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Hispanics in the USA

Choose a Topic: Caida de la Mollera Confianza Curanderismo El Decaimiento El Empacho Formal or Familiar? Hispanics in the USA Hispanic or Latino? The Latino Family Mal de Aire Mal de Ojo Susto

Population

As of July 2008, 46.9 million Hispanics were living in the United States. 1.5 million were added between July 2007 and July 2008, making Hispanics the fastest growing minority group. The projected population for 2050 is 132.8 million.

The U.S. Hispanic population ranks second in the world (Mexico is first). In 2007, the ethnic breakdown was as follows:

• Mexican: 64%
• Puerto Rican: 9%
• Cuban: 3.5%
• Salvadoran: 3.1%,
• Dominican: 2.7%
• Other: 17.7%

Hispanics in the US are younger than the population as a whole. The median age of the Hispanic population was 27.7 years (compared with 36.8 for entire population). In 2008, 25% of the children under the age of 5 were Hispanic.

States

In 2008, 48% of Hispanics lived in California or Texas (California: 13.5 million, Texas: 8.9 million) and 16 states had at least a half-million Hispanic residents, with New Mexico having the highest percentage (45%). The two states with the highest percentage increases in Hispanic population (July 2007 - July 2008) were South Carolina (7.7%) and North Carolina (7.4%). The county with the highest percentage of Hispanics was Starr County, Texas (97%). Hispanics are the largest minority group in 20 states.

Business

In 2002 there were 1.6 million Hispanic-owned businesses, with 44.6% being owned by people of Mexican origin. Revenue generated was $222 billion, up 19% from 1997. The rate of growth of Hispanic-owned businesses between 1997 and 2002 was triple the national average.

Families and Children

In 2008 there were 10.4 million Hispanic households in the US, with 66% consisting of married couples. 43% of Hispanic households consisted of married couples with children younger than 18. Of all Hispanic children in the US, 70% live in two-parent households.

Spanish Language

In 2007, there were 35 million U.S. residents 5 years old or older who spoke Spanish at home (12 percent of the entire US population). Of these, more than half also spoke English "very well."

Income, Povery and Health Insurance

In 2008, the median income for Hispanic households was $37,913 (down 5.6% from the previous year when adjusted for inflation). 23.2% of Hispanics lived in poverty (up from 21.5% the previous year). 69.3% of Hispanics had some form of health insurance (up from 67.9% the previous year).

Education

In 2007, 53% of Hispanic 4-year-olds were enrolled in pre-school (up 10% from 1997). In 2008, 62% of Hispanics 25 and older had at least a high school education, with 13% having a bachelor's degree or higher. One million had advanced degrees.

Names

In 2000, the ten most popular Hispanic surnames, in order of popularity were: Garcia, Rodriguez, Martinez, Hernandez, Lopez, Gonzalez, Perez, Sanchez, Ramirez and Torres.

Jobs

In 2007, 67% of Hispanics 16 and older were in the civilian work force. Approximately 24% of these had service related jobs, while 21% worked in sales or did office work. Another 18% worked in management or professional occupations; 18% in production and transportation; 16% in construction, extraction and maintenance; and finally, about 2% in farming, fishing and forestry.

Voting

About 9.7 million Hispanic citizens voted in the 2008 presidential election (2 million more than in 2004). A larger percentage of Hispanics exercised their right to vote in 2008 than in 2004 (50% v. 47%).

Serving Our Country

In 2007, there were 1.1 million Hispanic veterans of the U.S . armed forces.

Other Resources

• This data from the U.S. Census Bureau

More Topics

1. Caida de la Mollera
2. Confianza
3. Curanderismo
4. El Decaimiento
5. El Empacho
6. Formal or Familiar?
7. Hispanics in the USA
8. Hispanic or Latino?
9. The Latino Family
10. Mal de Aire
11. Mal de Ojo
12. Susto