Hispanics remain the largest ethnic group in the nation with their numbers approaching 46 million, or more than 15 percent of the population, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures released yesterday. Blacks total close to 41 million and Asians more than 15 million.

Hispanics are also the fastest growing minority group, increasing by more than 3 percent a year. The rise is attributed more to rising birthrates than immigration, according to the findings. They also comprise a quarter of all children under age 5.

Asians were the second-fastest-growing ethnic group, increasing by just under 3 percent; the black population grew by just more than 1 percent and the white population by 0.3 percent.

"If current trends continue, our projections indicate that 29 percent of the nation's population will be Hispanic by 2050," said D'Vera Cohn, and analyst with the Pew Hispanic Center. "Hispanics will have an important impact on the country's future because they will account for most U.S. population growth in coming years."

Whites will fall in the minority, comprising 47 percent according to the research group's projections, which also say the U.S. population will grow to 438 million in the next four decades. About 82 percent of that growth will be attributed to immigrants and their American-born descendants.

The Hispanic dynamic is active in American culture and has been for about two decades, according to Gisela Girard, vice-chair of the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies and president of Creative Civilization, a San Antonio-based marketing and advertising group.

"These new numbers also reflect more geographical diversification. We're seeing more Hispanics in place like Arkansas, North Carolina and Washington state," she said. "Latino trends have already crossed into music and cuisine, and were beginning to see a real cross over in media — print, broadcast and online."

The census numbers also named four states and the District of Columbia as "majority minority," meaning that more than half the population were nonwhites. Hawaii is the most diverse, with 75 percent of its population classified as minority, followed by the District (68 percent minority), New Mexico (58 percent), California (57 percent) and Texas (52 percent).

While whites still represent about 66 percent of the U.S. population, they are also older, with a median age of about 41 — compared to 27 for Hispanics, 31 for blacks and 35 for Asians.

The bureau also released other findings of note about age in America yesterday. It found that 13 percent of the total U.S. population — almost 38 million — is older than 16. Two percent of the population — 5.5. million — are over 85. Working age adults (18 to 64) totaled 190 million, or 63 percent of the population.

At the other end of the scale, there are close to 21 million children under five and 36 million from 5-13 years.

ETHNIC AMERICA

The U.S. Census Bureau released the latest ethnic breakdown of the U.S. population, revealing that minorities make up 34 percent of the total number, with Hispanics being the largest ethnic group. The total population of 301.6 million is composed of:

199.1 million whites

45.5 million Hispanics

40.7 million blacks*

15.2 million Asians

4.5 million American Indians and Alaska Natives

1 million Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders

* Number includes multiracial people

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

The Washington Times