Census Data Shows Georgia Keeps Diversifying, With Nonwhite Residents Driving All Its Growth
Georgia has added more than half a million residents since 2020, and every last one of them, on net, is nonwhite. New estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, released in June 2026 and analyzed by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, show that nonwhite residents accounted for all of the state's growth over the past five years. Georgia is now roughly split down the middle, with about 52 percent of its residents identifying as nonwhite.
The growth was not evenly shared among groups. More than 40 percent of the new residents between 2020 and 2025 are Hispanic, another 33 percent are Black, and 20 percent are Asian. Over the same period, the state lost about 25,000 white, non-Hispanic residents.
| Rank | Group | Share of Georgia's 2020 to 2025 growth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hispanic | More than 40% |
| 2 | Black | 33% |
| 3 | Asian | 20% |
| 4 | White, non-Hispanic | Declined |
Three of those shifts are part of larger national patterns the Census Bureau flagged: the Hispanic population is growing the fastest in raw numbers, the Asian population is growing the fastest by percentage, and the white, non-Hispanic population is slightly shrinking. Our post on which race is increasing the most lays out that national picture in more detail.
Black and Asian growth clusters in metro Atlanta's suburbs
The gains are concentrated in the suburban ring around Atlanta, and the two groups split it geographically. Nearly three-quarters of Black population growth landed in just 10 counties, most of them in Atlanta's southern suburbs. Henry County led the state, adding more than 30,000 Black residents in five years.
Asian residents, the fastest-growing group in Georgia, moved in the other direction, toward the northern suburbs. More than three-quarters of that growth occurred in 10 counties, led by Gwinnett and Forsyth. Gwinnett kept playing an outsized role in the state's diversification: it gained nearly 100,000 minority residents over the five years while losing close to 35,000 white, non-Hispanic residents.
Latino growth is more spread out
Hispanic growth was far more dispersed than Black or Asian growth. The 10 counties with the largest Latino gains accounted for slightly less than half of the statewide total, meaning the rest was scattered across the map. The biggest concentrations showed up in counties that already had large Latino communities and significant agricultural economies, including Hall and Whitfield, both centers of poultry processing.
More counties are crossing the majority-minority line
The tipping points are stacking up. Long County, on the coast, has become Georgia's 39th majority-minority county. And the AJC analysis found that 13 more counties would join it within five years if their current rates of change hold.
One of them carries particular historical weight. Nearly 90 percent of Forsyth County's growth over the past five years came from Asian residents. Forsyth is the county where a white mob drove out its entire Black population in 1912, and at its current pace it is on track to become majority-nonwhite within five years, a reversal it would be hard to overstate.
You can explore the population and racial makeup of Georgia and any of its counties on CensusEasy, see how its cities rank on the most diverse cities list, or compare any two places with the compare tool.
Sources
Reporting and the county-level analysis are from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (June 2026). The underlying figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 population estimates by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin.
North Carolina's Hispanic and Asian Populations Keep Growing, Slowing the State's Aging
New Census Bureau estimates show North Carolina's Hispanic population grew 4.5% last year and its Asian population is up 32% since 2020, despite tighter immigration enforcement. Because both groups are younger, they are slowing the rise in the state's median age.
Former Census Bureau Program Manager Sentenced to Two Years in $790,000 Kickback Scheme
Camille Jones, a former supervisory official at the U.S. Census Bureau, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for steering a multimillion-dollar contract to a relative's company in exchange for $790,000 in kickbacks.
Where Do the Most Spaniard Americans Live?
The Census Bureau counts 1,001,966 people of Spaniard origin, meaning from Spain itself. California leads, but the tell is New Mexico at fourth, home to the centuries-old Hispano descendants of Spanish colonists.
Is Georgia becoming more diverse?
Yes. Nonwhite residents accounted for all of Georgia's growth of more than 500,000 people since 2020, and the state is now about 52% nonwhite, according to new Census Bureau estimates.
Which groups are driving Georgia's growth?
Hispanic residents account for more than 40% of new residents since 2020, followed by Black residents at 33% and Asian residents at 20%. The white non-Hispanic population declined by about 25,000.
How many Georgia counties are majority-minority?
Long County became the 39th, and the AJC analysis found 13 more counties could become majority-nonwhite within five years if current rates of change continue.
