Hispanic Population Growth Fueled Mainly by U.S. Births; Asians by Migration Percent of total population change from 2012 to 2013 accounted for by (births minus deaths)
The distinction of being the fastest-growing racial/ethnic group in the United States has alternated between Asians and Hispanics in recent decades. Since 2010, though, Asians have had the edge. New Census Bureau data estimate that the U.S. Hispanic population topped 54 million as of July 1, 2013, an increase of 2.1% over 2012. Meanwhile, the Asian population grew to 19.4 million, with a growth rate of 2.9%.
U.S. births have been the primary driving force behind the increase in the Hispanic population since 2000 and that trend continued between 2012 and 2013. The Census Bureau estimates that natural increase (births minus deaths) accounted for 78% of the total change in the U.S. Hispanic population from 2012 to 2013.
By comparison, growth in the Asian American population has been fueled primarily by immigration. Fully 74% of Asian adults in 2012 were foreign born according to Pew Research Center analysis of Census data, and international migration accounted for about 61% of the total change in the Asian American population from 2012 to 2013. (Asian American figures represent the population who reported their race alone or in combination with one or more races, and includes Hispanics. Hispanics are of any race.)
Hispanic Population Growth Fueled  | Mainly by U.S. Births; Asians by  | Migration  | Percent of total population change from 2012 to  | 2013 accounted for by  | NATURAL INCREASE  | INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION  | (births minus deaths)  | 78  | 61  | 39%  | 22  | Asians Hispanics  | Asians Hispanics  | Note: Asians include mixed race populations regardless of  | Hispanic origin.  | Source: U S. Census Bureau 2013 population estimates  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 