Non-Hispanic whites (i.e. predominantly of European descent) still make up the majority of the US population. However, migration movements and different birth rates mean that this will change in 20 to 25 years. This makes it clear that European countries are not the only ones experiencing significant ethnic changes.
A recently published study of US population composition suggests that so-called “Generation Z” (those born between 1997 and 2012) will be the last generation that is predominantly non-Hispanic white. Things are already looking different in the coming generations and it probably won’t change in the near future. As a result, according to an examination of the numbers and statistics, around the year 2045, the US population will probably no longer be a white majority.
“This era is not racially neutral,” said William Frey, author of the new study from the Brookings Institute, according to the British Guardian. “White Americans contributed significantly to the population growth of the elderly, compared to the young and middle-aged population, which showed a decline in the number of white people.” In his analysis, Frey said, “These patterns have resulted in an ‘ethnic-generational divide’ in which younger populations – which have been more affected by immigration in recent decades – are far more diverse than older age groups.” concluded that there is a cultural gap between generations in the country which affects various aspects of society and politics.
However, one sociologist points out that in the future people will no longer be classified according to their ethnic origin, but instead have their own “identity”. Which begs the question of how people “identify” then. Like “whites”, “hispanics”, “blacks” or cats, fridges and whatever…
