---
title: "Despite a Bad Economy, Most Latinos See Improved Standard of Living"
description: "Two-thirds (67%) of Latinos (compared with 61% of the general public) say their standard of living is better than that of their parents at a similar age."
date: "2012-02-02"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2012/02/02/despite-a-bad-economy-most-latinos-see-improved-standard-of-living/"
---

# Despite a Bad Economy, Most Latinos See Improved Standard of Living

Two-thirds (67%) of Latinos (compared with 61% of the general public) say their standard of living is better than that of their parents at a similar age, according to a survey conducted Nov. 9 – Dec. 7 by the Pew Hispanic Center.

This assessment is even more positiveamong foreign-born Hispanics (compared to native-born Hispanics). Seven-in-ten (71%) foreign-born Hispanics say their standard of living is better than that of their parents, compared to 62% of native-born Hispanics.

Although 75% of Latinos currently say their [personal financial situation](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2012/01/26/hispanics-say-they-have-the-worst-of-a-bad-economy/?src=prc-number) is only fair or poor, they are more optimistic about the next generation than the general public.. Two-thirds (66%) of Latino adults expect their children to do better than themselves. Among the general public, fewer than half (48%) express this view. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2012/01/26/iv-latinos-and-upward-mobility/?src=prc-number)