Office of Minority Health

(Map of the US with the top 10 states displaying the
largest Hispanic/Latino population according to the Census Bureau)

NY - CA - IL - TX - AZ - NJ - CO - GA - FL - NM

Overview (Demographics): This ethnic group includes any person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. According to the 2017 U.S. Census Bureau population estimate, there are 58.8 million Hispanics living in the United States. This group represents 18.1 percent of the U.S. total population. In 2017, among Hispanic subgroups, Mexicans ranked as the largest at 62.3 percent. Following Mexicans are: Puerto Ricans (9.5 percent), Central Americans (9.5 percent), South Americans (6.3 percent), and Cubans (3.9 percent). In 2017, states with the largest Hispanic populations were California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, Arizona, New Jersey, Colorado, New Mexico, Georgia. Another significant point is that in 2017, 31.5 percent of Hispanics were under the age 18 in comparison to 18.8 percent of non-Hispanic whites.

Language Fluency: Language fluency varies among Hispanic subgroups who reside within the mainland United States. Census 2017 data shows that 72.0 percent of Hispanics speak a language other than English at home: 71.6 percent of Mexicans, 59.2 percent of Puerto Ricans, 78.1 percent of Cubans, 86.7 percent of Central Americans. 29.8 percent of Hispanics state that they are not fluent in English.

Educational Attainment: According to a 2017 U.S. Census Bureau report, 68.7 percent of Hispanics in comparison to 92.9 percent non-Hispanic whites had a high school diploma. 16.0 percent of Hispanics in comparison to 35.8 percent of non-Hispanic whites had a bachelor's degree or higher. 5.0 percent of Hispanics held a graduate or advanced professional degree, as compared to 13.8 percent of the non-Hispanic white population.

Economics: According to a 2017 U.S. Census Bureau report, 25.0 percent of Hispanics, in comparison to 14.7 percent non-Hispanic whites, worked within service occupations. 21.9 percent of Hispanics in comparison to 42.9 percent of whites worked in managerial or professional occupations. Among full-time year-round workers in 2017, the average Hispanic/Latino median household income was $49,793 in comparison to $65,845 for non-Hispanic white households. In 2017, the unemployment rate for Hispanics was 6.0, as compared to 4.2 for non-Hispanic whites. In 2017, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that 19.4 percent of Hispanics in comparison to 9.6 percent of non-Hispanic whites were living at the poverty level.

Insurance Coverage: It is significant to note that Hispanics have the highest uninsured rates of any racial or ethnic group within the United States. In 2017, the Census Bureau reported that 49.0 percent of Hispanics had private insurance coverage, as compared to 75.4 percent for non-Hispanic whites. Among Hispanic subgroups, coverage varied as follows: 46.7 percent of Mexicans, 54.6 percent of Puerto Ricans, 55.9 percent of Cubans, 41.9 percent of Central Americans. In 2017, 38.2 percent of all Hispanics had public health insurance coverage, as compared to  33.7 percent for non-Hispanic whites. Public health insurance coverage varied among Hispanic subgroups: 38.4 percent of Mexicans, 45.1 percent of Puerto Ricans, 35.6 of Cubans, and 34.4 percent of Central Americans. Those without health insurance coverage varied among Hispanic subgroups: 19.3 percent of Mexicans, 7.9 percent of Puerto Ricans, 13.7 percent of Cubans and 27.2 percent of Central Americans. In 2017, 17.8 percent of the Hispanic population was not covered by health insurance, as compared to 5.9 percent of the non-Hispanic white population.

Health: According to Census Bureau projections, the 2015 life expectancies at birth for Hispanics are 81.9 years, with 84.1 years for women, and 79.6 years for men. For non-Hispanic whites the projected life expectancies are 79.8 years, with 82.0 years for women, and 77.5 years for men. Hispanic health is often shaped by factors such as language/cultural barriers, lack of access to preventive care, and the lack of health insurance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has cited some of the leading causes of illness and death among Hispanics, which include heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries (accidents), stroke, and diabetes. Some other health conditions and risk factors that significantly affect Hispanics are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, HIV/AIDS, obesity, suicide, and liver disease.

Other Health Concerns: Hispanics have higher rates of obesity than non-Hispanic whites. There are also disparities among Hispanic subgroups. For instance, while the rate of low birth weight infants is lower for the total Hispanic population in comparison to non-Hispanic whites, Puerto Ricans have a low birth weight rate that is almost twice that of non-Hispanic whites. Also, Puerto Ricans suffer disproportionately from asthma, HIVAIDS and infant mortality. Mexican Americans suffer disproportionately from diabetes.

Full Census Reports:
The Hispanic Population: 2010 [PDF | 1.7MB]
Language Use in the United States: 2011 [PDF | 1.1MB]
Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin: 2010 [PDF | 1.9MB]
Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2017 [PDF | 1.25MB]
Income and Poverty in the United States: 2017 [PDF | 1.25MB]
Census Bureau, 2018. 2017 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates