Population
Every 10 years as of April 1, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts a census of the nation’s population. The decennial census population count is used for a multitude of purposes, including apportioning Congress and determining the distribution of large sums of federal government dollars.
Population figures are presented on Arizona Indicators for Arizona and the 15 Arizona counties for 2010, with the change in population between 2000 and 2010 and between 1990 and 2000 also provided. Additional data, for example for smaller geographic areas and for earlier censuses, are available from the Census Bureau.
U. S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau. For 2010 data: http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml. For 2000 and 1990 data: http://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html.
The decennial census is intended to be a count of all residents. However, some people—primarily minorities, especially undocumented immigrants—are missed while some people are double counted, particularly those owning more than one home. The magnitude of the under- and over- counts varies by decennial census.
Population in Arizona and Three Most Populous Counties, 2010
Visualization Notes:
Of Arizona’s nearly 6.4 million residents on April 1, 2010, approximately 60 percent—more than 3.8 million—lived in Maricopa County, in which most of the Phoenix metropolitan area is located. Another 6 percent of the state’s residents lived in Pinal County, which also is part of the Phoenix metro area. Pima County (the Tucson metro area) had nearly 1 million residents (15 percent of the state total).
Population in Arizona’s Least Populous Counties, 2010
Visualization Notes:
Combined, Arizona’s 12 counties outside of the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas were home to a little more than 1.2 million residents (19 percent of the state total) in 2010.
Arizona’s County Population as a Share of the State, 2010
Visualization Notes:
Of Arizona’s nearly 6.4 million residents on April 1, 2010, approximately 60 percent—more than 3.8 million—lived in Maricopa County, in which most of the Phoenix metropolitan area is located. Another 6 percent of the state’s residents lived in Pinal County, which also is part of the Phoenix metro area. Pima County (the Tucson metro area) had nearly 1 million residents (15 percent of the state total). Combined, Arizona’s 12 counties outside of the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas were home to a little more than 1.2 million residents (19 percent of the state total) in 2010.
Change in Population in Arizona and Three Most Populous Counties
Visualization Notes:
The numeric population change between the 2000 and 2010 censuses was less than between the 1990 and 2000 censuses in Arizona and in its two most populous counties: Maricopa and Pima. Nationally, the numeric increase also was less, dropping from 32.7 million during the 1990s to 27.3 million in the 2000s. However, with the Phoenix urbanized area spilling into Pinal County after 2000, the numeric gain in Pinal County from 2000 to 2010 was the highest on record.
Change in Population in Arizona’s Least Populous Counties
Visualization Notes:
Santa Cruz was the only one of Arizona’s 12 counties outside of the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas to experience a larger numeric population gain between the 2000 and 2010 censuses than between the 1990 and 2000 censuses.
Percent Change in Population in Arizona and Three Most Populous Counties
Visualization Notes:
Pinal County’s population more than doubled between 2000 and 2010, a much more rapid increase than in the prior decade. In contrast, the percentage change during the 2000s was less than during the 1990s in every other Arizona county. Nationally, the percentage increase also was less at 10 percent during the 2000s compared to 13 percent in the prior decade.
Percent Change in Population in Arizona’s Least Populous Counties
Visualization Notes:
The percentage change during the 2000s was less than during the 1990s in each of Arizona’s less populous counties. It was less than half as much in nine of the 12 counties.
Population Change: Numeric Share of State, 2000 to 2010 Change Compared to 2010
Visualization Notes:
Pinal County’s share of the state’s numeric population change between 2000 and 2010 was much higher than its share of the population in 2010, reflecting the very high percentage growth in the county. In contrast, Pima County’s share of the 2000-to-2010 population increase was considerably less than its population share in 2010.
Historical Population Change From Prior Census, Arizona
Visualization Notes:
Though the state’s numeric population increase between 2000 and 2010 was less than in the prior decade, it still was the second highest on record. The percentage change naturally declines as the population base becomes larger, so it is no surprise that the percentage change between 2000 and 2010 was the lowest since the depression-era 1930s.
Data Source
U. S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau. For 2010 data: http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml. For 2000 and 1990 data: http://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html.
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