Race/ethnicity: Advancing racial equity is a moral and economic imperative.

Insights & Analyses

  • The proportion of people of color in the United States has increased steadily over recent decades, particularly in states with large Latinx populations like California and New Mexico.
  • The Latinx population has grown the most dramatically, from 6 percent in 1980 to 19 percent in 2020. Latinx people are projected to make up 27 percent of the US population by 2060.
  • The South continues to have the highest proportion of Black residents while Western and Southwestern states have the highest proportions of Latinx residents.

Drivers of Demographic Shifts

The United States' proportion of people of color has grown dramatically in the 21st century as population growth is increasingly driven by people of color and immigrants. African American and US-born people of color populations are now growing more rapidly than White populations. Additionally, immigration is projected to be the primary contributor to population growth by 2030. While most U.S. immigrants were born in Europe during the 20th century, this generation of immigrants are predominantly born in the Americas and Asia.

Strategies

Grow an equitable economy: Policies to leverage diversity as an asset

Strategy in Action

CASA de Maryland helps green-card holders become citizens. More than 210,000 green-card holders live in Maryland and the greater District of Columbia area. Since 2011, CASA de Maryland has partnered with multiple financial and nonprofit institutions to boost naturalization rates among the region’s green-card holders. Every year, CASA helps more than 1,200 people from over 50 countries of origin apply for citizenship and 95 percent of them become citizens. CASA provides a full variety of services that lawful permanent residents need to have a successful application, from in-house immigration attorneys to citizenship classes, financial education, mentoring, and translation services. With the current federal administration now threatening to prevent immigrants who might require public assistance from obtaining green cards, CASA is leading advocacy efforts to prevent implementation of this new rule. Learn more.

Photo: CASA de Maryland 

Related Indicators