Maryland’s population has grown 7 percent to 6,177,224 over the past decade, as the state has become more diverse, reflecting a national trend, according to data released by the US Census Bureau.

Here are five takeaways from the 2020 Census for Marylanders:

1. Less than half of Marylanders are white
Census data shows that there are 7.7% fewer white residents in the state today than in 2010. Despite the decline, whites still constitute the largest racial demographic group in the state, representing 47.1% of the total population of the state. The black population, which represents 29% of the state’s residents, is the second largest racial demographic.

The Hispanic resident population, which represents 11.8% of the state’s total residents, has seen an increase in every county in Maryland.

The largest population decline within a single demographic was seen among Native Americans, whose population fell 12.7 percent.

2. Increase in the number of people who identify as “other” and residents of two or more races.
People who identify as “other races” increased 194.9%, from 11,972 in 2010 to 35,314 in 2020 – the largest percentage increase for a single demographic group. Marylanders who identify as two or more races have increased 115.1% over the past decade.

Counties with a smaller population of residents identified as “other” experienced a higher percentage increase. For example, in Garrett County, the number of people identifying themselves as “other” increased from 2 in 2010 to 54 in 2020.

Montgomery County is home to the largest population of people who identify as “other” (8,589 residents) and the largest population of residents of two or more races (48,080 people).

The increase in Marylanders belonging to two or more racial groups reflects a national trend showing a substantial increase in the number of Americans who identified as belonging to the demographic.

3. Maryland’s demographic change is driven by the younger population
People under the age of 18 make up 22 percent of the state’s population. While nearly half of all adults in the state are white, only 37.6% of children are white. Hispanics in Maryland make up 10.2 percent of the adult population, but 17.4 percent of the child population – the biggest difference between the two age groups for just one demographic.

4. Baltimore City’s population shrunk as the suburbs diversified
The population of Baltimore City has seen a drop of 6 percent. Baltimore County, which surrounds the city of Baltimore, saw its population increase by 6.1%.

The six towns in the Baltimore metropolitan area – Baltimore City, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, and Howard County – have seen a decline in the white population and a significant increase in Hispanic and Asian residents. Black residents of Baltimore City are down 14%.

5. Washington, DC area has experienced a significant increase in population
The counties of Maryland surrounding Washington, DC, which are home to many people who travel to the nation’s capital for work, have seen their populations increase. Montgomery County is the largest county in the state, with its population representing 17.2 percent of all residents.

Washington, DC saw the largest increase in the percentage of white residents – 24.9% – among the 25 locations in the metro area. All counties have seen an increase in the number of people who identify as “other” or two or more races.

This article originally appeared on CNSMaryland.org on Tuesday, October 7, 2021.

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