Figure A-1. U.S. population 18–24 years old,
by race/ethnicity: July 1990–99 and projections to 2050
by race/ethnicity: July 1990–99 and projections to 2050
NOTE: Hispanics may be of any race. Data for American Indians/Alaskan Natives are not shown but can be found in table A-2.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey, annual series; and U.S. Bureau of the Census, Projections of the Total Resident Population by 5-Year Age Groups, and Sex With Special Age Categories: Middle Series, 1999 to 2100, NP-T3, http://www.census.gov/population/www/projections/natsum-T3.html.
The proportion of the U.S. population that is minority will continue to rise in the first half of the 21st century.
- According to the latest population projections, minorities (Asians/Pacific Islanders, blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians/Alaskan Natives) are expected to be more than half (52 percent) of the resident college-age (18–24 years old) population of the United States by 2050, up from 34 percent in 1999.
- By 2050, whites would constitute 48 percent of the U.S. population 18–24 years old, down from 66 percent in 1999.
- The greatest growth among minority groups is projected for Hispanics and Asians/Pacific Islanders, reflecting immigration trends.
- Relatively little growth is projected for college-age blacks and American Indians/Alaskan Natives; these populations would remain 14 and 0.9 percent, respectively, of all U.S. 18–24-year-olds in 2050.
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This figure will be updated as new data become available. This figure was last updated May 2004.