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Racial/Ethnic Composition
Los Angeles County, 1990-2020 Census

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For most recent Census estimates, see: Racial/Ethnic Composition by City/Community in Los Angeles County.

Also see:
-- Historical Racial/Ethnic Numbers, Los Angeles County, 1850-1980 Census
-- Projected Population by Race/Ethnicity Through 2060 for Los Angeles County
-- Los Angeles County General Population, 1850-2020 Census




Of Los Angeles County's 88 incorporated cities, 35 have populations that are 50 percent or more Hispanic/Latino.

Population, All Races, Including Hispanic or Latino

See Notes regarding "One Race Alone," "Two or More Races," and "Hispanic or Latino" at end of this page.

Population 2020 Census 2010 Census 2000 Census 1990 Census
Population Percent Population Percent Population Percent Population Percent
Total Population (All Races) 10,014,009 100.00% 9,818,605 100.00% 9,519,338 100.00% 8,863,164 100.00%
One Race Alone (1) 8,525,941 85.14% 9,379,892 95.53% 9,049,557 95.06% --- (1) --- (1)
American Indian & Alaskan Native (1) 163,464 1.63% 72,828 0.74% 76,988 0.81% 45,508 0.51%
Asian (1) 1,499,984 14.98% 1,346,865 13.72% 1,137,500 11.95% 925,561 10.44%
Black or African American (1) 794,364 7.93% 856,874 8.73% 930,957 9.78% 992,974 11.20%
Population 2020 Census 2010 Census 2000 Census 1990 Census
Population Percent Population Percent Population Percent Population Percent
Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander (1) 24,522 0.24% 26,094 0.27% 27,053 0.28% 28,924 0.33%
White (1) 3,259,427 32.55% 4,936,599 50.28% 4,637,062 48.71% 5,035103 56.81%
Some Other Race (1) 2,784,180 27.80% 2,140,632 21.80% 2,239,997 23.53% 1,835,094 20.70%
Two or More Races (2) 1,488,068 14.86% 438,713 4.47% 469,781 4.94% --- (2) --- (2)

(1) Since the 2000 Census, this category refers only to persons declaring one race and includes Hispanic or Latino. The 1990 Census offered no option to identify with more than one race.
(2) Two or More Races - This category, first offered in the 2000 Census, allowed the option to identify with more than one race. It was not an option in the 1990 Census.


Population, Not Hispanic or Latino

See Notes regarding "One Race Alone," "Two or More Races," and "Hispanic or Latino" at end of this page.

Population 2020 Census 2010 Census 2000 Census 1990 Census
Population Percent Population Percent Population Percent Population Percent
Total Not Hispanic or Latino (All Races) 5,209,246 52.02% 5,130,716 52.26% 5,277,125 55.44% 5,511,922 62.19%
One Race Alone, not Hispanic or Latino 4,896,193 48.89% 4,935,795 50.27% 5,277,125 55.44% --- (1) --- (1)
American Indian & Alaskan Native, not Hispanic or Latino 18,453 0.18% 18,886 0.19% 25,609 0.27% 29,159 0.33%
Asian, Not Hispanic or Latino (2) 1,474,237 14.72% 1,325,671 13.50% 1,124,569 11.81% --- (3) --- (3)
Black or African American, not Hispanic or Latino 760,689 7.60% 815,086 8.30% 901,472 9.47% 934,776 10.55%
Population 2020 Census 2010 Census 2000 Census 1990 Census
Population Percent Population Percent Population Percent Population Percent
Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander, not Hispanic or Latino 20,522 0.20% 22,464 0.23% 23,265 0.24% --- (3) --- (3)
White, not Hispanic or Latino 2,563,609 25.60% 2,728,321 27.79% 2,959,614 31.09% 3,618,850 40.83%
Some Other Race, not Hispanic or Latino 58,683 0.59% 25,367 0.26% 19,935 0.21% 21,327 0.24%
Two or More Races, not Hispanic or Latino 313,053 3.13% 194,921 1.99% 222,661 2.34% --- (2) --- (2)

(1) Since the 2000 Census, this category refers only to persons declaring one race and includes Hispanic or Latino. The 1990 Census offered no option to identify with more than one race.
(2) Two or More Races - This category, first offered in the 2000 Census, allowed the option to identify with more than one race. It was not an option in the 1990 Census.
(3) Asian & Pacific Islander - Under the categories "Hispanic or Latino" and "Not Hispanic or Latino," the 1990 Census did not distinguish Asian persons from Pacific Islander persons, but, rather, combined their numbers. A total of 907,810 persons were reported to be Asian or Pacific Islander, not of Hispanic Origin.


Population, Hispanic or Latino

See Notes regarding "One Race Alone," "Two or More Races," and "Hispanic or Latino" at end of this page.

Population 2020 Census 2010 Census 2000 Census 1990 Census
Population Percent Population Percent Population Percent Population Percent
Hispanic or Latino (All Races) 4,804,763 47.98% 4,687,889 47.74% 4,242,213 44.56% 3,351,242 37.81%
One Race Alone, Hispanic or Latino 3,629,748 36.25% 4,444,097 45.26% 3,995,093 41.97% --- (1) --- (1)
American Indian & Alaskan Native, Hispanic or Latino 145,011 1.45% 53,942 0.55% 51,379 0.54% 16,349 0.18%
Asian, Hispanic or Latino (2) 25,747 0.26% 21,194 0.22% 12,931 0.14% --- (3) --- (3)
Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino 33,675 0.34% 41,788 0.43% 29,485 0.31% 58,198 0.66%
Population 2020 Census 2010 Census 2000 Census 1990 Census
Population Percent Population Percent Population Percent Population Percent
Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latino 4,000 0.04% 3,630 0.04% 3,788 0.04% --- (3) --- (3)
White, Hispanic or Latino 695,818 6.95% 2,208,278 22.49% 1,677,448 17.62% 1,416,253 15.98%
Some Other Race, Hispanic or Latino 2,725,497 27.22% 2,115,265 21.54% 2,220,062 23.32% 1,813,767 20.46%
Two or More Races, Hispanic or Latino 1,175,015 11.73% 243,792 2.48% 247,120 2.60% --- (2) --- (2)

(1) Since the 2000 Census, this category refers only to persons declaring one race and includes Hispanic or Latino. The 1990 Census offered no option to identify with more than one race.
(2) Two or More Races - This category, first offered in the 2000 Census, allowed the option to identify with more than one race. It was not an option in the 1990 Census.
(3) Asian & Pacific Islander - Under the categories "Hispanic or Latino" and "Not Hispanic or Latino," the 1990 Census did not distinguish Asian persons from Pacific Islander persons, but, rather, combined their numbers. A total of 907,810 persons were reported to be Asian or Pacific Islander, not of Hispanic Origin.

Notes:

-- "Population of one race" refers to those who identified themselves to the Census as of one race only. "Population of two of more races" refers to those who identified themselves as of at least two races. "Total Population" is the combination of both.
-- "Hispanic or Latino" is not considered a "race" by the Census. Rather, it is a cultural/ethnic classification for an individual who will also identify with one or more races. Persons who identify themselves as "Hispanic or Latino" must also identify themselves with a race or combination of races (see following note.)
-- A large percentage persons identified as racially "White" also identified as "Hispanic or Latino," especially in earlier census counts. This has changed in more recent census counts, where some of Latin American heritage have instead begun identifying as "Some Other Race," "One or More Races," or "American Indian."

Source: U.S. Census Bureau