What Is the Largest Minority Group In the United States and What Percentage Are African Americans?

African Americans make up the largest minority group in the United States, but Hispanics are not far behind.

In 2000, African Americans made up 12.8 percent of the U.S. population, while Hispanics represented 12.5 percent, Asians and Pacific Islanders about 4.1 percent; and Native Americans 0.9 percent.

By 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts, Hispanics will make up about 15.8 percent of the U.S. population and become the largest minority group.

By that time the percentage of African Americans will have grown to 13.6 percent, while Asians and Pacific Islanders will form about 5.6 percent of the total population.

The number of Native Americans will increase slightly, to form 1 percent of the U.S. population.