Dallas–Fort Worth is the most populous metropolitan area of Texas, and the Southern United States. Having 7,637,387 residents at the 2020 U.S. census, the metropolitan statistical area has experienced positive growth trends since the former Dallas and Fort Worth metropolitan areas conurbated into the Metroplex. By the 2022 census estimates, its population grew to 7,943,685.

Population County2022 estimate2020 censusChangeAreaDensityDallas County Tarrant County Collin County Denton County Ellis County Johnson County Kaufman County Parker County Rockwall County Hunt County Wise County Total

At the 2020 U.S. census 7,637,387 people lived in the area, up from 6,371,773 in 2010, and 2,974,805 in 1970.

Among the population in 2015, an estimated 101,588 foreign-born residents moved to the Metroplex. Of the immigrant population, 44.1% were from Latin America, 35.8% Asia, 7.1% Europe, and 13.1% Africa. In 2010, 77,702 foreign nationals immigrated; approximately 50.6% came from Latin America, 33.0% from Asia, 7.3% Europe, and 9.1% Africa. During the 2020 American Community Survey, an estimated 18.5% of its population were foreign-born, with 56% from Latin America, 30% Asia, 8% Africa, 4% Europe, and 1% elsewhere from North America.

Race and ethnicity In 2020, the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex's racial composition was 42% non-Hispanic white, 16% Black or African American, 8% Asian, 3-4% two or more races, and 29% Hispanic or Latino American of any race. According to information gathered from the North Texas Commission, the Metroplex's racial and ethnic makeup was 46% non-Hispanic white, 15% Black or African American, 7% Asian American, and 3% from other races in 2017. Ethnically, Hispanics and Latinos of any race made up 29% of the metropolitan population. From 2010 to 2017, Hispanics and Latinos increased an estimated 38.9% followed by Blacks and African Americans.

White and European Americans White and European Americans, since settlement, have been the largest racial and ethnic group for the present-day Metroplex, until an increase in immigration and white flight. From 2000 to 2014 the absolute number of non-Hispanic white children in the metropolitan area increased by 140,000 from 2000 to 2014, although their relative percentage of the overall number of children in the area declined. In that period the population of non-Hispanic white children largely shifted to Collin, Denton, and Rockwall counties away from Dallas County. From 1997 to 2015, in the first three counties, the number of non-Hispanic white K-12 students increased by 40,000, 20,000, and 6,000, respectively, while the number of non-Hispanic white students in Dallas County public school districts dropped from 138,760 in 1997 to 61,538 in the 2014–2015 school year; during the latter period the charter schools in the county had 5,000 non-Hispanic white students. Middle-Eastern Americans Arabs There are approximately 275,000 Arab-Americans around Dallas County, with many of them coming from countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Yemen, etc. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas maintains a Lebanese Maronite Christian mission at Our Lady of Lebanon in Lewisville, established in 1990; as well as the St. Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic Church in Irving, established in 1983.

, the number of people of Egyptian heritage was about 5,000 to 10,000 in the Metroplex area.

Iranians According to the 2000 census, the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex had about 6,000 people of Iranian descent. This number has since increased to around 30,000. Plano's Iranian community was large and influential enough to host U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for a private visit in April 2019. Most Iranians in the DFW area reside in the Plano–Frisco–Allen–McKinney areas north of Dallas although there are several near Arlington in the Mid-Cities region.

Kurds There are roughly around 8,000 Kurds in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, with many of them residing around the northern suburbs, especially around Plano. There is also a sizeable Kurdish community around Arlington. Most of them came as refugees from Iraq although there are also Iranian, Syrian and Turkish Kurds in the Metroplex.

Hispanics and Latino Americans

Mexicans

Dallas–Fort Worth has one of the largest Mexican-American communities in the United States. In 2002, it was reported that Mexican-Americans make up 80% of Hispanic and Latinos in Dallas–Fort Worth. There are many Mexican restaurants, taco stands, grocery stores, etc. in Dallas-Fort Worth and there is also a pizza chain called Pizza Patron that is very popular amongst Mexican-Americans. There are concentrations of Mexican Americans in Oak Cliff, West Dallas and Arlington. As of the 2000 U.S. census, 63% of the ethnic Mexicans in Dallas County resided in the Dallas city limits.

Salvadorans As of 2009, Salvadoran Americans were the second largest Hispanic and Latino ethnic group in DFW. They often settled in the same areas occupied by Mexican-Americans. In 2000, of the Salvadorans in Dallas County, 47% were in the city of Dallas. That year, 3.6% of the foreign-born in Dallas were from El Salvador. There is a small Salvadoran settlement in East Dallas.Brettell, p.66. As of 2009, in Irving the Salvadoran-origin people are 11.8% of those born outside of the United States; this percentage is larger than the average percentage of Salvadorans in Dallas–Fort Worth area cities.Brettell, p.60. There are also Salvadoran populations in Farmers Branch and Garland.

In the 1990s the number of people of Salvadoran origins increased by 172%. As of 2009, many Salvadorans work legally in the U.S. due to their "Temporary Protected Status". The Consulate of El Salvador is in central Dallas.Brettell, p. 66-67.

Black and African Americans

The Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex gained approximately 233,000 new African-Americans between 2000 and 2010. Second only behind Atlanta, Georgia during that time span.

In northern DFW suburbs, the black population rate has grown 178 percent since the 1990s. The strongest growth is in the southern suburbs, for example Cedar Hill was approximately 51.9 percent black in 2010, after a gain of more than 12,500 new black residents since the last decade.http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20110227-census-shows-black-population-expanding-in-dallas-fort-worth-suburbs. The southern suburbs (DeSoto, Duncanville, Lancaster, Cedar Hill) have been noted as the core of the African American middle class and upper middle class community in the Metroplex. Historically, the black community was strongly concentrated in the inner-city of Dallas and Fort Worth but that has slowly changed since the 1980s.Crawford, Selwyn and Michael E. Young. "Census shows black population expanding in Dallas–Fort Worth suburbs." The Dallas Morning News. February 27, 2011. Retrieved on August 5, 2016. In addition to the New Great Migration, many African Americans began moving to Dallas and Fort Worth for affordable cost of living and job opportunities.

Nigerians

As of 2000, of the recent Nigerian immigrant population in DFW, 61% live in Dallas County, and of the total number in Dallas County 49% live within the Dallas city limits.Brettell, p. 67. DFW has one of the largest Nigerian American populations in the country.Cordell, Dennis D. "Paradoxes of Immigrant Incorporation: High Achievement and Perceptions of Discrimination by Nigerians in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas (USA)" (Chapter 2). In: Falola, Toyin and Niyi Afolabi. Trans-Atlantic Migration: The Paradoxes of Exile (African Studies). Routledge, November 21, 2007. , 9781135900786. CITED: p. 14 Nigerians have a strong presence among top performers at the local universities in the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area.

The main area of Nigerian settlement in Dallas, also occupied by African Americans, includes a market frequented by Nigerians, a Nigerian-centered restaurant, and many rental units.Brettell, p. 68. It is in proximity to U.S. Highway 75.

Ethiopians As of 2012 there are about 35,000 Ethiopians in the DFW area. Every year Ethiopian Day is held in Plano; the Mutual Assistance Association for Ethiopian Community organizes this festival.Minora, Leslie. "Food, coffee and incense fill the air at Ethiopian Day in Plano" (Archive). The Dallas Morning News. September 2, 2012. Updated September 3, 2012. Retrieved on September 22, 2014. As of 2012 there were several Ethiopian restaurants in Dallas.Hudson, Travis. "Couple who ran Ethiopian restaurant shot to death in front of their Lower Greenville home" (Archive). The Dallas Morning News. August 15, 2012. Retrieved on September 22, 2014.

Asian Americans The Asian American community, alongside other groups, has remained steadily growing in the area. The Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber serves the DFW Asian community.Fleck, Deborah. "Korean community welcomes Shin-Soo Choo to town " (Archive). The Dallas Morning News. January 1, 2014. Retrieved on September 22, 2014. The Asian American Heritage Festival is held every year."Photos: Chopstick Challenge and more at Plano Chinese Alliance Church's Asia fest" (Archive). The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved on September 22, 2014.

Chinese

According to the 2000 U.S. census, 5,762 ethnic Chinese lived in Dallas County.Solamillo, Stanley. "From Half a World Away: The First Chinese in Dallas: 1873 - 1940." Legacies: A History Journal for Dallas and North Central Texas, Volume 19, Number 02, Fall, 2007. p. 16-22. CITED: p. 22.

Plano, along with Houston, has one of the state's two major settlements of Chinese Americans.Railey, Kimberley. "Cornyn seeks to lure Chinese Americans to GOP" (Archive). The Dallas Morning News. September 3, 2014. Retrieved on September 22, 2014. As of 2011, 5% Plano's population is ethnic Chinese.Meyers, Jessica. "Rare Chinese bilingual program highlights Plano schools’ diversity" (Archive). The Dallas Morning News. November 4, 2011. Retrieved on September 22, 2014. As of the 2000 U.S. census, of the foreign-born residents of Plano, 17% originated from China.Brettell, p. 64. Richardson also has a Chinese immigrant community.Brettell, p.56. In 2010 over 15% of the people in Richardson are ethnic Chinese. The D-FW China Town is located in Richardson.Light, Nanette. "Three decades later, Dallas Chinese Community Center still heart of Asian culture" (Archive). The Dallas Morning News. February 21, 2014. Retrieved on September 22, 2014.

Filipinos There are over 80,000 Filipinos in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Dallas held its first Filipino food festival in 2020 and there are Filipino grocery stores in the Metroplex.

Indians

In 2000, a number slightly over 50% of the Asian Indians in the DFW area lived in Dallas County, and almost 20% lived in Collin County. Most Indians live in suburbs northwest, north, and east of Dallas. Many Indians work for telecommunications companies, Electronic Data Systems (EDS), and Texas Instruments, and Asian Indians tend to live near their workplaces. They also tend to live in public school districts with good reputations.