NEW MEXICO'S POPULATION HAS BEEN GROWING VERY SLOWLY THIS DECADE, AND A UNM EXPERT THINKS HE KNOWS WHY. DEMOGRAPHER JACK BAKER SAYS THE FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT OF THE STATE'S POPULATION SINCE 2010 HAS BEEN THOSE OVER AGE 65…AND THE TREND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE.
BAKER SAYS WITH NEW MEXICO'S BIRTH RATE FAIRLY CONSTANT, THE OLDER POPULATION MEANS MORE DEATHS EACH YEAR, HOLDING DOWN OVERALL GROWTH. NEW MEXICO'S 65-PLUS POPULATION HAS GONE UP 12 PERCENT THIS DECADE. OVERALL POPULATION IN THE STATE HAS GONE UP ONLY 1-PERCENT.
