U.S. minority population tops 100 million
Hispanics largest and fastest-growing ethnic group, Census Bureau
reports
Updated: 9:47 a.m. ET May 17, 2007
ATLANTA - The number of people in the United States from ethnic or
racial minorities has risen to more than 100 million, or around one
third of the population, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report
released Thursday.
The minorities figure stood at 100.7 million, up from 98.3 million a
year earlier. Within that, the Hispanic population was the fastest
growing at a rate of 3.4 percent between July 2005 and July 2006.
Hispanics were also the largest minority group, accounting for 44.3
million people on July 1, 2006, or 14.8 percent of the overall U.S.
population which, according to census data released in October 2006,
stood at more than 300 million.
The United States prides itself as a country built on successive waves
of immigration, with the Statue of Liberty in New York a powerful
symbol of the welcome to immigrants. But the country remains divided
over the subject.
President Bush supports a comprehensive approach to immigration reform
but an attempt to pass legislation failed last year.
Struggle over legislation
Members of a bipartisan group of senators are pushing to reach
agreement on immigration reform that would offer some illegal
immigrants a chance to become citizens.
Lawmakers have been struggling to come up with a formula providing
tougher border and workplace enforcement while addressing the status
of some 11 million illegal immigrants who live and work in the
shadows.
"About one in three U.S. residents is a minority," said Census Bureau
Director Louis Kincannon.
"There are more minorities in this country today than there were
people in the United States in 1910. In fact, the minority population
in the U.S. is larger than the total population of all but 11
countries."
The black population grew 1.3 percent, to 40.2 million, from July 2005
to 2006, the census said, while the number of native Hawaiians and
members of other Pacific islander groups reached 1 million.
Asians were the second fastest-growing minority group at a rate of 3.2
percent, with their numbers standing at 14.9 million.
The population of non-Hispanic whites who indicated no other race grew
0.3 percent during the one-year period.
New York state had the largest black population with 3.5 million
people, followed by Florida at 3 million and Texas at 2.9 million. The
median age of African Americans was 30.1 years, lower than the 36.4
for the whole population.
Four states and the District of Columbia now have more minorities than
members of the majority white population.
Hawaii has a population that was 75 percent minority in 2006. The
District of Columbia stood at
68 percent, with New Mexico at 57 percent, California at 57 percent
and Texas at 52.
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