How are multi-racial persons classified?
Race data are collected on death certificates in accordance with the 1977 OMB standards on race and ethnicity. The 1977 standards specified four race categories (white, black, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Asian or Pacific Islander) and did not permit more than one racial category to be identified for an individual. Population data through the 1990s were also obtained in accordance with the 1977 standards. Race data on the 2000 census were collected in accordance with the 1997 OMB standards on race and ethnicity. The 1997 standards specify 5 single-race categories (American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, black, Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and white) and permit the reporting of more than one race. As a result, there were 31 racial groups on the 2000 census (5 single-race groups and 26 multiple-race groups). NCHS, in collaboration with the Census Bureau, developed methodology for bridging the multiple-race groups to single-race categories, so that the race categories in
