Characteristics of the U.S. Hispanic population: 1980-2015
There were 56.5 million Hispanics in the United States in 2015, comprising 17.6% of the total U.S. population. In 1980, with a population of 14.8 million, Hispanics made up just 6.5% of the total U.S. population. Click on the expand buttons below the summary tables to see detailed tables for each.
For a profile of the foreign-born population in the United States, click here.
Population/Hispanic Origin/Language Use/Race
1980
1990
2000
2010
2015
Population (#)
14,775,080
21,836,851
35,204,480
50,729,570
56,476,777
Mexican
N/A
N/A
N/A
64.9%
63.3%
Foreign born
28.3%
35.7%
40.1%
37.1%
34.4%
Speaking English at least very well (ages 5 and older)
59.0%
60.7%
59.3%
64.8%
69.0%
White
N/A
N/A
47.8%
64.1%
66.3%
Age/Gender/Marital Status/Fertility
1980
1990
2000
2010
2015
Median age (in years)
22
25
25
27
28
Female
50.4%
54.9%
55.0%
47.8%
45.8%
Married (ages 18 and older)
60.5%
54.9%
55.0%
47.8%
45.8%
Women ages 15-44 giving birth in past year
N/A
N/A
N/A
8.1%
6.7%
Educational Attainment and Enrollment (highest degree completed, ages 25 and older)
1980
1990
2000
2010
2015
High school graduate or less
78.4%
71.7%
69.6%
64.1%
61.4%
Two-year degree/Some college
13.9%
19.2%
19.9%
22.8%
23.6%
Bachelor’s degree or more
7.7%
9.1%
10.5%
13.1%
15.0%
Work/Earnings/Income (ages 16 and older)
1980
1990
2000
2010
2015
In labor force (among civilian population)
62.9%
67.3%
61.2%
67.6%
67.0%
Median annual personal earnings
(in 2015 dollars, among those with earnings)
N/A
$21,114
$23,406
$21,742
$24,000
Median annual household income (in 2015 dollars)
$36,751
$42,227
$45,835
$43,484
$44,800
Poverty
1980
1990
2000
2010
2015
Living in poverty
23.2%
24.9%
22.5%
24.7%
21.9%
Homeownership and Household Characteristics
1980
1990
2000
2010
2015
In family households
93.3%
92.6%
92.3%
91.2%
90.6%
Region and Top Five States of Residence
1980
1990
2000
2010
2015
West
42.7%
45.5%
43.4%
40.8%
40.0%
California
31.0%
34.6%
31.0%
27.8%
26.9%
South
30.6%
30.4%
32.8%
36.1%
36.9%
Texas
20.4%
19.6%
18.9%
18.8%
18.9%
Florida
5.7%
7.1%
7.6%
8.4%
8.8%
Northeast
17.9%
16.6%
14.9%
13.8%
14.0%
New York
11.4%
9.8%
8.1%
6.8%
6.6%
Midwest
8.7%
7.6%
8.9%
9.2%
9.1%
Illinois
4.4%
4.0%
4.3%
4.0%
3.8%
Source: Pew Research Center tabulations of 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000 censuses and 2010 and 2015 American Community Surveys (IPUMS). Total foreign-born population estimates for 1960-2000 shown here may differ from other reported estimates since they are based on IPUMS data files (1% samples in 1960 and 1970 and 5% samples in 1980, 1990 and 2000), and are not based on U.S. Census Bureau population estimates.
“Statistical Portrait of the Foreign-Born Population in the United States, 1960-2015”
