American Indian and White biracial adults are the largest multiracial group, according to the new study. Image from Pew Research Center

Americans with American Indian and White ancestry make up the largest segment of the multi-racial population in the United States, according to a study released by the Pew Research Center today.

Based on a survey of 1,555 American adults, 6.9 percent identify as multi-racial. Within this group, mixed Indian-White adults represent 50 percent, by far by the largest segment.

Adults with Indian and African American ancestry followed with 12 percent, according to Pew. A smaller segment -- 6 percent -- claimed Indian, White and African descent.

The data means some 68 percent of multi-racial Americans claim descent from the original nations of the U.S.

"The relatively small share of all U.S. adults who are mixed race obscures the rapid growth of the multiracial population. If current trends continue—and evidence suggests they may accelerate—the Census Bureau projects that the multiracial population will triple by 2060," the center said.

Despite the large Indian-White segment, Pew found that members of this group were less likely to identify as mixed race than other groups. The reasons were not explored in detail.

According to the study, 47 percent of Indian-White adults said they been subjected to racial slurs or jokes. But a whopping 71 percent of Indian and African-American adults reported the same.

Only 40 percent of Indian-White Americans reported receiving poor service at restaurants or other businesses. In comparison, 67 percent of Indian and African-American adults reported the same.

In another interesting data point, Pew found that 53 percent of Indian-White adults lean Republican or consider themselves to be Republican. That compares closely to the 55 percent of single-race White Americans who are aligned with the GOP.

On the other hand, only 20 percent of Indian and African American adults identified with the Republicans. Some 72 percent said they leaned Democrat or considered themselves to be Democrats.

Get the Story:
Pew: Multiracial population changing the face of the U.S. (The Washington Post 6/11)
Pew: White-Native American adults largest multiracial group (AP 6/11)