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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Minorities set to be US majority | Minorities set to be US majority |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| White people of European descent will no longer make up a majority of the US population by the year 2042 - eight years sooner than previous estimates. | White people of European descent will no longer make up a majority of the US population by the year 2042 - eight years sooner than previous estimates. |
| The big change is among Hispanics and Asians whose share of the population is set to double to 30% and 9%. | The big change is among Hispanics and Asians whose share of the population is set to double to 30% and 9%. |
| The population is also ageing: by 2050 one in five residents will be aged 65 or over, up from one in nine today. | The population is also ageing: by 2050 one in five residents will be aged 65 or over, up from one in nine today. |
| The US Census Bureau's latest projections are based on birth, death and current immigration rates. | The US Census Bureau's latest projections are based on birth, death and current immigration rates. |
| The projections show that the US population is expected to rise from 305 million people to 439 million by 2050, but it will be a population that looks quite different both in age, race and ethnicity. | The projections show that the US population is expected to rise from 305 million people to 439 million by 2050, but it will be a population that looks quite different both in age, race and ethnicity. |
| According to the census bureau's statistics, people who regard themselves as Hispanic, African-American, Asian, American Indian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander will become the majority by 2042. | |
| Officials had previously projected that this change would happen in 2050. | Officials had previously projected that this change would happen in 2050. |
| The new projections suggestion that by 2050, minorities will account for 54% of the population and non-Hispanic whites 46%, down from their current 64.7% share. | The new projections suggestion that by 2050, minorities will account for 54% of the population and non-Hispanic whites 46%, down from their current 64.7% share. |
| Immigration and higher birth rates among US minorities, especially Hispanics, are accelerating the demographic changes. | Immigration and higher birth rates among US minorities, especially Hispanics, are accelerating the demographic changes. |
| Hispanics will see their population nearly triple from 47 million to 133 million, causing their share of the population to increase from 15% to 30%. | Hispanics will see their population nearly triple from 47 million to 133 million, causing their share of the population to increase from 15% to 30%. |
| Asians will also see a big increase, with their numbers growing from 16 million to 41 million. | Asians will also see a big increase, with their numbers growing from 16 million to 41 million. |
| Single-race Asians will account for 8% of the population and 9% including those of mixed race. | Single-race Asians will account for 8% of the population and 9% including those of mixed race. |
| The black population, including those of mixed race, will show a slight increase from 14% to 15% of the total. | |
| 'Ageing baby boomers' | 'Ageing baby boomers' |
| It is likely that the demographic changes will be experienced right across the country - and no longer confined to urban areas as in the past. | It is likely that the demographic changes will be experienced right across the country - and no longer confined to urban areas as in the past. |
| The population will also be ageing, with some 88 million people, predominantly white, being aged 65 and over. | The population will also be ageing, with some 88 million people, predominantly white, being aged 65 and over. |
| The number of people over 85 years old will more than triple in the next 40 years, reaching 19 million. | The number of people over 85 years old will more than triple in the next 40 years, reaching 19 million. |
| "The white population is older and very much centred around the ageing baby boomers who are well past their high fertility years," William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution think tank, told the Associated Press. | "The white population is older and very much centred around the ageing baby boomers who are well past their high fertility years," William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution think tank, told the Associated Press. |
| "The future of America is epitomised by the young people today. They are basically the melting pot we are going to see in the future." | "The future of America is epitomised by the young people today. They are basically the melting pot we are going to see in the future." |
| The Census Bureau points out that its projections are subject to big revisions, depending on immigration policy, natural or man-made disasters. | The Census Bureau points out that its projections are subject to big revisions, depending on immigration policy, natural or man-made disasters. |
| The projections are also subject to changing cultural definitions and the way people see themselves. | The projections are also subject to changing cultural definitions and the way people see themselves. |
| The New York Times notes that in earlier eras Irish, Italian and Eastern European Jewish immigrants were not universally considered as whites. | |
| Until the 1960s, Hispanics were not counted separately by the census and Asian Indians were classified as whites, the paper reports. | Until the 1960s, Hispanics were not counted separately by the census and Asian Indians were classified as whites, the paper reports. |
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| The changing face of the United States | The changing face of the United States |