ALT Later this month, the U.S. Census Bureau plans to release the first results from the 2020 Census on race and ethnicity. These data will provide a snapshot of the racial and ethnic composition and diversity of the U.S. population as of April 1, 2020. We will release the following measures of diversity to clearly present and analyze the complexity of the 2020 Census results compared to the 2010 Census results: Diversity Index. Prevalence rankings and diffusion score. Prevalence maps.

ALT We chose this new set of diversity measures — the DI, prevalence maps, prevalence ranking, and diffusion scores — because they have clear conceptual definitions and interpretations. They also overcome some of the limitations of the diversity measures we have used in the past. In the past, the Census Bureau had sometimes used the concept of “majority” and “minority” for measuring diversity, but this approach has several conceptual and practical challenges that limit its ability to illustrate the complex racial and ethnic diversity of the U.S. population. For example, while some people classify individuals who identify with multiple population groups (such as Hispanic and White; White and Black or African American; and White and Asian) as part of the majority population, others classify them as part of the minority population. The dual identities of these groups highlight the social, political and economic complexities of race and ethnicity in 21st century U.S. society...