Minorities in the United States will make up the majority of residents by 2042, according to new projections released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. The total U.S. population, currently estimated at about 305 million, is projected to rise to 439 million by 2050.

From the press release:

The nation will be more racially and ethnically diverse, as well as much older, by midcentury, according to projections released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Minorities, now roughly one-third of the U.S. population, are expected to become the majority in 2042, with the nation projected to be 54 percent minority in 2050. By 2023, minorities will comprise more than half of all children.

In 2030, when all of the baby boomers will be 65 and older, nearly one in five U.S. residents is expected to be 65 and older. This age group is projected to increase to 88.5 million in 2050, more than doubling the number in 2008 (38.7 million).

Similarly, the 85 and older population is expected to more than triple, from 5.4 million to 19 million between 2008 and 2050.

In 2050, Census projects the racial and ethnic breakdowns will be (with current 2008 percentages in parentheses): non-Hispanic, single-race white, 46% (down from 66% in 2008); Hispanic, 30% (up from 15%); black, 15% (up from 14%); Asian, 9.2% (up from 5.1%); American Indians and Alaska natives, 2% (up from 1.6%).