Statistics 101: Race and Ethnicity

In America, Diversity is Proliferating

America is rapidly becoming a nation of many colors. In fact, America is more diverse now than an at any other time in our nation’s history. This is important infomration for the simple reason that changes in the racial and ethnic composition of the population have important consequences for the nation’s health because many measures of disease and disability differ significantly by race and ethnicity.

So here’s the scoop.

In recent decades, the percentage of the population that is of Hispanic or Asian origin has more than doubled. Indeed, in 2005, nearly 30% of adults and almost 40% of children identified themselves as Hispanic, Black, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.

Again, as we look a bit more closely, what is particularly interesting to note is the percentage of persons reporting two or more races. And, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the number of American adults identifying themselves or their children as multi-racial is only expected to increase in the future.

For more information, be sure to check out: Health In the United States, 2006, available from the U.S. Department if Health and Human Services.