The number of people identifying as "White" in the United States has decreased for the first time, according to the latest census conducted in 2020, which revealed that the country has become "more racially diverse" with an increase in its urban population compared to a decade ago. The U.S. Census Bureau stated that "White residents remain the largest racial or ethnic group in the United States." The population identifying as "White" declined by 8.6 percent between 2010 and 2020, marking a first since record-keeping began in 1790. The White population stood at 204 million last year, representing 61.6 percent of the population, compared to 72.4 percent a decade ago. A Census Bureau official, Nicholas Jones, noted that "these changes reveal that racial diversity among the American population is much greater" than in the past. He added that "improvements" in census forms and a new methodology, different from that used in 2010, significantly impacted the results along with "some demographic changes."
There was a significant increase in the category of "Whites who are associated with other groups," such as African Americans or Asians, which rose by 316 percent over the decade, amounting to 235 million. It is very common in the United States for individuals to identify themselves by their racial backgrounds. The census form includes a specific question about racial affiliation. Currently, African Americans make up 12.4 percent of the population (41 million), a figure that has remained stable for a decade, whereas the Asian population rose by 35.5 percent to about 20 million (6 percent of the population). Native Americans constitute 1.1 percent of the population. The Latino population increased by 23 percent to 62 million, making up 18 percent of the population. Another Census Bureau official stated that the data also show that population growth is "almost exclusively concentrated in urban areas."
The decennial census is crucial for determining the electoral districting of the fifty U.S. states and allocating tens of billions of dollars in federal funds, especially for schools and hospitals. Its impact on politics can be decisive, as it specifically helps determine the number of seats in the House of Representatives allocated to each state. The census includes everyone in a given area, including the homeless, residents of nursing homes, and unregistered migrant workers. The COVID-19 pandemic and the controversial administration of former President Donald Trump significantly affected this massive undertaking.
