whiteminority

Whiteminority is a term used in sociology and political science to describe a demographic situation in which people identified as white comprise less than half of a country’s population. The concept is descriptive and depends on how whiteness is defined by national censuses, laws, and social norms in a given society. Because whiteness is a social category that changes over time and across places, the size of a white minority can shift with migration, fertility, and intermarriage, among other factors.

Whiteminority situations often arise in former settler colonies where the non-white population is numerically larger, or in countries with significant immigration and changing demographic patterns. The term is frequently discussed in relation to political power, representation, resource distribution, and social integration. In many cases, white populations may be numerically smaller yet retain disproportionate economic or political influence, though this varies widely by country and historical context. The concept also intersects with debates on national identity, multiculturalism, and immigration policy.

Scholars emphasize that whiteness is a social construct with fluid boundaries, and the label whiteminority does not imply uniform experiences among people identified as white. Local legal definitions, historical background, and demographic specifics strongly shape what it means to be a white minority in a given nation. Overall, the term highlights how demographic composition interacts with politics, economy, and social dynamics in different settings.