What does the US electorate look like in 2012?

The United States has a total resident population of 314,648,000, making it the third most populous country in the world after China and India, official figures show.

Here is how the population breaks down by race and ethnicity, according to the 2010 Census:

White or European American – 72.4 percent

Hispanic or Latino – 16.4 percent

Black or African American – 12.6 percent

Asian – 4.8 percent

+ The total above 100 percent reflects the fact that several people listed themselves with more than one race or ethnicity

Here is how different groups voted in the 2008 presidential election, either for Democratic President Barack Obama or the losing Republican nominee John McCain:

(Percentage of the electorate in brackets)

SEX

Men (47 percent) – 49 percent for Obama, 48 percent for McCain

Women (53 percent) – 56 percent for Obama, 43 percent for McCain

RACE/ETHNICITY

White (74 percent) – 43 percent for Obama, 55 percent for McCain

Black (13 percent) – 95 percent for Obama, four percent for McCain

Hispanic (nine percent) – 67 percent for Obama, 31 percent for McCain

Asian (two percent) – 62 percent for Obama, 35 percent for McCain

AGE

18-29 (18 percent) – 66 percent for Obama, 32 percent for McCain

30-44 (29 percent) – 52 percent for Obama, 46 percent for McCain

45-59 (30 percent) – 49 percent for Obama, 49 percent for McCain

60+ (23 percent) – 47 percent for Obama, 51 percent for McCain

GEOGRAPHY

Northeast (21 percent) – 59 percent for Obama, 40 percent for McCain

Midwest (24 percent) – 54 percent for Obama, 44 percent for McCain

South (32 percent) – 45 percent for Obama, 54 percent for McCain

West (23 percent) – 57 percent for Obama, 40 percent for McCain

EDUCATION

Not a high school graduate (four percent) – 63 percent for Obama, 35 percent for McCain

High school graduate (20 percent) – 52 percent for Obama, 46 percent for McCain

Some college education (31 percent) – 51 percent for Obama, 47 percent for McCain

College graduate (28 percent) – 50 percent for Obama, 48 percent for McCain

Post graduate education (17 percent) – 58 percent for Obama, 40 percent for McCain

RELIGION

White Protestants (42 percent) – 34 percent for Obama, 65 percent for McCain

White Catholics (19 percent) – 47 percent for Obama, 52 percent for McCain

Jewish (two percent) – 78 percent for Obama, 21 percent for McCain

Born-again or evangelical Christians (38 percent) – 41 percent for Obama, 57 percent for McCain

Attend religious service at least once a week (40 percent) – 43 percent for Obama, 55 percent for McCain

FAMILY INCOME

Under $15,000 (6 percent) – 73 percent for Obama, 25 percent for McCain

$15,000-$29,999 (12 percent) – 60 percent for Obama, 37 percent for McCain

$30,000-$49,999 (19 percent) – 55 percent for Obama, 43 percent for McCain

$50,000-$74,999 (21 percent) – 48 percent for Obama, 49 percent for McCain

$75,000-$99,999 (15 percent) – 51 percent for Obama, 48 percent for McCain

$100,000 and over (26 percent) – 49 percent for Obama, 49 percent for McCain

$200,000 and over (six percent) – 52 percent for Obama, 46 percent for McCain

+ A record 24 million Hispanics will be eligible to vote in the 2012 election.