A new batch of census data is out today showing population growth among race and ethnic groups across the country. Since 2000, the U.S. population has grown by less than 2 percent, but the Hispanic population has grown by 10 percent and the number of Asians has grown 21 percent. Hispanics now account for 15 percent of the nation’s population, and 16 percent of New York’s.

Here in NY, we’re getting older as a group. The median age, which was 36 in 2000, is now almost 38. Baby boomers are bringing higher numbers to the 45- to 69-year-old age bracket, and there’s a large increase in the number of New Yorkers who are 80 and older, reports Cathey O’Donnell of our data desk.
Meanwhile it’s not too early to talk about the Census Bureau’s decennial headcount in 2010. Two New Yorkers were added to the race and ethnic advisory committees that monitor the process: Angelo Falcón, president of the National Institute for Latino Policy, and Pyong Gap Min, a sociology professor at Queens College and the CUNY Graduate Center. They will serve, respectively, on the Hispanic Advisory Committee and Asian Advisory Committee, each of which have nine members.

Those committees, scheduled to meet this week at the Census Bureau’s Maryland HQ, have a lot to talk about. The Hispanic Advisory Committee has already voiced concern on the need to get immigrants to participate in the 2010 count, despite what it called a climate of mistrust toward government and intolerance for diversity. And a scaled-back dress rehearsal is raising further concern that the count will miss immigrants, military members, college students and others.