What is the largest racial group in the US?

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White Americans are the largest racial group in the United States, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts.

Overview of U.S. Racial Groups

  • White Americans: Make up the largest racial group at roughly 60% to 72% of the population depending on whether Hispanic identifiers are included. Non-Hispanic white alone residents represent about 57.8% of the total.
  • Black or African American: Constitute the second-largest specific racial group, representing about 12.4% to 13.5% of the population.
  • Asian Americans: Make up roughly 6% to 6.9% of the country.
  • Hispanic or Latino: Classified by the government as an ethnicity rather than a race, this group forms the nation's largest minority population at roughly 18.7% to 20.5% of residents.

What is the racial breakdown of the U.S. states?

The racial and ethnic breakdown of U.S. states varies significantly by region, with non-Hispanic White Americans forming the majority in most states, while other groups predominate or peak in specific areas according to the U.S. Census Bureau data.

National Overview

At the national level, the population breaks down into approximately 57.8% non-Hispanic White, 18.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Black or African American, 5.9% Asian, and 4.1% multiracial (two or more races).

State Extremes by Group

  • Highest Non-Hispanic White Percentage: Maine (~90%), Vermont (~90%), and West Virginia (~89%).
  • Highest Hispanic/Latino Percentage: New Mexico (~41%), Texas (~41%), and California (~40%).
  • Highest Black/African American Percentage: Mississippi (~36–38%) and Louisiana (~30–33%) (along with the federal district of Washington, D.C. at over 41%).
  • Highest Asian Percentage: Hawaii (~37%) and California (~15%).
  • Highest American Indian and Alaska Native Percentage: Alaska (~14%) and New Mexico (~10%).

Exceptions to White Majorities

Non-Hispanic White residents are the largest group in 44 out of the 50 states. The exceptions where another group or plurality leads are:

  • Hawaii: Asian Americans form the largest group.
  • California, New Mexico, and Texas: Hispanic or Latino residents form the largest group.
  • (Note: Washington, D.C. has a plurality of Black or African American residents).

You can view complete, state-by-state data tables through the List of U.S. states and territories by race and ethnicity on Wikipedia or explore interactive numbers via World Population Review's State Race Data.

What is the fastest declining race?

In the United States, official demographic and census data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that the non-Hispanic White population is the primary major racial and ethnic group experiencing an overall numerical and proportional decline.

Key Demographic Trends

  • Shrinking Population: According to census data, the single-race non-Hispanic White population has decreased over recent tracking periods (such as the 2020 decennial census). Annual estimates continue to show flat or negative natural growth for this group compared to growing Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial populations.
  • Aging Age Structure: The primary driver of the decline in the White population is its older median age relative to other racial and ethnic groups. An older demographic structure results in a higher number of deaths relative to births (a negative natural increase).
  • Broader Context: While racial categories tracked by governments fluctuate due to changing self-identification and rising rates of multiracial reporting, demographic shifts in Western countries (like the U.S., Canada, and parts of Europe) consistently point to an aging majority population and lower fertility rates as the core factors behind this decline.

What is the #1 race in America?

White Americans are the largest racial group in the United States, making up approximately 60% to 61.6% of the total population.

U.S. Racial Demographics Breakdown

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Demographics of the United States - Wikipedia, the major racial and ethnic groups rank as follows:

  • White: ~61.6% of the population
  • Black or African American: ~12.4%
  • Two or More Races (Multiracial): ~10.2%
  • Asian: ~6.0%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native: ~1.1%
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: ~0.2%

(Note: The U.S. Census classifies Hispanic or Latino as an ethnicity rather than a race. Hispanic or Latino individuals can belong to any race and make up about 18.7% to 20.5% of the total U.S. population, forming the nation's largest ethnic minority.)

What is the racial breakdown of Americans?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, the racial and ethnic breakdown of the United States population reflects a diverse multicultural landscape.

U.S. Population Breakdown

  • White: 72.3% (Non-Hispanic White alone is approximately 57.8%–61.6% depending on specific census parameters)
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 20.5%
  • Black or African American: 13.5%
  • Asian: 6.9%
  • Two or More Races / Multiracial: ~10.2%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native: ~1.1%
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: ~0.2%

Understanding Census Categories

  • Race vs. Ethnicity: The U.S. Census Bureau separates race and ethnicity. Hispanic or Latino origin is classified as an ethnicity, meaning individuals of Hispanic origin can be of any race.
  • Alone or in Combination: The Census allows people to choose more than one racial category, which causes some overlapping percentages when combining "single race" and "multiracial" data.

The Origin of Race in the USA

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What is the whitest state in the USA?

Maine is the whitest state in the United States, with roughly 90% to 94% of its population identifying as white depending on the specific Census metric used.

Top Whitest States

According to World Population Review and U.S. Census Bureau data, the states with the highest percentages of white residents include:

  • Maine (~90%–94%)
  • Vermont (~89%–95%)
  • West Virginia (~90%–95%)
  • New Hampshire (~87%–92%)
  • Wyoming (~84%–91%)

Understanding the Data

  • Non-Hispanic White vs. Total White: Rankings can shift slightly based on whether the data counts only Non-Hispanic white individuals or includes white individuals who also identify as Hispanic or mixed race.
  • Classification Discussions: On platforms like Reddit, user opinions are mixed regarding how demographic maps handle race and ethnicity, as official Census definitions include people of European, Middle Eastern, and North African descent, and classify Hispanic origin as a separate ethnicity.

Is America 70% White?

No, the United States is not 70% white if you count non-Hispanic white people alone, but it can be close to or above 70% depending on how the U.S. Census Bureau counts multiracial or Hispanic individuals.

Population Breakdown

  • Non-Hispanic White Alone: About 57% to 57.8% of the country identifies as white alone without a Hispanic or Latino background.
  • White Alone (Including Hispanic): About 61.6% of Americans identify as white alone, which includes people who are white and also identify as Hispanic or Latino.
  • White Alone or in Combination: Roughly 71% to 72.3% of people identify as white either by itself or mixed with another race or ethnicity.

Has the USA ever been 90% white?

Yes, the United States was approximately 90% white around 1950.

Historical Context and Statistics

  • Mid-20th Century Peak: According to U.S. demographic data and studies on population change cited by outlets like The Chicago Reporter, the non-Hispanic white population share in the U.S. was nearly 90% in 1950.
  • Definition Changes: Past census definitions categorized the population differently, and historical tracking primarily emphasized the white majority compared to smaller recorded minority populations.

Demographic Shifts

  • Decline Over Time: The percentage of the white population has steadily decreased over the subsequent decades, dropping to around 60% by the late 2010s.
  • Current Numbers: Recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that individuals identifying as white alone make up roughly 59.8% to 61.6% of the population, with non-Hispanic whites accounting for about 56% to 57%.

What percent of US will be white in 2050?

Non-Hispanic white Americans are projected to make up roughly 45% to 47% of the U.S. population by 2050, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Brookings Institution.

Projected Demographics for 2050

  • Non-Hispanic White: ~45% - 47%
  • Hispanic / Latino: ~24% - 29%
  • Black / African American: ~13% - 14%
  • Asian: ~8% - 9%
  • Multiracial and Other: ~4% or higher

Key Trends

  • Majority-Minority Shift: The U.S. is projected to reach "majority-minority" status around 2045, meaning single-race non-Hispanic whites will account for less than 50% of the total population.
  • Growth Drivers: Immigration and higher growth rates among Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial populations are the primary drivers of this demographic change.

Why is the white population declining in the US?

The white population in the United States is declining and aging primarily due to an older age structure that results in more deaths than births, lower fertility rates, and changing ways people report their racial identity on the census.

Key Factors Causing the Decline

  • Aging Population: The white population has a much older median age compared to other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S.
  • Deaths Outnumbering Births: Because of this older age structure, the white population experiences a "natural decrease," meaning there are more deaths than births within the demographic group.
  • Lower Fertility Rates: White women have lower average lifetime birth rates compared to younger, growing minority populations like Hispanics and Latinos.
  • Shifting Census Identification: A massive increase in people identifying as multiracial (two or more races) on official census forms has shifted individuals who may have previously selected solely white into multi-ethnic categories.
  • Changes in Immigration: Unlike past decades, overall population growth from immigration is driven primarily by non-white groups, as traditional immigration from Europe has slowed significantly.