Demographics of Texas

Texas is the second largest state in population in the United States, just after California. As of 2023, Texas had a population of over 30 million people, which is an increase of more than 1.3 million since the 2020 census. This growth shows that many more families and individuals have been moving to Texas over the years.

The state has many big cities and areas where lots of people live, such as Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. These cities are part of large spaces called metropolitan areas. Besides these big cities, Texas also has many smaller towns and rural areas where people live.

Because of its large population and many cities, Texas plays an important role in the United States. It has many jobs, schools, and places for people to live, making it a busy and lively place to be.

Population

Texas is the second-largest U.S. state in population, after California. It is also the most populous state in the South Central United States and the South. Between 2000 and 2010, Texas had the biggest increase in population of any U.S. state.

At the 2020 United States census, Texas had a population of 29,145,505, which was a 15.9% increase from the 2010 U.S. census. By 2023, Texas had grown to over 30 million people, joining California as the only states with more than 30 million residents. This growth came from people moving into the state from other U.S. states, from other countries, and from natural increases like births.

As of 2012, about 4.1 million people in Texas were born in another country, making up around 15% of the state's population at that time.

Net domestic migration

Race, ethnicity, and tribal affiliation

See also: Native American tribes in Texas, History of Mexican Americans in Texas, History of African Americans in Texas, History of Chinese Americans in Texas, Hispanics and Latinos in Texas, Czech Texans, German Texan, and Japanese in Texas

In 2021, about 40% of people in Texas were Hispanic or Latino, 39% were non-Hispanic white, 12% were Black or African American, and smaller groups included American Indian, Asian, and Pacific Islander people. By 2020, the numbers showed similar trends with about 39% non-Hispanic white, 12% Black or African American, and over 40% Hispanic or Latino.

Historically, Texas has had many different groups of people. In 1980, German, Irish, and English Americans were some of the largest groups. Today, many people in Texas come from Mexico, making up over 30% of the population. There are also communities of African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans. Some cities like Houston and Dallas have large groups of people from many parts of the world.

African Americans make up about 12% of Texas' population and live mainly in cities like Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. Native Americans are a smaller group, making up less than 1% of the population. Asian Americans, including people from India, Vietnam, and China, are also growing in numbers, especially in cities like Houston and Dallas.

German descendants live in many parts of Texas, and many people have family roots going back several generations. The state also has recognized Native American tribes, such as the Alabama–Coushatta Tribe of Texas. Over time, Texas has seen growth in many different communities, including African Americans moving to the state for jobs and Asian Americans settling in cities like Houston, Dallas, and Austin.

Vital statistics

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Note: Births in table don't add up, because Hispanics are counted both by their ethnicity and by their race, giving a higher overall number.

• Since 2016, data for births of White Hispanic origin are not collected, but included in one Hispanic group; persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

Languages

People in Texas mainly speak a special kind of American English called Texan English. This mix comes from Southern and Western American English. Some people also speak Louisiana Creole, especially in Southeast Texas. Other common languages include Chicano English, African American Vernacular English, and General American English.

In 2010, about 66% of people in Texas age 5 and older spoke English at home. Around 29% spoke Spanish. Small groups spoke Vietnamese, Chinese, German, Tagalog, and French. Today, about 64% of Texans speak only English, while 36% speak another language. Spanish is still the most common language besides English.

Religion

In Texas, most people follow Christianity. In 2014, about 75 out of every 100 people in Texas were Christian. This Christian community is mainly split between two big groups: Protestants (50%) and Catholics (23%). Many people in Texas live in a part of the country called the Bible Belt, where Christian beliefs are very strong.

Besides Christianity, some people in Texas follow other religions or have no religious beliefs at all. About 18% of Texans said they did not follow any religion. Other groups include people who follow Judaism (1%), Islam (1%), Buddhism (1%), and Hinduism, with each making up less than 1% of the population. The exact numbers for these groups are small but present, especially in big cities.

Settlements

See also: List of cities in Texas, List of Texas metropolitan areas, List of cities in Texas by population, and List of United States cities by population

As of 2010, Texas had three cities with more than one million people: Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. These cities are among the ten biggest cities in the United States. By 2020, six Texas cities had more than 600,000 people. Austin, Fort Worth, and El Paso are also among the twenty largest cities in the United States. Texas has four big areas called metropolitan areas with more than a million people: Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown, San Antonio–New Braunfels, and Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos. The Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston areas had about 7.5 million and 7 million people respectively in 2019.

Three major highways—I-35 to the west, I-45 to the east, and I-10 to the south—form what is called the Texas Triangle megaregion. This area covers about 60,000 square miles (160,000 km²) and includes most of the state's largest cities and nearly 75 percent of Texas's population. Houston and Dallas are considered important world cities. Texas has 254 counties, which is more than any other state.

Some rural areas in Texas, called colonias, often lack basic services and face poverty. In 2011, Texas had about 2,294 colonias, where around 500,000 people lived. Hidalgo County had the most colonias.