California population by race
The table below shows California's population by race.
| Race | Population | % of Total Population |
|---|---|---|
| White | 18,943,660 | 48.13% |
| Black or African American | 2,202,587 | 5.60% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 394,188 | 1.00% |
| Asian | 5,949,136 | 15.12% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 150,531 | 0.38% |
| Some other race | 6,388,999 | 16.23% |
| Two or more races (multiracial) | 5,327,003 | 13.54% |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
California population by race
Of the 5 race categories (excluding ethnicity) identified by the Census Bureau, namely American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander and White; California has a population in all of the race categories.
This confirms that California's population has become increasingly diverse.
The percent distribution of California population by race (across all racial categories recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau): 48.13% are white, 5.60% are Black or African American, 1% are American Indian and Alaska Native, 15.12% are Asian, 0.38% are Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 16.23% are some other race and 13.54% are multiracial.
FIGURE 1
California population by race.
The largest racial group in California is White with a population of 18.94 million (48.13% of the total population).
California 's racial breakdown clearly shows that there is no majority (i.e. more than 50% of the population belong to one particular race) of any race in the state.
As per the latest data estimates from American Community Survey's 5-year estimates:
1. The largest racial group in California is White with a population of 18.94 million (48.13% of the total population).
2. The multiracial population, i.e. population that identify themselves with two or more races , is 5.33 million (13.54% of the total population).
Racial / Ethnic makeup of California
By ethnicity, 15.62 million (39.68% of the total population) is Hispanic or Latino (of any race), and 23.74 million (60.32% of the total population) is Non-Hispanic.
Of the Non-Hispanic population in California, the largest racial group is White alone with a population of 13.85 million (58.34% of the total Non-Hispanic population).
FIGURE 2
California Non-Hispanic population by race
All percentages shown below are, % of California's Non-Hispanic population.
California Non-Hispanic population by race
The distribution of the Non-Hispanic population across various race categories
| Race | Population | % of Total Non-Hispanic Population |
|---|---|---|
| White alone | 13,848,294 | 58.34% |
| Black or African American alone | 2,102,510 | 8.86% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 114,271 | 0.48% |
| Asian alone | 5,861,649 | 24.69% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 135,460 | 0.57% |
| Some other race alone | 176,652 | 0.74% |
| Two or more races (multiracial) | 1,499,338 | 6.32% |
Among the Hispanic population in California, regardless of the race, the largest group is of Mexican origin, with a population of 12.71 million (81.37% of the total Hispanic population).
FIGURE 3
California Hispanic or Latino population
All percentages shown below are, % of California's Hispanic population.
California Hispanic or Latino population
The distribution of the Hispanic or Latino population by their ancestries
| Origin | Population | % of Total Hispanic Population |
|---|---|---|
| Mexican | 12,708,410 | 81.37% |
| Puerto Rican | 229,063 | 1.47% |
| Cuban | 104,443 | 0.67% |
| Other Hispanic or Latino | 2,576,014 | 16.49% |
Things to know
What percentage of California is Hispanic?
As per the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates, 39.68% of California population is Hispanic.
Among the Hispanic population in California, regardless of the race, the largest group is of Mexican origin, with a population of 12.71 million (81.37% of the total Hispanic population).
How many Black people does California have?
California has 2.2 million Black or African American population as per the estimates from the latest American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Overall 5.60% of the total population (excluding multiracial) in California is Black.
What is the largest minority group in California?
With 60.32% of the total population, Non-Hispanics are the largest ethnic minority in California.
That being said, with a 16.23% of the total population, Some other races are the largest racial minority in California.
What is the majority race in California?
With a population of 18.94 million (48.13% of the total population), Whites are the largest racial majority in California.
Some other races are second largest race in California, with 16.23% of the total population.
References
- U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2018-2022 5-Year Estimates
