Growth of interracial marriage slows as more US Hispanics, Asians seek to pair with immigrants

Is US a melting pot? Interracial marriage slows

WASHINGTON — The latest census figures show that the growth of interracial marriages is slowing among U.S.-born Hispanics and Asians. Still, blacks are substantially more likely than before to marry whites.

The number of interracial marriages has risen 20 percent since 2000 to about 4.5 million. While still growing, that number is a marked drop-off from the 65 percent increase between 1990 and 2000.

About 8 percent of U.S. marriages are mixed-race, up from 7 percent in 2000.

A steady flow of immigration has given Hispanics and Asians more ethnically similar partners to choose from while creating some social distance from whites.

Experts say white wariness toward the growing minority population also may be contributing to racial divisions.