Towards Recognition: Where the MENA Category Stands for the 2030 Census

posted on: Sep 3, 2025

By: Layla Mahmoud / Arab America Contributing Writer

As the U.S. prepares for the 2030 Census, a landmark shift is underway: for the first time, federal forms will offer a dedicated category for Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) individuals. This isn’t just a box to check; advocates hail it as a vital step toward visibility, representation, and resource equity for millions who have long been counted incorrectly as “white.” Arab America contributing writer Layla Mahmoud breaks down where things stand now, what’s next, and why MENA classification matters, especially for Arab American and broader MENA-identifying communities.

Current State of Play: Policy Changes in Motion

In March 2024, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) finalized new standards that replace decades-old race and ethnicity designations. These standards now combine race and ethnicity into a single question and officially add MENA as a distinct category, including groups like Arabs, Iranians, Egyptians, and Kurds. Federal agencies will implement these updates across all forms, including the 2030 Census.

OMB gave federal agencies 18 months to plan compliance and up to five years to update all surveys and administrative forms with the new standards. The American Community Survey, which shapes federal policy and funding decisions, will begin testing these revisions around 2027.

What Prompts the Shift: Why MENA Matters

For decades, federal policy classified MENA-identifying individuals as white, erasing their visibility in demographic data and limiting funding in key areas. The new category aims to improve resource distribution, redistricting, civil rights enforcement, public health research, and nonprofit funding areas where these communities previously lacked recognition.

In the 2020 Census, researchers estimated that more than 3.5 million Americans had MENA heritage, including sizable groups of Lebanese, Iranian, and Egyptian descent. With better categorization, advocates expect more accurate health and economic data. Early findings already show disparate health trends within Arab-origin groups.

Advocacy and Reservations: Mixed Emotions, High Stakes

Longtime advocates, including the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and Arab American Institute, praise the change as a vital step toward visibility and equity. “It’s transformative,” said Maya Berry of the Arab American Institute.

Yet some community members express concerns. They argue the MENA category still masks significant internal diversity, particularly for Black Arabs, Armenians, or others not explicitly listed as examples. This tension underscores the continued push for more inclusive subcategory options.

Looking Ahead: What Comes Next?

Census Day 2030 falls on April 1, 2030. Between now and then, federal agencies must finalize data collection methods through rulemaking, testing surveys, and local preparation. States, local governments, and organizations must also align their data systems with the new standards, revamping health, education, and social service programs to integrate MENA tracking.

For Arab Americans and other MENA community members, the coming years create a rare chance for demographic affirmation. Accurate data can unlock representation, visibility, and equitable services, if policymakers and institutions follow through.

Conclusion

The move to add a MENA category in federal data collection is more than symbolic. It’s a structural shift with far-reaching implications. One that acknowledges what advocates have said for decades: invisibility in data enforces invisibility in resources, policy, and identity. The road to full visibility may still have bumps, and disparities may persist, but as 2030 approaches, the groundwork for recognition is finally being laid.

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