US Adds New Hispanic, Middle Eastern And North African Racial Categories For First Time In 25+ Years

The United States has updated its system for collecting information on people’s racial backgrounds.

Changes include the introducing a category for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) people and changing how Hispanic individuals are classified.

This historic update, the first in over 25 years, aims to more accurately and nuancedly capture the nation’s evolving demographics.

New Hispanic and MENA categories

For the first time, individuals of MENA descent, about 1.5% of the U.S. population, will be able to identify themselves as part of a distinct category.

Hispanic Americans, who make up roughly 18% of the population and are classified as a single ethnic group, will now be included in existing racial groups such as Black, white, and Asian.

For instance Afro-Latine Americans will be able to select both “Hispanic or Latino” and “Black and African American“, providing a clearer picture of the Hispanic community’s diversity.

The Benefits Of More Accurate Data

This revision facilitates more detailed data collection, improving our grasp of diverse demographic experiences. 

It also recognizes the complexity of racial and ethnic identities by enabling the selection of multiple categories.

The new data structure also has practical implications for government funding decisions, corporate diversity efforts, and addressing inequality.

For example, recognizing MENA as a minority category may influence diversity initiatives in the private sector, such as Nasdaq’s board diversity rule, according to Bloomberg.

While the changes signal progress towards inclusivity, their full implementation will be gradual, with agencies having up to five years for complete compliance.