Newly released Census data show an increasingly diverse American population. About 30 percent identify as racial or ethnic minorities, according to the latest Census Bureau estimates./NK DROP/SHUTTERSTOCK
By Zoe Manzanetti | Governing
The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual survey about the nation and its people, including information about occupations, education, veterans, home ownership and transportation. This article uses data from the 2019 ACS that was released on Oct. 15, 2020, which is the most current data available.
The latest Census Bureau estimates suggest about 30 percent of Americans identify as racial or ethnic minorities. Nationally, the largest racial demographic groups as of 2019 were:
- White, alone: 72 percent
- Black or African American, alone: 12 percent
- American Indian and Alaska Native, alone: 0.9 percent
- Asian, alone: 5.7 percent
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, alone: 0.2 percent
- Some other race alone: 5 percent
- Two or more races: 3.4 percent
- Separately, Hispanics of any race accounted for 19 percent of the U.S. population.
- The following graph represents state population totals by race, current as of 2019:
