Minorities Now A Majority Of US Births, Says Census

The US Census reports that there are now more minority babies born in the United States than white babies. It is the first time in US history that more than 50% babies less than 1-year-0ld have been minorities.

According to the CS Monitor, the US Census Bureau estimates 50.4% of the nation’s babies were minorities in 2011. That number is up slightly from the 2010 data, which had the percentage pegged at 49.5%.

Roderick Harrison, a former chief of racial statistics at the Census Bureau, told the Associated Press:

“This is an important landmark. This generation is growing up much more accustomed to diversity than its elders.”

The population under 5-years-old is also heading toward a “majority-minority.” The US Census reports that 49.7% of children in 2011 were minorities.

Kenneth Johnson, a senior demographer at the University of New Hampshire’s Carsey Institute, said:

“It really is an interesting time. We knew this was coming, but it’s just one more symbol of how America is changing.”

The US Census also reports that there are about 114 million minorities in the United States, which makes up for about 36.6% of the population. Hispanics are the largest minority group and make up about 16.7% of the country. Blacks make up about 12.3% of the population and Asians make up 4.8% of the population.

The new report comes at a time when several states are enacting stricter immigration laws. The Supreme Court is currently debating the legality of some of the laws and the outcome could have a lasting affect on the landscape of America.

Harrison said:

“We remain in a dangerous period where those appealing to anti-immigration elements are fueling a divisiveness and hostility that might take decades to overcome.”

Are you surprised that the majority of US babies are minorities?