The white population in the United States would have dropped last year if not for immigration. Immigration also aided the increase of the Asian population, which was the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the United States last year, while births outnumbered deaths in the Hispanic, Black, indigenous, and Hawaiian populations. The U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimates issued Thursday reveal what drove shifts in different race, ethnic, and age groups last year, as well as since the commencement of COVID-19’s expansion in the United States in April 2020. According to 2022 population predictions, the country had expanded to 333.2 million inhabitants by the middle of the year, a 0.4% rise over the previous year.
Immigration drove the expansion of white residents in the United States. Without it, the white population, including individuals who identify as more than one race, would have declined by more than 85,000 people last year, rather than increasing by only 388,000 people, or 0.1%. the focus is narrowed to white people who aren’t Hispanic and identify only with one race, there was a drop of more than 668,000 people in the white population because the number of immigrants couldn’t compensate for the steep drop in natural decrease caused by deaths outnumbering births last year.
Population expansion is fueled by two factors: immigration and natural increase, which occurs when births outnumber deaths. The numbers revealed on Thursday highlight the complexities of the country’s ever-changing population trends, as well as a level of nuance that isn’t usually reflected in the political discussion over immigration. “Immigrant and refugee communities bring talent, culture, and a set of skills that are needed in our community,” said Arrey Obenson, president and CEO of the International Institute of St. Louis, which assists newcomers with adjusting to life in the United States.
Since the epidemic began in April 2020, the white population has increased by 391,000 persons, entirely due to immigration. Hamdullah Hamdard moved to St. Louis from Afghanistan, where he ran a media production company, in September 2021, after threats from the Taliban and deteriorating conditions made it untenable for his wife, son, brothers, and parents. In St. Louis, he founded a production firm, operates a news portal for the local Afghan population, and works as a communications manager for the International Institute of St. Louis.
“I could restart my own business and pursue the dreams I had in Afghanistan,” Hamdard, 31, said on Wednesday. Last year, 260.5 million persons in the United States identified as white, including those who identify as more than one race. Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, experienced the most increase in white population of any county last year, adding more than 35,000 additional white inhabitants. Arizona’s largest county also saw the highest increase in overall population of any U.S. county, with a spike of about 57,000 new inhabitants attributable to domestic migration in 2022.
Last year, immigration also boosted Asian growth, accounting for two-thirds of the 577,000-person increase in Asians, including those who identify with more than one race. This was the highest increase of any race or ethnic group, and there were 24.6 million Asians in the United States last year. Last year, King County, Washington – home to Seattle — acquired about 21,500 Asian residents, the most of any U.S. county. Last year, the Hispanic population in the United States increased by more than one million individuals, the largest increase in pure numbers of any race or ethnic group. Natural increase, or births exceeding deaths, accounted for two-thirds of that growth. Last year, more than 63.3 million people identified as Hispanic, a 1.7% rise over the previous year.
In terms of pure numbers, Harris County, Texas, home to Houston, saw the largest Hispanic increase, adding about 35,000 Latinos last year. Natural growth also accounted for over two-thirds of the 436,000-person increase in the Black population last year, a 0.9% increase over the previous year. In 2022, the Black population was estimated to be 50 million people. With over 23,000 more Black citizens, Harris County, Texas, experienced the biggest numerical rise of any U.S. county. Last year, the American Indian and Alaska Native population was 7.2 million, a rise of more than 93,000 persons, or 1.3%. Maricopa County, Arizona, saw the greatest numerical increase, with over 3,100 new citizens. Last year, there were more than 1.7 million Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders in the United States, a 1.2% rise over the previous year. Clark County, Nevada, which includes Las Vegas, saw the greatest rise, with about 1,500 additional residents.
