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An Overview of
Federal Drug Control Programs
on the Southwest Border

Geography and Population

There are ten states (four U.S. and six Mexican) that adjoin the 2,000 mile border.
  • The four U.S. border states (California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) include 23 counties that touch the border

  • The six Mexican border states (Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas) include 39 municipalities that touch the border.

The total population of the ten border states was 65,222,233 in 1990
  • 51,926,828 (79.6 percent) in the U.S; 12,246,991 (20.4 percent) in Mexico.

  • An estimated 10 percent of U.S. border state population lives in border counties; 29.4 percent of Mexican border state population lives in border municipalities.

On the U.S. side of the border:
  • Approximately 26 percent of the border state population and 37 percent of the border county population is Hispanic.

  • In comparison, the U.S. national average Hispanic population is 9.1 percent.

On the U.S. side of the border, the natural, annual rate of increase for all ethnic groups is 1.2/100 (state) and 1.5/100 (county).
  • If this rate remains the same, the U.S. border population will double (all ethnic groups) in 57 and 47 years for states and counties, respectively.

  • The Hispanic population at the state and county level will double in 25 years.

  • In comparison, the United States will double its population as a whole in 90 years.

On the Mexican side of the border, the natural, annual rate of increase is 2.4/100 (state) and 2.5/100 (county).

  • Migration movements toward the border, however, increase the overall population growth rate, to an estimated at 5.1 for Mexican border states and 7.8/100 for municipalities.

  • At these rates, the Mexican border states and municipalities will double their population in 14 and 9 years, respectively.

  • In comparison, Mexico will double its population as a whole in 25 years.


Source: United States-Mexico Border Health Association, Future Directions: Substance Abuse in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region

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