As the U.S. Census Bureau seeks public feedback on new methods for categorizing race and ethnicity, recent research reveals significant insights into how diverse backgrounds shape racial and ethnic identities among U.S. residents.
In a landmark change earlier this year, the U.S. government revised its approach to classifying individuals by race and ethnicity, aiming to provide a more accurate count of residents identifying as Hispanic, as well as those of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) descent. This marks the first update to these categories in 27 years.
The revisions include a new combined question on race and ethnicity, allowing respondents to select multiple categories simultaneously, such as “Black,” “American Indian,” and “Hispanic.” Research indicates that many Hispanic individuals struggle to respond to race questions when asked separately, often defaulting to “some other race” or leaving the question unanswered due to their perception of the overlapping nature of race and ethnicity.
Additionally, a new category for Middle Eastern and North African individuals was introduced. Previously, those from regions such as Lebanon, Iran, Egypt, and Syria were classified under “white.” This change now enables them to identify within a distinct group.
Analysis of data from the 2020 census found that over 3.1 million U.S. residents identify as MENA. Notably, approximately 80% of those who identified as MENA categorized themselves under “white” in the census questionnaire. Furthermore, over 16% of MENA respondents selected “some other race,” while around 4.5% identified as Asian, and 1.6% marked their background as Black.
Differences in racial identity were observed among various MENA subgroups, with Lebanese and Syrian individuals predominantly identifying as white. Conversely, North African and Berber descendants showed higher rates of identifying as Black, while those from Oman, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia tended to identify as Asian.
The Census Bureau’s latest findings also highlighted variations in racial identity across different U.S. Hispanic groups. Responses indicating “some other race” and identifying as American Indian and Alaska Native were prevalent among Central American respondents, while South American residents often identified as white. Caribbean respondents leaned more towards identifying as Black or “Black and some other race.”
These variations extend regionally, with the Northeast and West—particularly states like California, Maryland, and New York—showing higher instances of Hispanic respondents selecting “some other race.” In contrast, identifying as white was more common in the South, while the Northeast had the highest rates for Hispanic residents identifying as Black.
The new race and ethnicity categories are set to be implemented in the 2027 American Community Survey and the 2030 census, significantly influencing congressional representation and Electoral College votes allocation.
The Census Bureau encourages public input until mid-February, inviting feedback from communities that feel misclassified or believe additional groups should be represented in the race and ethnicity classifications.
