of McKinley County's population has decreased from 76.2% to 75.6%.

McKinley County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Cibola County (42.6% Native American/Other), San Juan County (38.6% Native American/Other), Apache County (71.1% Native American/Other), Sandoval County (11.7% Native American/Other), and Catron County (3.8% Native American/Other).

McKinley County's Multiracial Population

1,707 residents of McKinley County, or 2.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in McKinley County is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 3.1% of the population is Multiracial. McKinley County ranks 24th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 33 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McKinley County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 11.9%. Multiracial residents' share of McKinley County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.4%.

McKinley County is more Multiracial than neighboring Apache County (2% Multiracial). McKinley County is less Multiracial than neighboring San Juan County (4% Multiracial), Sandoval County (4% Multiracial), and Catron County (4% 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.