Demographics
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1895 | 42,875 | — |
| 1900 | 7,583 | −82.3% |
| 1910 | 9,760 | +28.7% |
| 1921 | 23,537 | +141.2% |
| 1930 | 48,327 | +105.3% |
| 1940 | 78,907 | +63.3% |
| 1950 | 226,965 | +187.6% |
| 1960 | 520,165 | +129.2% |
| 1970 | 870,421 | +67.3% |
| 1980 | 1,177,886 | +35.3% |
| 1990 | 1,660,855 | +41.0% |
| 1995 | 2,112,140 | +27.2% |
| 2000 | 2,487,367 | +17.8% |
| 2005 | 2,844,469 | +14.4% |
| 2010 | 3,155,070 | +10.9% |
The Majority of the population of Baja California is Mestizo, however the state has larger percentages of White Mexicans (about 30%). There are small indigenous communities as well.
Historically, the state has had sizable East Asian immigration. Mexicali has a large Chinese community, as well as many Filipinos from the Philippines who arrived to the state during the eras of Spanish and American rule (1898–1946) in much of the 19th and 20th centuries. Tijuana and Ensenada were a major port of entry for East Asians entering the U.S. ever since the first Asian-Americans were present in California.
Also a significant number of Middle Eastern immigrants such as Lebanese, Syrians and Armenians settle near the U.S. border, and small waves of settlers in the early 20th century, usually members of the Molokan sect of the Russian Orthodox church fled the Russian Revolution of 1917 when the Soviet Union took power, had established a few villages along the Pacific coast south of Ensenada.
Since 1960, large numbers of migrants from southern Mexican states have arrived to work in agriculture (esp. the Mexicali Valley and nearby Imperial Valley, California, US) and manufacturing. The cities of Ensenada, Tijuana and Mexicali grew as a result of migrants, primarily those who sought US citizenship and those temporary residents awaiting their entry into the United States are called Flotillas, which is derived from the Spanish word "flota," meaning "fleet."
There is also a sizable immigrant community from Central and South America, and from the United States and Canada. An estimated 200,000+ American expatriates live in the state, especially in coastal resort towns such as Ensenada, known for affordable homes purchased by retirees who continue to hold US citizenship. San Felipe, Rosarito and Tijuana also have a large American population (second largest in Mexico next to Mexico City), particularly for its cheaper housing and proximity to San Diego.
About 92% of Baja California's population is Christian, 81% of them are Catholics.
Read more about this topic: Baja California