Minorities make up 35 percent of American population

Los Angeles (US), June 11 (ANI): Minorities now make up about 35 percent of the country's population, and about 57 percent of the population in California.

The white population, however, continues to decline, the Los Angeles Times quotes the latest U.S. census estimates, as saying on Thursday.

"More of the country is going to be like California," warned Brookings Institution demographer William Frey.

Last year, minorities helped the overall U.S. population grow by two percent, boosted by a surge in births and people who identified themselves as multiracial.

In 2009, 5.3 million Americans classified themselves as multiracial, up 26 percent from 3.9 million in 2000.

Much of the nation's demographic change is seen among children. In California, minorities make up 72 percent of those under age 15. In 2000, they made up 65 percent.

Nationally, 46 percent of children under 15 are minorities, compared with 40 percent in 2000.

In 2000, the District of Columbia and three states - Hawaii, New Mexico and California - had minority populations that exceeded 50 percent. In 2009, Texas joined that group.

The figures released Thursday come from estimates based on data collected last year. (ANI)