Between 3.1 million and 5.2 million U.S. residents were Middle Eastern or North African in 2024, according to a Pew Research Center analysis.
The estimates range from 0.9% to 1.5% of the U.S. population, depending on how the group is defined.
Pew examined differences among measures involving ancestry, birthplace, language and other characteristics.
The range reflects how population counts can change when researchers use different definitions rather than a single, uniform category.
New federal statistical standards establish a distinct Middle Eastern or North African category, with implementation required by March 2029.
The analysis also discusses delays in adopting the category and proposals affecting how it would appear in the 2030 census.
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