DEMOGRAPHICS

Census: Minorities Constitute 37 Percent of U.S. Population

By Doris Nhan

Updated: May 17, 2012 | 1:57 p.m.
May 17, 2012 | 11:56 a.m.

The Census Bureau on Thursday released estimates on the U.S. population’s growth in 2011, finding that racial and ethnic minorities for the first time made up more than half of all children born in the country, totaling 50.4 percent.

Here are other key findings to know from the report (estimates were projected based on data from the 2010 census):

  • Minorities now account for 36.6 percent of the total population.
  • Non-Hispanic whites are projected to become a minority by 2042, according to a 2008 release by the Census Bureau.
  • There are 52 million Hispanics in the U.S., an increase of 3.1 percent, making it the largest minority group in the country.
  • Asians were the second fastest-growing group, increasing by 3 percent to 18.2 million.
  • The top five states/areas with a majority-minority population are: Hawaii; Washington, D.C.; California; New Mexico; and Texas.
  • More than 11 percent of counties became majority-minority in 2011. Since April 2010, nine counties in five states have become majority-minority.
  • Almost 24 percent of the population is under age 18. Nearly 34 percent of Hispanics and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are under 18. About one-fifth of non-Hispanic whites are under 18.
  • In contrast, 13.3 percent of the total population is over age 65. About 16.7 percent of non-Hispanic whites are over 65.

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