Whites are still the majority, but their share of the U.S. population continues to shrink, according to the Census Bureau.
The American population grew by 12.1 million between 2010 and 2015 and whites accounted for just 5 percent of the gain, reported Cheryl Russell, demographer and author of the Demo Memo web site.
The other 95 percent, of course, was made up of the nation’s minorities. The minority share of the U.S. population in 2015 was 38.4 percent, up from 36.2 percent just five years before.
Population estimates by race and origin and the change since 2010:
Total population: 321.4 million – up 12.1 million.
Non-Hispanic Whites: 198.0 million – up 583,195.
Hispanics: 56.6 million – up 5.8 million.
Blacks: 46.3 million – up 3.1 million.
Asians: 21.0 million, up 3.3 million.
A variety of factors are likely at work here, including immigration, birth rates and health.
Many commentators have argued that the recent Brexit vote was motivated by a sense of whites dominished dominance in England. Closer to home, some analysts have linked this year's political insurrections to a sense of insecurity among white voters.
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