Phoenix is the largest city and capital of the state of Arizona. It's also the most populous state capital and the center of the Phoenix metropolitan area (or the Valley of the Sun), which is home to over 4.5 million people in 2016. During 2012, Phoenix increased its population by 1.7%. It's believed that sometime during 2013, Phoenix passed Philadelphia in population, although in 2016, Philadelphia again surpassed Phoenix.
Phoenix Diversity and Religion
The most common ancestries in Phoenix were: Mexican (35.9%), German (15.3%), Irish (10.3%), English (9.4%), African American (6.5%), Italian (4.5%), American (2.7%) and Polish (2.5%). Since the 2000 Census, the proportion of white people in Phoenix has dropped from 71% and African American proportion has grown from 5%. In 2000, Hispanics and Latinos accounted for just 34% of the population. In 2010, the metropolitan area was 35% Catholic, 22% Evangelical Protestant, 16% LDS, 14% nondenominational, 7% Mainline Protestant, 2% Hindu, and 4% other religions.
Phoenix Population Growth
In early 2013, Forbes ranked the Phoenix Metro Area as the 8th fastest-growing major city in the United States, after Austin, Houston, Dallas, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Provo. In 2015, Phoenix remained on Forbes' list but dropped to number 11.
By 2020, it's forecasted that Phoenix will become the 4th most populous city in the US, and by 2030, the US Census Bureau estimates its population will reach 2.2 million with a metropolitan area that's home to 6.3 million.