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Delaware Population by Race and Ethnicity

Delaware the sixth least populated U.S. state has a racially and ethnically diverse population. As of 2020, White (Non-Hispanic)  are the largest group in Delaware followed by African Americans. 

also read about the Population of Delaware

Ethnic and Racial Composition

In 2020, the White alone (non-Hispanic) population was the largest racial or ethnic group in Delaware, comprising 58.57% of the total population. It was followed by the Black or African American population whose share was 21.51%.

Hispanic or Latino was the third largest group at 10.53%. Two or more races are at 4.35% & Asian at 4.28%.

The ethnic composition of  Delaware is as follows

Race and OriginActual PopulationPercentage 2020
White alone579,85158.57%
Black or African American alone212,96021.51%
Hispanic or Latino104,29010.53%
Two or more races43,0234.35%
Asian alone42,3984.28%
Some Other Race alone4,6010.46%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone2,5210.25%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders 3040.03%
Total989,948 

Source: US Census Bureau population estimate 2020

*US Census recognized five racial categories (White, Black or African American, Asian American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) as well as people of two or more races. It also classified respondents as "Hispanic or Latino" or "Not Hispanic or Latino", identifying Hispanic and Latino as an ethnicity (not a race), which comprises the largest minority group in the nation.

Ancestry in Delaware

As per Census Studies & estimate German, Irish, and English have made the five largest ancestry groups in Delaware. The Largest Ancestry in Delaware is as follows

#ANCESTRYEstimatePercent
1Irish134,50413.8%
2German110,39511.3%
3English93,2189.6%
4Italian85,0158.7%
5American43,2544.4%
6Polish40,7434.2%
7West Indian 16,5051.7%
8Subsaharan African15,6481.6%
9French (except Basque)15,5411.6%
10Scottish15,3641.6%
11Dutch9,5511.0%
12Welsh8,8270.9%
13Scotch-Irish7,7520.8%
14Russian6,5550.7%
15Swedish5,1220.5%
16Ukrainian5,0810.5%
17Norwegian4,0400.4%
18Hungarian4,0190.4%
19French Canadian3,8820.4%
20Greek3,2560.3%
21Lithuanian3,2270.3%
22Arab2,8680.3%
23Swiss2,7450.3%
24Slovak2,0050.2%
25Portuguese1,8580.2%
26Danish1,4740.2%
27Czech1,3060.1%

Source: US Census Bureau population estimate 2020

Demography of Delaware

While alone (Non-Hispanics) in Delaware

Non-Hispanic Whites account for nearly 58.17% of Delaware’s population. Irish, German, English, and Italian Americans have made up the largest European ancestry groups in Delaware. As per the Census report, German Americans made up 13.8% of the population and number 134,504 members. Irish Americans made up 11.3% of the population and number 110,395

English Americans made up 9.6% of the population and number 93,218 followed by Italian ancestry at 8.7% of the population and number 85,015.

In 2020, 4.4% of the population considered themselves to be of only American ancestry (regardless of race or ethnicity). Many of these were of English or Scotch-Irish descent; however, their families have lived in the state for so long that they choose to identify as having “American” ancestry or do not know their ancestry.

African Americans in Delaware

African Americans are the second-largest group in Delaware. As of 2020, those of African ancestry accounted for 21.51% of  Delaware’s population.

Hispanics and Latinos in Delaware

Hispanics and Latinos are the third-largest groups in Delaware. Around 10.53% of Delaware’s Population claims Hispanic or Latin American ethnicity.  

Asian Americans in Delaware

Asian Americans are a minority group in Delaware. Americans of Asian descent formed 4.28% of the population. Its ethnic Asian population has grown rapidly since the late 1990s; the majority are Indians, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and ethnic Chinese.

Multi-Race in Delaware

Multiracial individuals are also a visible minority in Delaware and they are the fourth-largest group. People identifying as multiracial form 4.35% of the population, and number around 43,023 people. 

Native Americans in Delaware

Native Americans are a minority group in Delaware. Native Americans made up 0.25% of Delaware’s population and number 2,521 individuals as of 2020. 

Pacific Islanders in Delaware

Americans with origins from the Pacific Islands are the smallest minority in Delaware.  They made up 0.03% of Delaware’s population

Race and Ethnicity in Delaware 2024 | Ancestry in Delaware