At the outset, the recently released data from the 2020 United States census is historic for more reasons than one. The census findings on...
At the outset, the recently released data from the 2020 United States census is historic for more reasons than one. The census findings on race and ethnicity, which are particularly significant, indicate that for the first time in America’s history, the White population, in absolute numbers, has declined. Between 2010-2020, America’s White population shrank from 63.7% to 57.8%. This is a near 9% decrease in absolute terms.
In contrast, people of colour rose from 34% of the total US population in 2010 to 43% in 2020. This means that between 2010-2020, America’s population growth was entirely driven by those identifying as Latino or Hispanic, Black, Asian American, Native American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and as two or more races. In contrast, non-Hispanic Whites registered their most significant decline since the US census began in 1790.
Apart from this “big picture”, the demographic nuances of individual racial and ethnic minorities are also noteworthy. Between 2010-2020, individuals identifying as Latino or Hispanic grew from 16.3% to 18.7%, meaning that in terms of absolute numbers Latinos accounted for nearly half of the coloured population growth in the past ten years.
A significant increase was also registered in those who identified as Asian Americans, growing from 4.7% to 5.9% in the...
