Striking findings from 2021
As 2021 draws to a close, here are some of Pew Research Center’s most striking research findings from the past year.
Racial & Ethnic Shifts
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Racial & Ethnic Shifts
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Most Americans say the declining share of White people in the U.S. is neither good nor bad for society
Majorities across demographic and political groups have neutral views about the changing racial makeup of the U.S. population.
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Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the U.S.
The Asian population in the U.S. grew 81% from 2000 to 2019, from roughly 10.5 million to a record 18.9 million people.
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Americans are more positive about the long-term rise in U.S. racial and ethnic diversity than in 2016
In 2019, 40% of Americans identified as a race and ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White. Their combined share is predicted to increase to over 50% by 2044.
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Gen Z eligible voters reflect the growing racial and ethnic diversity of U.S. electorate
The share of Gen Z voters who are Hispanic is significantly higher than the share among other groups of voters.
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Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the U.S. electorate
More than 11 million Asian Americans will be able to vote this year, making up nearly 5% of the eligible voters in the United States.
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In a rising number of U.S. counties, Hispanic and black Americans are the majority
In a growing number of U.S. counties, a majority of residents are Hispanic or black, reflecting the nation’s changing demographics.
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Reflecting a demographic shift, 109 U.S. counties have become majority nonwhite since 2000
Overall, 293 U.S. counties were majority nonwhite in 2018. Most of these are concentrated in California, the South and on the East Coast.
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Hispanic women no longer account for the majority of immigrant births in the U.S.
Much of the downturn in the share of immigrant births to Hispanics has been driven by a decline in births among Mexican-origin women.
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Americans See Advantages and Challenges in Country’s Growing Racial and Ethnic Diversity
Most value racial and ethnic diversity in the workplace, but few want employers to consider race or ethnicity in hiring and promotion decisions.
