Diverse Complexities

It is often repeated that “the United States is becoming more diverse,” a phrase that usually refers only to ethnic diversity and not to economic and religious diversity (which are also increasing and merit attention). From a developmental perspective, two other diversities are also important — age and region, as shown below. What are the implications for schools, colleges, employment, health care, and nursing homes in the notable differences in the ages of people of various groups? And are attitudes about immigration, or segregation, or multiracial identity affected by the ethnicity of one’s neighbors?

The changing ethnic and racial makeup of the United States

The presence of Whites in the United States trends from nearly 5,000,000 people belonging to the age group 85 plus. The curve rises to approximately 18,000,000 for the age group 50 to 54 and then shows a gradual decline to approximately 15,000,000 for the age group under 5.

American Indian or Alaska Natives in the United States is below 500,000 of the population for all age groups.

The presence of Hispanic or Latino in the United States trends below 100,000 of the people belonging to the age group 85 plus. The curve shows a gradual increase to approximately 5,000,000 for the age group under 5.

The presence of Black or African Americans in the United States trends around 500,000 of the people belonging to the age group 85 plus. The curve shows a gradual rise to approximately 3,000,000 until the age group 50 to 54 years, then fluctuates around 3,000,000 for the rest of the age groups.

The presence of American Indian or Alaska Native in the United States trends from nearly 1,000,000 of the people belonging to the age group 85 plus. The curve moves almost in a horizontal manner along the horizontal axis, and terminates slightly above 1,000,000.

The presence of Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders in the United States trends below 100,000 for all age groups.

The presence of Asians in the United States trends below 100,000 of the people belonging to the age group 85 plus. The curve slightly increases and fluctuates below 1,000,000 till the age group under 5.

The presence of Two or more races in the United States trends close to 500,000 for all age groups.

Data from U.S. Census Bureau, June, 2019; Pew Research Center, September 18, 2017.

Regional differences in ethnicity across the United States

In the United States, there are both regional and age differences in ethnicity. This map shows which counties have an ethnic population greater than the national average. Counties where more than one ethnicity or race is greater than the national average are shown as multiethnic. Areas for which data are unavailable are left unshaded.

As per the map, the concentration of the Whites is most in the Northeast and Midwest; Hispanic or Latinx in Texas and neighboring regions; Black or African American in Southeast; American Indian or Alaska Native in the North Central, the eastern parts of the Northwest and Southwest, and Alaska; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander in small areas of the Southwest and Northwest; Asian in small areas of the Northeast and Midwest; and Multiethnic in the Northwest, Southwest, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Data from U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, June 2010.