United States: White population is shrinking, according to latest census
The United States, a more multiracial and urban country, according to the latest census.
Here, passers-by in New York City on April 27, 2021 (illustrative image).
Ed JONES AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
The results of the decennial census have just been published: they paint the image of an America more multiracial than ever.
For the first time, the white population is in decline.
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With our correspondent in New York,
Loubna Anaki
It is the first time since the introduction of the census in the United States, in 1790, that the population which defines itself as “
white
” is in decline.
Today it represents 58%, against 64% ten years ago.
Among the rest of the population, the data shows an increase in minorities.
The number of Asians has increased by 35%, that of Hispanics by 23%.
The latter thus become the
majority population in California
.
In the United States, census results are always followed very closely because it is this data that determines the distribution of tens of billions of dollars of federal funds destined for states.
But above all, the data is used to redraw the electoral maps that will be used for the next ten years.
Political battle
It is the number of the population that determines the number of seats allocated to each state in the House of Representatives.
Donald Trump had also tried to add a question on nationality to the census to exclude undocumented migrants and foreigners from the count.
The census always gives rise to a political battle.
Republicans are regularly accused of wanting to draw the cards to ensure that their stronghold gets more seats in Congress, and by the way, more voters.
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United States
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