Households by Race and Hispanic Origin in 2015

Overall household growth was sluggish between 2014 and 2015, but that's because the number of non-Hispanic White households fell by more than 200,000—an 0.2 percent decline. In contrast, the number of households headed by Blacks (alone or in combination) grew 2.8 percent, as did the number headed by Asians (alone or in combination). Hispanic households increased just 0.9 percent. Here is the number (and percent distribution) of households in 2015 by race and Hispanic origin...

Households in 2015 by race and Hispanic origin
Total: 124,587,000 (100.0%)
Asian: 6,333,000 (5.1%)
Black: 17,198,000 (13.8%)
Hispanic: 16,239,000 (13.0%)
Non-Hispanic White: 84,228,000 (67.6%)

Note: Numbers do not add to total because Asians and Blacks are those who identify themselves as being of the race alone or in combination. Hispanics may be of any race.
Source: Census Bureau, Income and Poverty in the United States: 2014

Age at First Birth

The average age of American women giving birth for the first time climbed to 26.0 in 2013, up from 25.8 in 2012 and one full year older than the average age at first birth in 2007—the year births peaked in the United States. Age at first birth varies by race and Hispanic origin...

Average age at first birth
29.4 for Asians
26.8 for non-Hispanic Whites
26.7 for Hispanics of Cuban origin
23.9 for Blacks
23.9 for Hispanics of Puerto Rican origin
23.4 for Hispanics of Mexican origin
22.9 for American Indians

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Births: Final Data for 2013

Anemic Household Growth, 2013-14

The number of households in the United States increased by a tiny 0.4 percent between 2013 and 2014, according to the Census Bureau's latest estimates. In only 2 of the past 40 years have households grown more slowly (in 2008–09 and 2009–10). The 492,000 households added to the nation's total between 2013 and 2014 is the fourth smallest numerical gain in four decades of tracking the numbers (smaller gains were recorded in 1982–83, 2008–09, and 2009–10).

Also notable, the number of non-Hispanic White households fell slightly between 2013 and 2014. The decline marks only the 4th time in 40 years that the Census Bureau has estimated a drop in the number of non-Hispanic White households.

Nearly one-third of the nation's households are now headed by Blacks, Asians, or Hispanics. Black households outnumber Hispanic households by more than 1 million, and they grew faster than Hispanic households between 2013 and 2014 (a 1.8 percent gain for Blacks versus a 1.4 percent gain for Hispanics). Asian households are far less numerous than Black or Hispanic, but they grew by a faster 4.1 percent between 2013 and 2014.

Number (and percent distribution) of households by race and Hispanic origin, 2014
Total: 122,952,000 (100.0%)
Asian: 6,111,000 (5.0%)
Black: 16,855,000 (13.7%)
Hispanic: 15,811,000 (12.8%)
Non-Hispanic White: 83,641,000 (68.0%)

Source: Census Bureau, 2014 Current Population Survey

Population Growth, 2010 to 2013

The U.S. population grew by 6.8 million between 2010 and 2013. Here is the numerical gain during those three years by race and Hispanic origin...

Hispanics: 3,323,989
Asians: 1,633,868
Blacks: 1,659,412
Non-Hispanic whites: 445,578

Source: Census Bureau, National Characteristics: Vintage 2013

Countdown to the Minority Majority: 2013

The diversity of the American population continues to grow. As of July 1, 2013, only 62.6 percent of the nation's population was non-Hispanic white, down from 63.0 percent a year earlier and 63.8 percent in 2010. During the past 12 months, the non-Hispanic white population grew by a minuscule 0.07 percent. This compares with a 1.2 percent increase in the black (alone or in combination) population, a 2.1 percent increase in the Hispanic population, and a 2.9 percent increase in the Asian (alone or in combination) population.

One factor behind the shrinking non-Hispanic white share of the population is negative natural increase. Between 2012 and 2013, for the second year in a row, there were more deaths than births among non-Hispanic whites. Immigration alone prevented the number of non-Hispanic whites from declining. The non-Hispanic white share of the U.S. population will fall below 50 percent in 2043, according to Census Bureau projections.

Number (and percent distribution) of the population by race and Hispanic origin in 2013

Total: 316,128,839 (100.0%)

Asian: 19,437,463 (6.1%)

Black: 45,003,665 (14.2%)

Hispanic: 54,071,370 (17.1%)

Non-Hispanic white: 197,836,231 (62.6%)

Source: Census Bureau, National Characteristics: Vintage 2013

Multigenerational Households: 2012

Among the nation's 81 million family households in 2012, only 3.7 million (or 4.6 percent) were multigenerational—defined as three generations of relatives living in one home. Most multigenerational families (64 percent of the total) are householders who live with a child and grandchild.

Minorities account for the majority of multigenerational family households. Here is the distribution of multigenerational households by race (alone) and Hispanic origin...

Asian: 7%
Black: 21%
Hispanic: 26%
Non-Hispanic white: 44%

Among both blacks and Hispanics, 8 percent of families are multigenerational. Among Asians the figure is 6 percent, and among non-Hispanic whites 3 percent.

Source: Census Bureau, America's Families and Living Arrangements: 2012

Age at First Birth

On average, American women are 25.6 years old when they have their first baby, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. This is up from an average age of 21.4 in 1970.

A woman's age at first birth varies by race and Hispanic origin, ranging from a low of 22.4 for American Indian women to 29.1 for Asian women. Average age at first birth is 23.4 for black women, 23.7 for Hispanic women, and 26.5 for non-Hispanic white women.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Births: Final Data for 2011

2012 Births: Projected vs. Estimated

Americans had fewer babies in 2012 than the Census Bureau had projected. The bureau projected 4,209,571 births in 2012, but its population estimates through July 1, 2012 show only 3,953,593 babies were born during the previous 12 months. The estimate is short of the projection by a substantial 255,978.

The estimated number of births in every race-and-Hispanic-origin group was 5 to 7 percent less than projected. In both projections and estimates, however, births to Asians, blacks, and Hispanics accounted for just over 50 percent of the total.

Race and Hispanic Origin, 2012

The diversity of the American population is growing rapidly, as revealed by the Census Bureau's latest population estimates. As of July 1, 2012, only 63.0 percent of the nation's population was non-Hispanic white, down from 63.4 percent a year earlier. During those 12 months, the non-Hispanic white population grew by a minuscule 0.09 percent. This compares with a 1.3 percent increase in the black (alone or in combination) population, a 2.2 percent increase in the Hispanic population, and a 2.9 percent increase in the Asian (alone or in combination) population.

Behind the shrinking non-Hispanic white share of the population is negative natural increase. Between 2011 and 2012, for the first time, there were more deaths than births among non-Hispanic whites: 1,974,794 births and 1,987,213 deaths. Immigration was the only factor that prevented the number of non-Hispanic whites from declining. The Census Bureau projects that the number of non-Hispanic whites will begin to shrink in 2025.

Number (and percent distribution) of the population by race and Hispanic origin in 2012:
Total: 313,914,040 (100.0%)
Asian: 18,855,104 (6.0%)
Black: 44,456,009 (14.2%)
Hispanic: 53,027,708 (16.9%)
Non-Hispanic white: 197,705,655 (63.0%)

Source: Census Bureau, National Characteristics: Vintage 2012

The Declining Political Power of Older Whites

Among the 133 million Americans who reported voting in the 2012 presidential election, only 74 percent were non-Hispanic white. This figure is down from 81 percent in 2000 and 88 percent in 1992. What a difference a few decades make in the country's voter demographics. Here is the breakdown of 2012 voters by race (alone or in combination) and Hispanic origin...

Asian: 3.3%
Black: 14.0%
Hispanic: 8.4%
Non-Hispanic white: 73.7%

Add age to the calculation, and non-Hispanic whites aged 45 or older were only 48 percent of 2012 voters. This is well below their 54 percent share of voters in the 2010 congressional election.

Source: Census Bureau, Voting and Registration

Who Voted in 2012?

In the 2012 presidential election, blacks were more likely to vote than non-Hispanic whites. Fully 65.9 percent of blacks (race alone or in combination) voted in 2012 compared with a smaller 64.1 percent of non-Hispanic whites. The black voting rate hit an all-time high in 2012, while the non-Hispanic white rate was lower than in 2004 or 2008.

Fewer than half of Asian or Hispanic citizens went to the polls in 2012. The Asian voting rate was about the same in 2012 as in 2008, while the Hispanic rate was lower. Here are the 2012 voting rates for U.S. citizens aged 18 or older by race and Hispanic origin...

Total: 61.8%
Asian: 47.9%
Black: 65.9%
Hispanic: 48.0%
Non-Hispanic white: 64.1%

Source: Census Bureau, Voting and Registration

Movers by Race and Hispanic Origin

Non-Hispanic whites account for 63 percent of the U.S. population but only 54 percent of the nation's movers. Behind this relatively low figure is the fact that homeowners are less likely to move than renters, and non-Hispanic whites are more likely to own a home. Between 2010 and 2011, 36 million Americans moved and this is their distribution by race and Hispanic origin...

Asian: 6%
Black: 18%
Hispanic: 21%
Non-Hispanic white: 54%

Source: Census Bureau, Geographic Mobility: 2011 to 2012

Public School Minority Majority in 2016

Non-Hispanic whites will become a minority in the nation's public elementary and secondary schools in 2016, according to new school enrollment projections by the National Center for Education Statistics. In that year, non-Hispanic white children will be 49.6 percent of the 51 million students enrolled in public schools, down from the 51 percent majority today. Hispanics will account for 25.3 percent of students in 2016, blacks (alone) will be 15.6 percent of the total, Asians (alone) will be another 5.6 percent, students of two or more races 2.7 percent, and American Indians (alone) 1.2 percent.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Projections of Education Statistics to 2021

Slowing Growth Will Not Slow Diversity

The Census Bureau's new population projections forecast much slower growth than had been projected a few years ago. The U.S. population is projected to grow to 399.8 million rather than 439.0 million by 2050--a difference of 39 million people! But this slower growth does not mean the population will diversify any more slowly. Only 46.6 percent of Americans will be non-Hispanic white in 2050, according to the new projections, almost identical to the 46.3 percent forecast by the old projections.

Here are the Census Bureau's latest projections of the size (numerical and percent) of each race and Hispanic origin group in 2015 and 2050:

Asian (alone or in combination)
2015: 20 million (6.2%)
2050: 38 million (9.6%)

Black (alone or in combination)
2015: 46 million (14.4%)
2050: 70 million (17.4%)

Hispanic
2015: 57 million (17.8%)
2050: 112 million (27.9%)

Non-Hispanic white
2015: 198 million (61.8%)
2050: 186 million (46.6%)

Source: Census Bureau, 2012 National Population Projections

New Projections Show Much Slower Population Growth

A lot has happened since the last time the Census Bureau produced national population projections: a recession, a baby bust, a 2010 census that counted 3 million fewer non-Hispanic whites than expected, and two elections in which minorities flexed their political muscle with profound results. How do the Census Bureau's new projections capture these events and what will be their impact on the nation's future population? Let's take a look.

Much slower population growth. The Census Bureau's new projections show a population of just 399.8 million in 2050. This is much less than the 439.0 million projected for 2050 in the previous set of projections (produced in 2008).

Non-Hispanic white decline. The new projections show the number of non-Hispanic whites peaking in 2024 at just under 200 million and declining steadily after that. As a share of the population, however, non-Hispanic whites will remain above 50 percent until 2043. Non-Hispanic whites are already in decline among Americans under age 45. The non-Hispanic white share of the younger population will fall below 50 percent in 2027. Among the nation's children (under age 18), the non-Hispanic white share is projected to fall below 50 percent in 2018.

No baby bust in projections. The Census Bureau's forecast of slowing population growth may not be conservative enough. The projections assume the addition of well more than 4 million infants (under age 1) each year, including 4.2 million in 2012. Yet, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, the provisional number of births for the 12 months ending in June 2012 was just 3.9 million.

Source: Census Bureau, 2012 National Population Projections

Single-Person Households by Race and Hispanic Origin

Percentage of households headed by people who live alone, by race and Hispanic origin...

Total: 27%
Asian: 18%
Black: 33%
Hispanic: 17%
Non-Hispanic white: 29%

Source: Census Bureau, 2012 Current Population Survey

Minorities More Multigenerational

Multigenerational households have gotten a lot of press lately, thanks to their rise during the Great Recession. Despite the media attention, they are not all that common. In the 2009-2011 time period, only 4.3 million of the nation's 76 million family households were home to three or more generations--or 5.6 percent. The Census Bureau defines a multigenerational household as one that includes three or four generations (grandparents, parents, and children, and possibly great-grandparents). Not included are households in which parents live with adult children.

Probably the most interesting thing about multigenerational households is how their importance varies among Asians, blacks, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic whites. Take a look at the share of family households that are multigenerational by race and Hispanic origin:

Asian: 9.4%
Black: 9.5%
Hispanic: 10.3%
Non-Hispanic white: 3.7%

These numbers reflect both economic and cultural differences among race and Hispanic origin groups. The Census Bureau report examines the multigenerational share of households by state, and by race and Hispanic origin within states. Among Hispanics, for example, the multigenerational share of family households ranges from a low of 2.3 percent in North Dakota to a high of 12.7 percent in California.

Source: Census Bureau, Multigenerational Households: 2009-2011

Birth Control Is a Big Deal

Nearly every American woman at risk of becoming pregnant is currently using birth control. According to the latest data from the National Center for Health Statistics, 89 percent of women aged 15 to 44 who are at risk of becoming pregnant (meaning they are sexually active and not pregnant) are using birth control. There is almost no variation in birth control use by demographic characteristic.

Percent who use birth control by religion
No religion: 86.9%
Catholic: 88.7%
Baptist/fundamentalist Protestant: 89.9%
Other Protestant: 90.2%

Percent who use birth control by education
Not a high school graduate: 88.3%
High school graduate only: 90.2%
Some college, no degree: 91.5%
Bachelor's degree or more: 89.6%

Percent who use birth control by race/Hispanic origin
Asian: 89.7%
Black: 82.8%
Hispanic, born in US: 89.5%
Hispanic, foreign born: 89.7%
Non-Hispanic white: 90.5%

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Current Contraceptive Use in the United States, 2006-2010, and Changes in Patterns of Use Since 1995

Rich or Poor, Asian Kids Go to College

It is a well known fact that low-income families in the United States are less likely than the affluent to send their children to college. Unless they're Asian, that is.

Asian families with children aged 5 to 24 are equally likely to have a child in college regardless of family income. Among Asian families with incomes below $20,000, 27 percent have a child in college. Among Asian families with incomes of $75,000 or more, an identical 27 percent have a child in college. In contrast, among low-income non-Hispanic white families, only 9 percent have a child in college versus a much larger 22 percent of the affluent families. The figures are about the same for black families (10 versus 21 percent) and Hispanic families (9 versus 22 percent). 

Source: Census Bureau, School Enrollment

Lifetime Births

The average woman in the United States will have 1.93 children in her lifetime, an estimate based on fertility rates by age in 2010. Lifetime births vary by race and Hispanic origin...

Asian women: 1.69
Non-Hispanic white women: 1.79
Non-Hispanic black women: 1.97
Hispanic women: 2.35

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Births: Final Data for 2010