The racial classifications used by the Census Bureau reflect a social definition of race recognized in the United States, not a biological, anthropological, or genetic definition. Furthermore, the Census definitions include racial and national origin or sociocultural groups. 

Information on race and ethnicity is often required for Federal programs and equal employment opportunities. Furthermore, measuring racial disparity is an important tool for policymakers in many areas including health, employment and income, and education.

American Indian/Native Population

The Census Bureau defines “American Indian/Native” as “a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment. It includes people who indicate their race as ‘American Indian or Alaska Native’ or report entries such as Navajo, Blackfeet, Inupiat, Yup’ik, Central American Indian groups, or South American Indian groups.” 

While people may choose more than one race to indicate their racial mixture, all individuals in this classification have selected only “American Indian/Native” as their race. When asked whether or not they were of Hispanic ethnicity, all people in this classification indicated that they were of Non-Hispanic ethnicity.

Asian Population

The Census Bureau defines “Asian” as “a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.”

While people may choose more than one race to indicate their racial mixture, all individuals in this classification have selected only “Asian” as their race.  When asked whether or not they were of Hispanic ethnicity, all people in this classification indicated that they were of Non-Hispanic ethnicity.

Black Population

The Census Bureau defines “Black/African American” as “a person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. It includes people who indicate their race as ‘Black’ or ‘African American’ or report entries such as African American, Kenyan, Nigerian, or Haitian.”

While people may choose more than one race to indicate their racial mixture, all individuals in this classification have selected only “Black/African American” as their race. When asked whether or not they were of Hispanic ethnicity, all people in this classification indicated that they were of Non-Hispanic ethnicity.

Hispanic Population

The ethnicities of “Hispanic,” “Latino,” and “Spanish” are used interchangeably and can include people from any race. Some people may identify with more than one of these terms. Within the “Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish” ethnicity, there are specific categories listed in the Census questionnaire such as Mexican, Puerto Rican, or Cuban. Individuals identifying as another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin outside of those categories could have Dominican, Salvadoran, Guatemalan, Argentinean, Colombian, Spaniard, or other Spanish cultures or origins.

Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander Population

The Census Bureau defines “Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander” as “a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands. It includes people who indicate their race as Native Hawaiian, Guamanian or Chamorro, Samoan, and Other Pacific Islander, or provide other detailed Pacific Islander responses.”

While people may choose more than one race to indicate their racial mixture, all individuals in this classification have selected only “Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander” as their race. When asked whether or not they were of Hispanic ethnicity, all people in this classification indicated that they were of Non-Hispanic ethnicity.

Other Race Population

People who identify as “Other Race” belong to a single racial category that is different from those used by the Census Bureau (“White,” “Black/African American,” “American Indian/Alaska Native,” “Asian,” or “Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander”).

While people may choose more than one race to indicate their racial mixture, all individuals in this classification have selected only “Other Race” as their race. When asked whether or not they were of Hispanic ethnicity, all people in this classification indicated that they were of Non-Hispanic ethnicity.

Population of Two or More Races

People who identify as belonging to two or more races selected multiple racial categories on the Census, which could be categories used by the Census Bureau (“White,” “Black/African American,” “American Indian/Alaska Native,” “Asian,” and “Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander”) or some other race. When asked whether or not they were of Hispanic ethnicity, all people in this classification indicated that they were of Non-Hispanic ethnicity.

White Population

The Census Bureau defines “White” as “a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. It includes people who indicate their race as ‘White’ or report entries such as Irish, German, Italian, Lebanese, Arab, Moroccan, or Caucasian.”

While people may choose more than one race to indicate their racial mixture, all individuals in this classification have selected only “White” as their race. When asked whether or not they were of Hispanic ethnicity, all people in this classification indicated that they were of Non-Hispanic ethnicity.