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White Americans to be minority by 2042
White Americans will be a minority in their country before the middle of the century, according to US government projections.
Last Updated: 11:29AM BST 14 Aug 2008
Higher birth rates among minority residents, especially Hispanics, is accelerating the demographic changes brought by immigration and will lead to an end of the US' white majority around 2042.
"The white population is older and very much centered around the aging baby boomers who are well past their high fertility years," said William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank. "The future of America is epitomized by the young people today. They are basically the melting pot we are going to see in the future."
The Census Bureau released projections through 2050, based on rates for births, deaths and immigration.
The US' 305 million population is expected to grow to 400 million in 2039 and 439 million in 2050.
White non-Hispanics make up about two-thirds of the population, but only 55 percent of those younger than 5.
By 2050, whites will make up 46 percent of the population and blacks will make up 15 percent, a relatively small increase from today. Hispanic will account for 30 percent in 2050, double their current share.
Asians, which make up about 5 percent of the population, are projected to increase to 9 percent by 2050.
The population 85 and older is projected to more than triple by 2050, to 19 million.
White Americans will be a minority in their country before the middle of the century, according to US government projections.
Last Updated: 11:29AM BST 14 Aug 2008
Higher birth rates among minority residents, especially Hispanics, is accelerating the demographic changes brought by immigration and will lead to an end of the US' white majority around 2042.
"The white population is older and very much centered around the aging baby boomers who are well past their high fertility years," said William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank. "The future of America is epitomized by the young people today. They are basically the melting pot we are going to see in the future."
The Census Bureau released projections through 2050, based on rates for births, deaths and immigration.
The US' 305 million population is expected to grow to 400 million in 2039 and 439 million in 2050.
White non-Hispanics make up about two-thirds of the population, but only 55 percent of those younger than 5.
By 2050, whites will make up 46 percent of the population and blacks will make up 15 percent, a relatively small increase from today. Hispanic will account for 30 percent in 2050, double their current share.
Asians, which make up about 5 percent of the population, are projected to increase to 9 percent by 2050.
The population 85 and older is projected to more than triple by 2050, to 19 million.
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