There were nearly 60 million Latinos in the United States in 2017, accounting for approximately 18% 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. For more, read the accompanying blog post, “Key facts about U.S. Hispanics and their diverse heritage.” For facts on the foreign-born population in the United States, see our profile on U.S. immigrants.
Hispanic population in the U.S., 2000-2017
Year
U.S. Hispanic Population
2000
35,204,000
2010
50,730,000
2015
56,477,000
2017
58,838,000
Note: Hispanics are of any race. Changes in the wording of the Hispanic origin question in the 2000 decennial census may have led to an undercount of some Hispanic origin groups in that year. For more, see "Counting the 'Other Hispanics'."
Source: Pew Research Center tabulations of 2000 census (5% IPUMS) and 2010, 2015 and 2017 American Community Surveys (1% IPUMS).
Pew Research Center
Top three states by share of U.S. Hispanic population, 2017
State
Share of total U.S. Hispanic population
California
26%
Texas
19%
Florida
9%
Pew Research Center
Top 10 U.S. metropolitan areas by Hispanic population, 2017
Metro area
U.S. Hispanic population
Los Angeles
6,031,000
New York
4,988,000
Miami
2,763,000
Houston
2,548,000
Riverside, CA
2,342,000
Chicago
2,122,000
Dallas-Fort Worth
2,114,000
Phoenix
1,464,000
San Antonio
1,359,000
San Diego
1,129,000
Pew Research Center
Length of time in the U.S. for Hispanic immigrants, 2000-2017
Year
0 to 10 years
More than 10 years
2000
46%
54%
2010
36%
64%
2015
23%
77%
2017
22%
78%
Note: Hispanics are of any race. Figures might not sum to 100% due to rounding. Changes in the wording of the Hispanic origin question in the 2000 decennial census may have led to an undercount of some Hispanic origin groups in that year. For more, see "Counting the 'Other Hispanics'."
Source: Pew Research Center tabulations of 2000 census (5% IPUMS) and 2010, 2015 and 2017 American Community Surveys (1% IPUMS).
Pew Research Center
English proficiency of Hispanic population in the U.S., 2017
Group
English proficient
All
70%
U.S. born
90%
Foreign born
36%
Adults
64%
Note: Hispanics are of any race. Proficient English speakers are those who speak only English at home or speak English at least "very well."
Source: Pew Research Center tabulations of 2017 American Community Surveys (1% IPUMS).
Pew Research Center
Educational attainment of Hispanic population in the U.S., 2017
Group
High school or less
Two-year degree/Some college
Bachelor's degree or more
All Hispanics
59%
25%
16%
U.S. born Hispanics
47%
33%
20%
Foreign born Hispanics
71%
17%
12%
All Americans
39%
29%
32%
Note: Hispanics are of any race. "High school" includes persons who have attained a high school diploma or its equivalent, such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.
Source: Pew Research Center tabulations of 2017 American Community Surveys (1% IPUMS).
Pew Research Center
U.S. Hispanic population living in poverty, 2017
Group
Share in poverty
All Hispanics
19%
U.S. born Hispanics
20%
Foreign born Hispanics
18%
All Americans
13%
Pew Research Center
Demographic characteristics of U.S. Hispanic population, 2017
Among U.S. Hispanics
All
U.S. born
Foreign born
MEDIAN AGE (in years)
29
20
43
AGE
Younger than 5
9%
13%
1%
5-17
23%
32%
5%
18-29
20%
22%
14%
30-39
15%
12%
22%
40-49
13%
8%
23%
50-64
13%
8%
23%
65+
7%
5%
12%
NATIVITY
U.S. born
67%
-
-
Foreign born
33%
-
-
YEARS IN U.S. (among foreign born)
0-5 years
-
-
13%
6-10 years
-
-
9%
11-15 years
-
-
14%
16-20 years
-
-
18%
21+ years
-
-
46%
CITIZENSHIP (among foreign born)
U.S. citizen
79%
-
37%
Not a U.S. citizen
21%
-
63%
MARITAL STATUS (18 and older)
Married
46%
36%
58%
Divorced/Separated/Widowed
16%
15%
17%
Never married
38%
49%
25%
FERTILITY (among women ages 15 to 44)
Women who have given birth in the past 12 months
7%
6%
8%
HOUSEHOLD TYPE, BY PERSONS
Married-couple household
58%
57%
61%
Other family household
25%
26%
21%
Non-family household
17%
17%
17%
IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD
Multigenerational household
9%
9%
6%
Note: Hispanics are of any race. Family households are those with a household head and one or more persons living in the household who are related to the household head by birth, marriage or adoption. Households with a household head and an unmarried partner are only considered family households if there are other persons in the household who are related to the household head by birth, marriage or adoption. Multigenerational households are those with two or more adult generations or one that includes grandparents and grandchildren. The household population excludes persons living in institutions, college dormitories and other group quarters. Unmarried women includes those who were never married, divorced, separated or widowed. Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Source: Pew Research Center tabulations of 2017 American Community Surveys (1% IPUMS).
Pew Research Center
Economic characteristics of U.S. Hispanic population, 2017
Among U.S. Hispanics
All
U.S. born
Foreign born
MEDIAN ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME
$49,010
$53,000
$45,200
MEDIAN ANNUAL PERSONAL EARNINGS (ages 16 and older with positive earnings)
All
$25,000
$26,000
$25,000
Full-time, year-round workers
$34,000
$37,000
$30,000
EMPLOYMENT STATUS (civilians ages 16 and older)
Employed
63%
61%
66%
Not employed
4%
5%
3%
Not in labor force
33%
34%
31%
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (civilians ages 16 and older in the labor force)
6%
7%
5%
LIVING IN POVERTY
All ages
19%
20%
18%
Younger than 18
27%
26%
31%
18-64
16%
15%
17%
65 and older
18%
15%
20%
HOMEOWNERSHIP (households)
Owner-occupied
47%
49%
46%
Renter-occupied
53%
51%
54%
Note: Hispanics are of any race. The household population excludes persons living in institutions, college dormitories and other group quarters. Households are classified by the detailed Hispanic origin group of the head of the household. "Full-time, year-round workers" are defined as people ages 16 and older who usually worked at least 35 hours per week and at least 48 weeks in the past year. The share of the population ages 16 and older who are not employed differs from the unemployment rate because the share not employed is based on the total population, while the unemployment rate is based on those who are in the labor force (i.e. working or looking for work.) Poverty status is determined for individuals in housing units and non-institutional group quarters. It is unavailable for children younger than 15 who are not related to the householder, people living in institutional group quarters and people living in college dormitories or military barracks. Due to the way in which IPUMS assigns poverty values, these data will differ from those provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Source: Pew Research Center tabulations of 2017 American Community Surveys (1% IPUMS).
Pew Research Center’s fact sheets on U.S. Latinos and the accompanying blog post examine the Latino population of the United States overall and by its 15 largest origin groups — Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Salvadorans, Cubans, Dominicans, Guatemalans, Colombians, Hondurans, Spaniards, Ecuadorians, Peruvians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, Argentines and Panamanians. These sheets provide detailed geographic, demographic and economic characteristics for all Latinos and for each Latino origin group. They are based on Pew Research Center tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010, 2015 and 2017 American Community Survey (ACS) and the 2000 U.S. decennial census.
The ACS is the largest household survey in the United States, with a sample of more than 3 million addresses. It covers the topics previously covered in the long form of the decennial census. The ACS is designed to provide estimates of the size and characteristics of the resident population, which includes persons living in households and group quarters. For more details about the ACS, including the sampling strategy and associated error, see the 2010, 2015 or 2017 American Community Survey’s Accuracy Statement provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The specific data sources for these fact sheets are the 1% samples of the 2010, 2015 and 2017 American Community Survey (ACS) Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) provided by the University of Minnesota and the 5% sample of the 2000 decennial census. IPUMS assigns uniform codes, to the extent possible, to data collected by the decennial census and the ACS from 1850 to 2017. For more information about IPUMS, including variable definition and sampling error, please visit the “IPUMS Documentation and User Guide.”
Due to differences in the way in which IPUMS and Census Bureau adjust income data and assign poverty status, data provided on these topics might differ from data that are provided by the Census Bureau.
For the purposes of these fact sheets, the foreign born include those persons who identified as naturalized citizens or non-citizens and are living in the 50 states or the District of Columbia. Persons born in Puerto Rico and other outlying territories of the U.S. and who are now living in the 50 states or the District of Columbia are included in the U.S.-born population.
