|
The changing
American pie, 1999 and 2025
Racial and ethnic
diversity has always been a hallmark of American society. Immigration
from different parts of the world, and the different fertility and
mortality rates among recent migrants, have kept the racial and ethnic
composition in flux. African Americans are currently the largest minority
in the United States, accounting for 12.1 percent of the population.
About 11.5 percent of persons classify themselves as Hispanic;
3.8 percent are Asian or Pacific Islander; and less than 1 percent are
American Indian or Alaska Native. The majority of the U.S. population,
about 72 percent, is white.
Because of their relatively high
migration and fertility
rates, Hispanics are projected to outnumber blacks early in the
21st century. By 2025, Hispanics will account for 18 percent of the
U.S. population, while only 13 percent of the population will be
African American. Over the same period, the percentage of whites will
decline by ten percentage points, to 62 percent. If current trends
continue, almost half of the U.S. population will be non-white by
2050.
Over the next 25 years, minority
concentrations are projected to increase in all parts of the country,
but especially in the South, Southwest, and West. By 2025, minority
groups are expected to account for over 50 percent of the population
in four states (Hawaii, California, New Mexico, Texas) and the
District of Columbia. |
 |
|
