Asians in US make up most rapidly-increasing racial group, whites slowest
The number of Asians in the US is rising at a greater rate than all other racial groups, based on the latest US Census data. International migration accounted for most of the Asian population growth. Whites showed the slowest gains.
The Asian demographic remains the fastest-growing ethnic group in the US since 2000, according to Census Department demographer Sam Garrow, reported the Associated Press. In 2013, China surpassed Mexico to become the top country of origin for immigrants arriving to the US.
From July 2014 to 2015, a 3.4 percent increase of Asians took place, mostly due to migration, bringing their total number in the US to 21 million. That is about 6.5 percent of the national population.
More Asians live in California than any other state, some 1.7 million, but Hawaii is the only state with a majority-Asian population, at 56 percent. Earlier this year, the US Census reported that 54 percent of Asians in the US have at least a bachelor’s degree, making them the most educated ethnicity in a country with a 33 percent college-graduation rate.
During the same period, the total of Hispanics in the US grew to 56.6 million, following an increase of 2.2 percent. Although they are nearly a majority in New Mexico, where they make up 48 percent of the state’s population, Hispanics are fourth among racial groups based on national growth rates. Pacific Islanders grew by 3.1 percent, while Native Hawaiians increased their numbers by 2.4 percent.
Populations of American Indians and Alaska natives now number 6.6 million, rising 1.5 percent. African-Americans followed with 1.3 percent growth, totaling 46.3 million.
Whites were the slowest, nearly stagnating, with 0.1 percent growth. The US Census counted 198 million people who identified as white. Many people, however, identified as white and a second race. When they were included, the population growth increased to 0.5 percent.
With a median age of 20, mixed-race people were the youngest. Their numbers grew 3.1 percent to 6.6 million. Among so-called Millennials, counted as those born between 1982 and 2000, 44.5 percent did not identify as non-Hispanic white. But for those born after 2000, 49 percent did not identify as such.
