Capitan is a village in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States, located north of the Lincoln National Forest amongst the Capitan and Sacramento Mountains at an elevation of 6,350 feet (1,950 m). The population was 1,489 at the 2010 census. Capitan was founded in the 1890s and incorporated in 1941.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Capitan has a total Place of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km), all land. The community is surrounded by tall desert mountains and New Mexico cedar, pinon and juniper trees.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,443 people, 605 households, and 416 families residing in the village. The population density was 450.9 people per square mile (174.1/km²). There were 717 housing units at an average density of 224.0 per square mile (86.5/km). The racial makeup of the village was 87.53% White, 0.55% African American, 1.46% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 7.76% from further races, and 2.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.20% of the population.

There were 605 households, out of which 26.4% had kids under the age of 18 living bearing in mind them, 56.0% were married couples successful together, 9.8% had a female householder later no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 27.4% of anything households were made in the works of individuals, and 10.4% had someone active alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average relatives size was 2.91.