Rapid Change in the U.S.
Published in Aftenposten
(Norway) on 27 April 2009
by Geir Lundestad (link to original)
(Norway) on 27 April 2009
by Geir Lundestad (link to original)
Translated from
by Agnieszka Alot.
Edited by Christie Chu.
America is becoming less dominated by white people. In 2042 white people will probably be in the racial minority. Obama’s election is a sign of new times for the USA.
If only white Americans had voting rights, John McCain would have been chosen as president of the United States; however, white people comprise a shrinking part of the USA´s population. Among other racial groups, though, Obama swept the competition: He received 95 percent of the votes from the black population, which made up 13 percent of the total number of votes. He received 67 percent among Hispanic Americans, who comprised 9 percent of the total number. Among the Asian population (2 percent of the total), he got 62 percent of the votes.
The white population is already in the minority in Hawaii, California and Texas. Nationally, they add up to 67 percent of the population, but is it estimated that in 2042 the numbers will fall to 50 percent, and in 2050: 46 percent. The Spanish-speaking population is calculated to rise from the current 15 percent to 30 percent in 2050. The African American population will only increase by a slight margin, from today’s 13 percent to 15 percent, and the Asian American population will rise from 4 to 9 percent in 2050.
Complicated
Nowadays it can be complicated to determine which racial group a person belongs to. 200 years ago there were many who did not think that German immigrants were white. 100 years ago it was common to call Italians or Eastern Europeans non-white people. These days, all of these groups are labeled as “white.” The majority of the Spanish-speaking population sees itself as member of this group as well, but if they were to be included in this demographic category, these statistics would be very different.
America currently has a population of 306 million. Fertility rates are higher among American women than European women; enough to keep the population rate in balance. The non-white people tend to have more children than white people, though, and the USA receives a considerable number of immigrants, especially from Latin America and Asia.
About 12 percent of Americans were born abroad. This number is expected to increase up to 20 percent in 2050, which would far exceed the record 15 percent in 1910.
The population structure in the USA is thus much more favorable than in Europe, where the population rates, especially in the South and East, are in decline. It is also remarkable that the immigrants in the USA are far better integrated than in Europe. Studies of Muslim immigrants show that in most cases, despite the problems they encounter, Muslims feel far more accepted in the USA than in Europe. Muslim women are particularly successful in America. Actually, with the exception of Jewish women, they are more educated than women from all the other religious groups. But, of course, these are only relatively small groups. Jews comprise only one percent of American society, and Muslims are just under one percent.
Well Integrated
America has faced major problems in relation to its African American population, and Jews and Asians have also been exposed to considerable discrimination. Currently, it is striking how well the latter two groups have been integrated into American society. Income statistics show that Jews and Asians are far better situated than white Americans, who have largely held the political power in the U.S. until now. The average household income is approximately 49,000 dollars. Among African Americans it is 30,000 dollars; Spanish-speakers: 34,000; and Asians: almost 58,000. There are a lot of stories, estimations and statistics to consider.
If only white Americans had voting rights, John McCain would have been chosen as president of the United States; however, white people comprise a shrinking part of the USA´s population. Among other racial groups, though, Obama swept the competition: He received 95 percent of the votes from the black population, which made up 13 percent of the total number of votes. He received 67 percent among Hispanic Americans, who comprised 9 percent of the total number. Among the Asian population (2 percent of the total), he got 62 percent of the votes.
The white population is already in the minority in Hawaii, California and Texas. Nationally, they add up to 67 percent of the population, but is it estimated that in 2042 the numbers will fall to 50 percent, and in 2050: 46 percent. The Spanish-speaking population is calculated to rise from the current 15 percent to 30 percent in 2050. The African American population will only increase by a slight margin, from today’s 13 percent to 15 percent, and the Asian American population will rise from 4 to 9 percent in 2050.
Complicated
Nowadays it can be complicated to determine which racial group a person belongs to. 200 years ago there were many who did not think that German immigrants were white. 100 years ago it was common to call Italians or Eastern Europeans non-white people. These days, all of these groups are labeled as “white.” The majority of the Spanish-speaking population sees itself as member of this group as well, but if they were to be included in this demographic category, these statistics would be very different.
America currently has a population of 306 million. Fertility rates are higher among American women than European women; enough to keep the population rate in balance. The non-white people tend to have more children than white people, though, and the USA receives a considerable number of immigrants, especially from Latin America and Asia.
About 12 percent of Americans were born abroad. This number is expected to increase up to 20 percent in 2050, which would far exceed the record 15 percent in 1910.
The population structure in the USA is thus much more favorable than in Europe, where the population rates, especially in the South and East, are in decline. It is also remarkable that the immigrants in the USA are far better integrated than in Europe. Studies of Muslim immigrants show that in most cases, despite the problems they encounter, Muslims feel far more accepted in the USA than in Europe. Muslim women are particularly successful in America. Actually, with the exception of Jewish women, they are more educated than women from all the other religious groups. But, of course, these are only relatively small groups. Jews comprise only one percent of American society, and Muslims are just under one percent.
Well Integrated
America has faced major problems in relation to its African American population, and Jews and Asians have also been exposed to considerable discrimination. Currently, it is striking how well the latter two groups have been integrated into American society. Income statistics show that Jews and Asians are far better situated than white Americans, who have largely held the political power in the U.S. until now. The average household income is approximately 49,000 dollars. Among African Americans it is 30,000 dollars; Spanish-speakers: 34,000; and Asians: almost 58,000. There are a lot of stories, estimations and statistics to consider.