Non-Hispanic Whites Are Now a Minority in the New York Area

The recently released results of the US 2010 Census highlighted the growth nationally of the Hispanic and Asian populations.

More than half of the growth in the total U.S. population between 2000 and 2010 was because of the increase in the Hispanic population. Between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population grew by 43 percent, rising from 35.3 million in 2000 to 50.5 million in 2010. The rise in the Hispanic population accounted for more than half of the 27.3 million increase in the total U.S. population. By 2010, Hispanics comprised 16 percent of the total U.S. population of 308.7 million.

The non-Hispanic population grew relatively slower over the decade at about 5 percent. Within the non-Hispanic population, the number of people who reported their race as white alone grew even slower (1 percent). While the non-Hispanic white alone population increased numerically from 194.6 million to 196.8 million over the 10-year period, its proportion of the total population declined from 69 percent to 64 percent.

The 23 county area around New York City became the first region outside of the West or South to transition to a situation where non-Hispanic whites have become the minority.

In 2000, the census found that non-Hispanic whites made up 54.3 percent of the area’s population. By 2010, their share had declined to 49.6 percent.

In every county except Manhattan and Brooklyn, the population of non-Hispanic whites decreased.

The black population decreased in every borough except Staten Island and in the counties closest to the city, and increased slightly in the suburbs. The number of Asian residents increased in every county in the metropolitan area, while the Hispanic population rose in every county except Manhattan.