The US Hispanic population has soared over the past decade to roughly equal that of blacks, traditionally the country's largest minority group, early data from the 2000 census show.
Heralding potentially major political and cultural shifts already underway, the data was well in line with earlier census bureau forecasts that Hispanics would become the biggest US minority group by 2005.
Background tables to a public report issued last week showed the total number of Hispanics, who have Spanish-speaking ancestry but who may belong to any race including black, shot up by nearly 60 per cent to 35.3 million from the 22.4 million recorded in 1990.
The total number of blacks had risen by about 16 per cent to 34.7 million. The 2000 number was slightly higher, 36.4 million, when people who took advantage of a census bureau policy change allowing them to count themselves as black as well as at least one other race were included in the figure.
Data released in December, 2000, showed the total US population rose by 13.2 per cent to 281.4 million in 2000 from 248.7 million in 1990. The 10yearly figures are used in redrawing congressional districts, allocating federal funds and in making a host of other commercial and political decisions.