The emergence of the population of Zacatecas, its evolution, mobility and socio-economic characteristics are aspects related to elements of a natural, social, political and cultural order that have occurred throughout its history. The Zacatecan population arises from the settlements of the indigenous tribes during pre-Hispanic times.
Specifically of the Zacatecan and Guachichil hunter-gatherer civilizations in the central and northern zones, which corresponded to the cultural region of Aridoamérica, in addition to the sedentary Caxcanes, Chichimecas and Tepecans tribes in the southern zone, an ancient region of Mesoamerica.
As a result of the discovery of the mineral wealth of the territorial soil, during the time of the Zacatecas colony it received a considerable wave of immigrants.
This is how villas, cities, ranches and estates arose that gradually became populated by Spaniards, Indians, blacks, mestizos and mulattoes who settled in order to exploit the mining potential of the area.
Different factors influenced the population expansion of Zacatecas, associated with the different economic activities corresponding to each region; mining, commerce and agriculture mostly.
Demography
According to the last census prepared in 2010 by the National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics of Mexico (INEGI):
- The population of Zacatecas was made up of 1,690,750 inhabitants.
- Its population density was estimated at 57 inhabitants / km².
- The state occupies the 25th place in population at the national level, representing 1.3% of it.
- 51.3% of the population of Zacatecas is made up of women and 48.7% of men.
- The average age of the Zacatecan population is 23 years old.
- In Zacatecas there are 455,971 girls, boys and adolescents aged between 0 to 14 years, representing 31% of the total population of the state.
- In the last 10 years, the population of Zacatecas has increased by 6%.
From the ethnic point of view, the last available census corresponding to the year 1921 indicated that the population of Zacatecas was made up of:
- 8.5% indigenous
- 86.1% of mestixos and
- 5.35% white.
Currently the percentages are maintained with a slight estimated variability of decrease in the indigenous population and an increase in the mestizo population.
- The distribution of the population is 59% in urban areas and 41% in rural areas.
- The cities of Zacatecas with the highest population density are: Zacatecas, Guadalupe, Fresnillo, Jerez and Río Grande.
- For the same year, the only metropolitan area of the state, Zacatecas - Guadalupe, had a population of 309,660 inhabitants and a population density of 88.1 inhabitants / km².
- Only 1% of the population speaks indigenous (native) languages.
What does the population of Zacatecas do?
The population of Zacatecas from an economic point of view is engaged in the following activities:
- Mining: Zacatecas is the main producer of silver worldwide and zinc in Latin America.
- Agriculture: it is the first national producer of beans, forage oats and chili.
- Livestock: it depends mainly on cattle.
- Manufacturing: especially the food, beverage and tobacco industry.
- Commerce: through 48,257 economic units that employ 174,368 people.
- Tourism: focused on colonial communities with international recognition such as the city of Zacatecas, Guadalupe, Fresnillo, Sombrerete and Jerez de García de Salinas.
Situation
Despite being a state with significant resources, Zacatecas is located within the 5 states with the lowest per capita income in Mexico and 34% of its population lives in extreme poverty.
This is attributed to the low occupational capacity that the primary economic structure offers its inhabitants and the high rate of migration of its residents to neighboring Mexican states and the United States.
References
- Garza, V. (June 24, 2011). The Zacatecas Mining Province and its Demographic Evolution (1700-1810). In: Estudioshistoricos.inah.gob.mx.
- Martínez, A. (nd). Population of the State of Zacatecas. Retrieved on October 29, 2017 from: paratodomexico.com.
- Zacatecas. (October 24, 2017). In: es.wikipedia.org.
- Zacatecas. (sf). Retrieved on October 29, 2017 from: inafed.gob.mx.
- Zacatecas. (sf). Retrieved on October 29, 2017 from: nationsencyclopedia.com.