More than eight-in-ten Hispanics self-identify themselves as being either of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Salvadoran or Dominican origin. Hispanics of Mexican origin are by far the largest group, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the Hispanic population in the U.S.
The five population groups differ along several dimensions — for example, in the share of each group that is foreign born, citizen (by birth or naturalization) and proficient in English. The groups vary by average age and tend to live in different areas within the United States. Likewise, the groups display varying levels of education, homeownership rates, and poverty rates.
These and other characteristics are explored in five fact sheets, one for each country-of-origin group. Each population is also compared to all Hispanics and the U.S. population overall.
Hispanics of Mexican Origin in the United States, 2007
A total of 29.2 million Hispanics of Mexican origin resided in the United States in 2007. Mexicans are the largest population of Hispanic origin living in the U.S. accounting for nearly two-thirds (64.3%) of the U.S. Hispanic population in 2007. Four-in-ten Mexicans (39.9%) in the United States are foreign born, compared with 39.8% of Hispanics and 12.6% of the U.S. population overall. Most immigrants from Mexico (62.6%) arrived in the U.S. in 1990 or later. Fewer than half of Hispanics of Mexican origin (49.3%) and Hispanics overall (47.3%) are married.
Hispanics of Puerto Rican Origin in the United States, 20071
Some 4.1 million Puerto Ricans resided in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia in 2007. That is a slightly greater number than the population of Puerto Rico itself in 2007, which was 3.9 million.
Hispanics of Cuban Origin in the United States, 2007
A total of 1.6 million Hispanics of Cuban origin resided in the United States in 2007. Cubans are the third-largest population of Hispanic origin living in the United States, accounting for 3.5% of the U.S. Hispanic population in 2007. Six-in-ten Cubans (60.7%) in the United States are foreign born, compared with 39.8% of Hispanics and 12.6% of the U.S. population overall. Hispanics of Cuban origin are more likely than Hispanics overall to be married — 50.6% versus 47.3%.
Hispanics of Salvadoran Origin in the United States, 2007
A total of 1.5 million Hispanics of Salvadoran origin resided in the United States in 2007. Salvadorans are the fourth-largest population of Hispanic origin living in the United States, accounting for 3.2% of the U.S. Hispanic population in 2007. Fewer than half of Hispanics of Salvadoran origin (43.8%) speak English proficiently.
Hispanics of Dominican Origin in the United States, 2007
A total of 1.2 million Hispanics of Dominican origin resided in the United States in 2007. Dominicans are the fifth-largest population of Hispanic origin living in the U.S., accounting for 2.6% of the U.S. Hispanic population in 2007. Dominicans are younger than the U.S. population and are less likely to be married than other Hispanic groups.
You can browse detailed demographic and economic profiles for all five demographic profiles at www.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/hispanic.
*Profiles are based on the Pew Hispanic Center’s tabulations of the Census Bureau’s 2007 American Community Survey (ACS).
1.The demographic profile of Puerto Ricans in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia was released previously in July.
