Facts & Figures

According to the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, racial and ethnic diversity has increased significantly, especially amongst children. The increase in diversity presents unique opportunities and challenges for pediatricians and other health care professionals.

Did You Know?

• By 2020, it is projected that more than 1 in 5 children in the U.S. will be of Hispanic origin.
• Similarly, the percentage of children of Asian/Pacific Island origin is expected to increase to 6% by 2020.
• In 2001, 19% of children in the U.S. lived with at least one parent who was foreign-born.
• In 1999, 5% (2.6 million) of all school-age children in the U.S. spoke another language other than English and had difficulty speaking English.
• In 1999, 23% of children of Hispanic origin and 12% of children of other races had difficulty speaking English.
• In 2000, more than 8% of the U.S. population 5 years and older spoke another language other than English and spoke English less than “very well.”
• In 2000, 75% of Hispanic children were covered by health insurance compared with 93% of white (non-Hispanic) children and 87% of black children.
• In 2000, 86% of White (non-Hispanic) children were reported to be in very good or excellent health, compared with 74% of black (non-Hispanic) children and 75% of Hispanic children.
  

Projections for the year 2025 estimate that the child population will comprise 15.8% blacks, 23.6% Hispanics, 1.1% American Indian/Native Alaskans, 6.9% Asian/Pacific Islanders, and 52.6% whites.

(AAP Policy Statement, Enhancing the Racial & Ethnic Diversity of the Pediatric Workforce)