Navajo County's population as of Census 2020 was 106,717, down 0.7% from 2010. Navajo County's population is expected to reach 106,457 in 2030 before declining to 95,080 in 2060, according to projections by Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
UNEMPLOYMENT: Navajo County's annual unemployment rate in 2021 was 6.5% (down from 9.9% in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic). At the peak of COVID business closures, the unemployment rate in Navajo County hit a high of 14.7% in April 2020. Navajo County’s unemployment rate of 6.5% in 2021 was higher than the statewide rate of 4.9% and the nationwide rate of 5.3%.
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: Navajo County gained 500 jobs in 2022 for annual job growth of 1.9% (based on average monthly job numbers). The private sector added 375 jobs (2.2%) and the government sector increased by 125 jobs (1.3%). In the private sector, goods-producing jobs were up by 50 (2.9%) while service jobs grew by 325 (2.1%).
WAGES: The average annual wage in Navajo County in 2021 was $45,861 ($22.05 hourly), which was 83% of the Arizona statewide average wage of $55,170 ($26.53 hourly) and 79% of the national average wage of $58,260 ($28.01 hourly). Navajo County's average wage in 2021 was up 0.8% from 2020.
PERSONAL INCOME: In 2021, Navajo County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $41,680. This PCPI ranked 13th in the state and was 75.1% of the state average, $55,487, and 65% of the national average, $64,143. The 2021 PCPI reflected an increase of 8.2% from 2020. The 2020–2021 state change was 6% and the national change was 7.3%. In 2011, the PCPI of Navajo County was $25,587 and ranked 13th in the state. The 2011–2021 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 5%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 4.6% and for the nation was 4.1%.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2021, Navajo County produced 3,309,321 in current-dollar total GDP*. This GDP ranked 9th in the state and accounted for 0.8% of the state total. In 2011, the total GDP of Navajo County was 2,953,496 and ranked 9th in the state. In 2021, Navajo County real GDP grew 3.4%; the 2020–2021 state change was 6.3%. The 2011–2021 compound annual growth rate for Navajo County real GDP was -1.1%; the compound annual growth rate for the state was 2.7%.
*GDP estimates are in thousands of dollars.
For more info on Navajo County's personal income and GDP, check out the county's BEA Regional Fact Sheet (BEARFACTS)
MAJOR INDUSTRY SALES: In 2022, Navajo County's retail sales were up 5.2% after growing 5.3% in 2021 (on the heels of declines of 0.2% in 2019 and 7.5% in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic). Navajo County's restaurant & bar sales were up 4.2% in 2022, following record-high growth of 24.1% the year prior (with records back to 2009). Hotel/motel receipts were up 11.7% in 2022, after record-high growth of 32.7% in 2021.
BANK DEPOSITS: In 2022, bank deposits in Navajo County (as of June 30) were up 4.0% from 2021. That followed strong growth of 19.1% and 24.7% in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Growth rates in 2021 and 2020 were the highest and second highest on record, respectively (with records back to 1994). Deposits in recent years were helped along by COVID stimulus payments and programs.
HOME PRICES & DAYS ON MARKET: In March 2022, the median price of homes sold in Navajo County was $433,500, according to National Association of Realtors. That was up 48.5% from March 2021. The median days on market in March was 42, down from 60 in March 2021. As of May 2022, there were 1,156 homes listed for sale in Navajo County, down from 1,401 in June 2021. (Data in this section updated annually; for the most recent monthly data, visit Navajo County, AZ Real Estate Market.)
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION: In 2021, permits were issued for 592 new single-family homes in Navajo County, up 81.0% from 2020. New home permits in 2021 were at their highest level on record (with records back to 1993). For the most recent monthly data, click here.
Navajo New Residential Construction (building permits) (1993-current) (xlsx)
DownloadIn 2021, visits to Navajo National Monument in Navajo County were up 272.2%, rebounding from a COVID-related decline of 92% in 2020. Visits to Fool Hollow Lake were down 23.5% in 2021, after increasing 18.3% in 2020. Homolovi Ruins visits were up 60.7% in 2021, following a 4.2% drop in 2020.
According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Navajo County's travel industry (including business and leisure travel) generated $426.1 million in direct spending in 2021, up 30.9% following a COVID-related decline of 13.5% in 2020. Navajo County's travel industry supported 4,000 jobs countywide in 2021 (up 9.8% after falling 7.3% the year prior) with associated household earnings of $125 million (up 15.1% following a 0.7% drop the previous year).