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Montana Population by Race and Ethnicity

Montana, the seventh-least populous U.S. state has a racially and ethnically diverse population. As of 2020, White (Non-Hispanic)  are the largest group in Montana followed by Native American Indians.

also read about the Population of Montana

Ethnic and Racial Composition

In 2020, the White alone (non-Hispanic) population was the largest racial or ethnic group in Montana, comprising 83.13% of the total population. It was followed by the American Indian population whose share was 5.96%.

Two or more races population was the third largest group at 5.05%. Hispanic or Latino is at 4.17%.

The ethnic composition of  Montana is as follows

Race and OriginActual PopulationPercentage 2020
White alone901,31883.13%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone64,5925.96%
Two or more races:54,7495.05%
Hispanic or Latino45,1994.17%
Asian alone8,0770.74%
Black or African American alone5,0770.47%
Some Other Race alone4,3740.40%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islanders8390.08%
Total1,084,225 

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 Montana

As per Census Studies & estimate German, Irish, English, Norwegian and American have made the five largest ancestry groups in Montana. 

The Largest Ancestry in Montana is as follows

#ANCESTRYEstimatePercent
1German255,30523.9%
2Irish149,14714.0%
3English115,84910.8%
4Norwegian89,0628.3%
5American50,5114.7%
6French (except Basque)36,2153.4%
7Italian34,7213.2%
8Scottish29,1312.7%
9Swedish28,8732.7%
10Dutch21,4472.0%
11Polish19,7821.9%
12Scotch-Irish14,4291.4%
13Danish10,5261.0%
14Welsh9,9570.9%
15Russian9,1490.9%
16French Canadian8,2120.8%
17Czech6,4730.6%
18Swiss5,7960.5%
19Hungarian4,1160.4%
20Ukrainian3,7390.3%
21Subsaharan African2,7600.3%
22Greek2,7350.3%
23Portuguese2,1010.2%
24Arab1,8440.2%
25West Indian1,3340.1%
26Slovak1,0330.1%
27Lithuanian1,0190.1%

Source: US Census Bureau population estimate 2020

Demography of Montana

While alone (Non-Hispanics) in Montana

Non-Hispanic Whites account for nearly 83.13% of Montana’s population. German, Irish, English, and Norwegian Americans have made up the largest European ancestry groups in Montana. As per the Census report, German Americans made up 23.9% of the population and number 255,305 members. Irish Americans made up 14% of the population and number 149,417

English Americans made up 10.8% of the population and number 115,849 followed by Norweigan ancestry at 8.3% of the population and number 89062.

Native Americans in Montana

Native Americans are the second largest group in Montana. Native Americans made up 5.96% of Montana’s population and number 64,592 individuals as of 2020. Of Montana’s 56 counties, Native Americans constitute a majority in three: Big Horn, Glacier, and Roosevelt. Other counties with large Native American populations include Blaine, Cascade, Hill, Missoula, and Yellowstone Counties

Multi-Race in Montana

Multiracial individuals are also a visible minority in Montana and they are the third-largest group. People identifying as multiracial form 5.05% of the population, and number around 54,749 people. 

Hispanics and Latinos in Montana

Hispanics and Latinos are the fourth largest groups in Montana. Around 4.17% of Montana’s Population claims Hispanic or Latin American ethnicity.  

African Americans in Montana

African Americans are a small minority group in Montana. As of 2020, those of African ancestry accounted for 0.47% of Montana’s population.

Asian Americans in Montana

Asian Americans are a minority group in Montana. Americans of Asian descent formed 0.74% of the population. Its ethnic Asian population has grown rapidly since the late 1990s; the majority are Indians, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and ethnic Chinese.

Pacific Islanders in Montana

Americans with origins from the Pacific Islands are the smallest minority in Montana.  They made up 0.08% of Montana’s population

Race and Ethnicity in Montana 2024 | Ancestry in Montana