'Transformative': US Census to add Middle Eastern, North African category
US Census to include separate category for Middle East and North Africa heritage in 2030 for improved data collection on race and ethnicity.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
The United States Census will include a separate category for people with roots in the Middle East and North Africa for the first time in 2030. This change follows new federal standards announced by the White House Office of Management and Budget to improve data collection on race and ethnicity. Advocates, such as Maya Berry from the Arab American Institute, see this update as transformative, as it will provide a more accurate representation of diverse communities. The previous categorisation method resulted in undercounts and challenges for research on health and social trends. The new standards, beyond the census, aim to enhance the quality of federal data and align with demographic diversity in the US. While seen as a positive first step, advocates believe further refinement is needed to ensure an inclusive and fair representation of all groups.