Demographics The U.S. has more immigrants than any other country in the world. Currently, more than 40 million people living in the U.S. were born in another country. This figure represents one-fifth of the world’s immigrants. Nearly every country in the world is represented among U.S. immigrants (Pew Research Center, 2020b). In 2018, there were a record 44.8 million immigrants living in the U.S. This figure represents 13.7% of the nation’s population. Since 1965, the number of immigrants living in the U.S. has more than quadrupled. Since 1970, the number of immigrants has nearly tripled (Pew Research Center, 2020a). Table 1 provides a breakdown of the U.S. foreign- born population by national origin. Table 1: Foreign-Born Population by Place of Birth 2018 Region Number of People Percentage Mexico 11,182,111 25% East and Southeast Asia 8,648,525 19.3% Europe 4,848,270 10.8% Caribbean 4,463,891 10% South America 3,304,380 7.4% Central America 3,590,330 8% South Asia 3,668 8.2% Sub-Saharan Africa 2,032,470 4.5% Middle East-North Africa 1,784,898 4% Canada and Other North America 827,093 1.8% Oceania 246,371 0.6% Central Asia 131,854 0.3% Total 44,760,622 100% Note : Based on data from the Pew Research Center (2020a). Tables 2-4 provides a breakdown of the US population by race. Evidence-based practice! Data show that the population varies significantly by place of birth and race. To practice cultural humility, mental and behavioral healthcare professionals must be aware of the populations they serve. Table 2: Population by Race Self-Identification 2018 Race Number of People Percentage White 236,102,692 72.2% Black or African American 41,683,829 12.7% Asian 18,449,856 5.6% Some Other Race 16,273,008 5% Two or More Races 11,224,731 3.4%
Table 3: Population by Race Self-Identification US Born Race Number of People Percentage White 215,726,882 76.4% Black or African American 37,413,425 13.2% Two or More Races 10,169,825 3.6% Some Other Race 9,655,701 3.4% Asian 2,627,659 2.2%
Native American Indian and Alaska Native Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander
2,627,659
0.9%
460,543
0.2%
Note : Based on data from the Pew Research Center (2020a). Table 4: Population by Race Self-Identification Foreign
Born Race White Asian
Number of People 20,375,810 12,097,155 6,617,226 4,270,404
Percentage
45.5%
27%
Some Other Race Black or African American Native American Indian and Alaska Native Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
14.8%
9.5%
198,677
0.4%
146,444
0.3%
Two or More Races 0.2% Note : Based on data from the Pew Research Center (2020a). Self-Assessment Quiz Question #2 460,543 In 2018, from which country/region did the highest number of foreign-born people residing in the US come from by place of birth? a. South America. b. East and Southeast Asia. c. Mexico. d. Sub-Saharan Africa. Mental and behavioral healthcare professionals must be careful not to make sweeping generalizations regarding the characteristics or needs of any population. Further, patients are influenced by a variety of factors, including level of acculturation (to be discussed later), immigration experience, experiences with discrimination, and ability to speak English. Therefore, it is imperative that healthcare professionals ask patients about their personal experiences and important events in their lives. Some cultural generalizations may help clinicians increase their knowledge of specific cultures and enhance their understanding of a portion of patients’ differing experiences. However, this is not intended to shift the healthcare professional’s focus away from developing a better understanding of the dynamics of race, immigration, and other facets of diversity within the current social, economic, and political environment of the U.S. Mental and behavioral healthcare professionals are better prepared to both understand and help their patients if they are able to understand the
Native American Indian and Alaska Native Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander
2,826,336
0.9%
606,987
0.2%
Note : Based on data from the Pew Research Center (2020a).
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Book Code: SWUS1525
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