Arizona's population as of Census 2020 was 7,151,502, up 11.9% from 2010 making Arizona the 9th fastest-growing state over the decade. All Arizona counties saw population gains from 2010 to 2020, except La Paz (-19.2%), Apache (-7.7%), Cochise (-4.5%), Navajo (-0.7%), and Gila (-0.6%). The strongest population growth from 2010 to 2020 of Arizona's 15 counties was Maricopa (+15.8%), followed by Greenlee (+13.3%), Pinal (+13.2%), and Yavapai (+11.9%). Maricopa County accounted for 80% of the statewide population gains from 2010 to 2020. Arizona's population is projected to reach 7.8 million in 2025 and 10.5 million in 2055, according to pre-Census 2020 projections by Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
UNEMPLOYMENT: Arizona's unemployment rate in 2021 was 4.9% (down from 7.7% in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic). At the peak of COVID business closures, the unemployment rate in Arizona hit a high of 13.5% in April 2020. Arizona’s unemployment rate of 4.9% in 2021 was lower than the nationwide rate of 5.3%.
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: Arizona gained 104,100 jobs in 2021 for annual job growth of 3.6%. The largest number of job gains, based on average monthly job numbers for the year, was in accommodation and food services, which added 24,300 jobs (10.1%). By job growth rate, arts, entertainment, and recreation saw the biggest increase, with job numbers gaining 14.5% (4,900 jobs). Arizona's government sector declined by 1.4% in 2021. Within the government sector, federal jobs were down by 1,400 (-2.4%), state government jobs declined by 900 (-1.0%), and local governments dropped 3,400 jobs (-1.3%).
Note: Labor force, employment, unemployment, and jobs data on this site are updated annually. For the most recent monthly labor market data, visit Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
PERSONAL INCOME: In 2021, Arizona had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $54,301. This PCPI ranked 41st in the United States and was 86% of the national average, $63,444. The 2021 PCPI reflected an increase of 5.8% from 2020. The 2020-2021 national change was 7.3%. In 2011, the PCPI of Arizona was $35,321 and ranked 41st in the United States. The 2011-2021 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 4.4%. The compound annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0%.
WAGES: The average annual wage in Arizona in 2020 was $53,396 ($25.67 hourly), up 4.8% from 2019. Arizona's annual wage in 2020 was 95% of the national average wage of $56,310 ($27.07).
In 2021, Arizona's retail sales were up 19% following a 6.5% gain in 2020. Restaurant & bar sales were up 28.6% in 2021, after a COVID-related decline of 13.5% the year prior. Arizona's hotel/motel receipts were up 44.1% in 2021, rebounding from a 28.5% drop in 2020.
AZ Major Industry Sales (2009-current) (xlsx)
DownloadIn 2021, Arizona current-dollar GDP was $411,191.8 million and ranked 20th in the United States. In 2011, Arizona GDP was $260,915.7 million and ranked 22nd in the United States. In 2021, Arizona real GDP grew 5.3%; the 2020-2021 national change was 5.7%. The 2011-2021 compound annual growth rate for Arizona real GDP was 2.4%; the compound annual growth rate for the nation was 2.0%.
AZ Gross Domestic Product (by Industry) (1997-current) (xlsx)
DownloadHOME SALES, PRICES & DAYS ON MARKET: In 2021, home sales in Arizona were up 2.5% and were at their highest level on record, according to data from Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service. In March 2022, the median price of homes sold in Arizona was $460,000, up 28.0% from March 2021. The Average Cumulative Days on Market for homes sold in March 2022 was 32, down from 37 in March 2021.
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION: In 2021, there were 46,561 new single-family homes built in Arizona, up 10.1% from 2020. The average permit value in 2021 was $272,032, up 1.6% from the year prior.
AZ New Residential Construction (building permits & valuation) (1995-current) (xlsx)
DownloadIn 2021, visits to national parks in Arizona (including monuments, memorials, and sites) were up 37.2%, rebounding from the COVID-related decline of 35.0% in 2020. Visits to state parks in Arizona were up 2.8% in 2021 after falling 5.6% in 2020. Visits to the Grand Canyon (Arizona's busiest national park) were up 56.5% in 2021, after dropping 51.5% in 2020. Visits to Lake Havasu (Arizona's busiest state park) were down 17.8% in 2021, following a 22.5% jump in 2020. Visits to Arizona lakes and recreation areas were down generally in 2021, following increases in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic and deferral of long-distance travel that year.
According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Arizona's travel industry (including business and leisure travel) generated $15 billion in direct spending in 2020, down 41.2% from 2019. Arizona's travel industry supported 160,500 jobs (down 17.4%) with earnings of $6.7 billion (down 12.9%) in 2020, according to the study.
Check out Arizona Office of Tourism for research and marketing resources for the Arizona tourism industry.
BORDER CROSSINGS: In 2021, pedestrian border crossings into the US at Arizona ports of entry were up 11.5% after declining 44.7% in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic. The number of personal vehicle passengers was up 31.4% in 2021 following a 42% drop in 2020. Despite the increases in 2021, both pedestrian and vehicle passenger border crossings at Arizona land ports remained at near-record lows (with the record low set in 2020 and records back to 1996).
INTERNATIONAL TRADE: In 2020, the value of international trade (imports and exports) passing through Arizona ports of entry totaled $26.4 billion, down 12.9% from 2019. Exports totaled $10 billion (down 14.4%) while imports came in at $16.4 billion (down 11.9%).
BANK DEPOSITS: In 2021, bank deposits in Arizona (as of June 30) were up 18.1% from 2020. That follows 21.6% growth the year prior - the highest on record (with records back to 1994). Deposits in 2020 and 2021 were helped along by COVID stimulus payments and programs.
AZ Bank Deposits (1994-current) (xlsx)
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