New census data show that racial and ethnic minorities have grown faster than the white population in Washington since 2010.

Non-Hispanic whites declined from 72.7 percent of the state’s total population in 2010 to 71.6 percent in 2012, according to the census.

Meanwhile, other groups–Hispanics, African-Americans, Asians, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, and people of two or more races–increased as a percentage of the total population in Washington.  American Indians/Alaska Natives declined slightly.

Asians are the fastest-growing race or ethnic group in Washington.  Between 2010 and 2012, the state’s Asian population increased by 8.1 percent. Asians are also the fastest-growing group nationally.

Among the 50 states, Washington has the fifth-highest percentage of Asians, the fourth-highest percentage of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, and the fourth-highest percentage of people who are two or more races.

Also in the new census data: Washington is getting older.  The median age of state residents rose from 37.3 in 2010 to 37.5 in 2012.

Washington seniors are increasing in number more rapidly than any other age group. Between 2010 and 2012, the population aged 65 and over grew by 9.8 percent–almost four times faster than the state’s population as a whole.

The data reveal a wide variance in age among the different race and ethnic groups.  Non-Hispanic whites in Washington have a median age of 41.6, the oldest among the groups. People who are two or more races are at the other end of the spectrum, with a median age of 18.8.