The US presidential election race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton is in its final week, with polls indicating a small lead for Clinton.

But polling also shows a story that's equally important, of a country divided down demographic lines. A country where men and whites tend to back the Republican, while women and ethnic minorities flock to the Democrat's candidate.

Just as the UK's Brexit referendum saw major divides among age, economic and educational backgrounds, the US election also looks likely to throw up similar divisions based on where, how and to whom a person was born.

Race will be as big an issue as ever

In 2012, 56 per cent of white people backed Romney - but Obama won the support of nine out of 10 nonwhite voters - and 19 out of 20 black people.

Despite the obvious attraction of voting for America's first black president in 2008 and 2012, ethnic minorities still look set to support the Democrat candidate this time round.

Just 17 per cent of Hispanics and three per cent of black people back Trump, according to recent polling.