---
title: "Most Americans express positive views of country’s growing racial and ethnic diversity"
description: "About six-in-ten U.S. adults say that the growing racial and ethnic diversity in America makes the country a better place to live."
date: "2018-06-14"
authors:
  - name: "Hannah Fingerhut"
    job_title: "Former Research Analyst"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/hannah-fingerhut/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/06/14/most-americans-express-positive-views-of-countrys-growing-racial-and-ethnic-diversity/"
categories:
  - "Politics & Policy"
  - "Race & Ethnicity"
  - "Race Relations"
  - "Race, Ethnicity & Politics"
  - "Racial Bias & Discrimination"
---

# Most Americans express positive views of country’s growing racial and ethnic diversity

[![Large partisan gaps in views on banning assault-style weapons and allowing teachers to carry guns](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2018/04/FT_18.04.16_TeensGuns.png?w=249)](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2018/04/FT_18.04.16_TeensGuns.png)

[![(Joana Toro/VIEWpress/Corbis via Getty Images)](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/FT_18.06.12_Diversity_feature.jpg)](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/06/14/most-americans-express-positive-views-of-countrys-growing-racial-and-ethnic-diversity/iftar-at-trump-tower/)
*(Joana Toro/VIEWpress/Corbis via Getty Images)*

A majority of Americans continue to say the United States is a better place to live as a result of its growing racial and ethnic diversity.

About six-in-ten U.S. adults (58%) say that having an increasing number of people of different races, ethnic groups and nationalities in the U.S. makes the country a better place to live; just 9% say it makes the country a worse place to live, while about three-in-ten (31%) say it doesn’t make much difference either way, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in April and May. These attitudes are only modestly changed from last year.

[![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2018/06/FT_18.06.11_diversity_Democrats-far-more-likely.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/06/14/most-americans-express-positive-views-of-countrys-growing-racial-and-ethnic-diversity/ft_18-06-11_diversity_democrats-far-more-likely/)

There remain wide differences in these views by party and ideology. Seven-in-ten Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say growing diversity in the U.S. makes it a better place to live, including 78% of Democrats who describe themselves as liberal. A smaller majority of conservative and moderate Democrats (66%) say the same.

By comparison, about half of Republicans and Republican leaners (47%) see a positive impact of growing diversity in the U.S.; 37% say it doesn’t make much difference, and another 14% say it makes the country a worse place to live. While positive views among Republicans vary little by ideology, negative views are somewhat more widespread among conservative Republicans than moderate and liberal Republicans. About one-in-six conservative Republicans (17%) say growing racial and ethnic diversity makes the country worse, while just 7% of moderate and liberal Republicans agree.

Partisans also differ in the importance they give to living in a racially and ethnically diverse community: Democrats are about twice as likely as Republicans (75% to 38%) to say this is very or somewhat important to them, according to [a Pew Research Center survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2018/05/22/americans-satisfaction-with-and-attachment-to-their-communities/#majorities-in-urban-rural-and-suburban-areas-say-its-very-important-for-them-to-live-in-a-community-that-is-a-good-place-to-raise-children) conducted earlier this year.

Across all age groups, about half or more say increasing diversity makes the country a better place to live. However, 15% of those 65 and older say growing ethnic diversity makes the U.S. a worse place to live, the highest among age groups.

[![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2018/06/FT_18.06.11_diversity_educational-divide.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/06/14/most-americans-express-positive-views-of-countrys-growing-racial-and-ethnic-diversity/ft_18-06-11_diversity_educational-divide/)

Views vary significantly by educational attainment, with more highly educated adults more likely to embrace growing racial and ethnic diversity.

About eight-in-ten adults with postgraduate degrees (81%) say growing diversity makes the country a better place to live. Smaller, though sizable, majorities of college graduates (70%) and those with some college experience (61%) say the same. Among those with a high school degree or less education, attitudes are divided: While 45% say growing diversity makes the country a better place, 42% say it doesn’t make much difference and 11% say it makes the country worse.

*Note: See full [topline results](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/FT_18.06.11_diversity_topline_for_release.pdf) and methodology [here](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2018/05/03/trump-viewed-less-negatively-on-issues-but-most-americans-are-critical-of-his-conduct/2/#methodology) (PDF).*