Census numbers show 2.6% decline in white population
The U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday that the American population grew much more diverse over the past decade, with large increases in the populations of people who identify as Hispanic, Asian and more than one race.
The non-hispanic white population declined by 2.6% since 2010, the bureau reported. The African American population grew 5.6% since 2010. The Asian population grew by 35%. The Hispanic population rose by 23%. People who reported being more than one race spiked, an unexpected surge that will draw considerable focus from demographers.
People who identified as non-hispanic white made up 69% of the population in 2000. On Thursday, the Census Bureau reported that share stands at 58%.
Across the country, 36% of adults are non-white, up from 25% a decade ago. Children are now 47% non-white, up from 35% in 2010.
The Census Bureau also reported details on the overall slowing of population growth across the country over the past decade. In all, 52% of all counties lost population, according to the new data, the first detailed information on race, ethnicity and population at the local level from the 2020 census.
Population growth was most pronounced in larger counties; small counties as a group lost population.
But there was growth, too. The top five largest cities in the country are now New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Phoenix. Philadelphia is now the sixth largest city, bumped from fifth by Phoenix, which was the fastest growing of the top 20 largest cities. Its population rose by 9.4%.
The Villages, a retirement community in Florida, is the fastest growing metro area in the country. Mckenzie County, North Dakota, was the fastest growing county over the past decade, growing by more than 100%.
Overall, the nation’s population growth slowed over the past decade — up by just 7.4% compared to the previous decade, the slowest rate in nearly a century.