Census 2000: Minnesota's minority population increases to 11.8 percent

Census 2000 data for Minnesota, released March 28, shows very rapid growth in minority populations. Total minority population rose from 6.3% in 1990 to 11.8% in 2000.

The minority population is calculated by subtracting the white, non-Hispanic (or non-Latino) population from the total population. Exact comparisons with the 1990 data are very difficult because multiple race categories were added to the 2000 data.

A comparison of the numbers of people who identified themselves as one race shows much larger increases in minority populations than in white populations:

The Asian population category in 1990 included native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders. The new Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders category in the 2000 Census included 1,979 persons in Minnesota.  82,742 persons (or 1.7% of the total population) who identified themselves as of more than one race were excluded from these calculations. Allocating these persons to the single-race categories would alter the percentage changes by only small amounts.

For more information on the race tabulations from the 2000 Census, see "Fact Sheet: Race Data in the 2000 Census" on the State Demographic Center's web site at: www.demography.state.mn.us. A map showing minorities in Minnesota is at www.demography.state.mn.us/Census2000.html.

The State Demographic Center is located at Minnesota Planning, a state agency that develops long-range plans for the state, stimulates public participation in Minnesota's future and coordinates activities among all levels of government.