A recent report from the Census Bureau reveals that the growth in the Hispanic population has been a key factor in driving the population increase in Nebraska and the nation as a whole. In Nebraska, the state added about 10,300 residents between 2022 and 2023, with 8,500 of them being Hispanic. This Hispanic growth accounted for over 80% of the state’s total population gain. Similar trends were observed nationally, with Hispanic residents contributing to nearly three-quarters of the nation’s population increase.
The demographer for the Census Bureau, Kristie Wilder, highlighted that the Hispanic population is expanding at a much faster rate than the non-Hispanic population, with a significant portion of the growth attributed to births exceeding deaths and migration. In 43 states, including Iowa and Nebraska, Hispanic population growth outpaced the growth of the non-Hispanic population, indicating a broader national trend.
According to Nebraska demographer David Drozd, the Hispanic population has been a major driver of the state’s population growth, surpassing the growth rate of other ethnicities. The latest data showed a 3.4% increase in the Hispanic population in Nebraska, compared to a 0.1% growth in the rest of the population. Overall, people of color accounted for all of Nebraska’s population growth, while the non-Hispanic white population decreased slightly.
Despite the growth in Hispanic and other minority populations, non-Hispanic white residents still constitute a significant majority in Nebraska, making up over 76% of the total estimated population in 2023. The shifting demographics highlight the importance of diversity and the contributions of different ethnic groups to the overall population growth in the state and the nation.
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