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Facts and Stats for Hispanic Heritage
Month 2005
September 15-October 15, 2005
By the U.S. Census Bureau
In 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to
proclaim a week in September as National Hispanic Heritage Week.
The observance was expanded in 1988 to a month-long celebration
(Sept. 15-Oct. 15). During this month, America celebrates the
culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots
to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central
America, South America and the Caribbean. Sept. 15 was chosen as
the starting point for the celebration because it is the
anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries:
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In
addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on
Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.
Editor's Note: Clicking any link on
this page will open a new browser window leading to more
detailed information at the site of the U.S. Census Bureau.
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Population
41.3 million
The estimated Hispanic population of the United States as of
July 1, 2004, making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s
largest race or ethnic minority. Hispanics constituted 14
percent of the nation’s total population. (This estimate does
not include the
3.9 million residents of Puerto Rico.)
1
Of every two people added to the nation’s population between
July 1, 2003, and July 1, 2004, were Hispanic.
102.6 million
The projected Hispanic population of the United States as of
July 1, 2050. According to this projection, Hispanics will
constitute 24 percent of the nation’s total population on that
date.
22.4 million
The
nation’s Hispanic population during the 1990 census [PDF] —
just slightly over half the current total.
Roughly half of the nation’s Dominicans live in New York City,
with about half of the nation’s Cubans residing in Miami-Dade
County, Fla.
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States and Counties
49%
The percentage of the Hispanic-origin population that lives in
California or Texas. California is home to 12.4 million
Hispanics, and Texas is home to 7.8 million.
13
The number of states with at least half a million Hispanic
residents. These states are: Arizona, California, Colorado,
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New
York, North Carolina, Texas and Washington.
43%
The proportion of New Mexico’s population that is Hispanic,
highest of any state. Hispanics also make up more than one-third
of the population in California and Texas, at 35 percent each.
4.6 million
The Hispanic population of Los Angeles County, Calif. — the
largest of any county in the nation.
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64%
The proportion of
Hispanic-origin people who are of Mexican background.
Another approximately 10 percent are of Puerto Rican background,
with about 3 percent each of Cuban, Salvadoran and Dominican
origins. The remainder are of some other Central American, South
American or other Hispanic or Latino origins.
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Spanish Language
31 million
The number of U.S. residents age 5 and older who speak Spanish
at home. Spanish speakers constitute a ratio of more than
1-in-10 U.S. household residents. Among all those who speak
Spanish at home, more than one-half say they speak English “very
well.” |
Businesses
1.6 million
The number of Hispanic-owned businesses in 2002, up 31
percent from 1997. Their receipts were $226.5 billion, up 22
percent from 1997. A total of 199,725 such firms had paid
employees, with receipts of $184 billion, or about $921,090 per
firm.
About 40 percent of
Hispanic-owned firms were in administrative support and
waste management; health-care; and other services industries;
with another 13 percent in construction.
Hispanic-owned firms claimed between 15 and 22 percent of
businesses in New Mexico, Texas, Florida and California.
4%
Among business owners in 2002 with paid employees, the
percentage who were Hispanic. There were approximately 7.7
million owners of employer businesses in the United States.
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Jobs
38,500
The number of Hispanic physicians and surgeons [PDF].
Latinos are represented in a wide variety of occupations. For
instance, there are about 50,400 Hispanic postsecondary
teachers; 53,400 chief executives of businesses; 38,100 lawyers;
and 5,000 news analysts, reporters and correspondents.
18%
The percentage of Hispanics who work in managerial, professional
and related occupations. Another approximately 24 percent
work in service occupations, 22 percent in sales and office
jobs, 15 percent in construction, extraction and maintenance
jobs and 19 percent in production, transportation and material
moving occupations. |
 Serving our Country
1.1 million
The number of
Latino veterans of the U.S. armed forces. About 53,000
Hispanic-origin people were on active duty in 2003 in the United
States. |
The Latino Vote
7.6 million
The number of
Hispanic citizens who reported voting in the 2004 presidential
election, up from
5.9 million four years earlier. The percentage of Hispanic
citizens voting — about 47 percent — did not change. |
Coming to America
53%
Percentage of the
foreign-born population from Latin America. This amounts to
18.3 million people.
10 million
The number of
foreign-born people who were born in Mexico, by far more
than any other Latin American country or any other country in
the world for that matter. Other countries of birth that
contribute large numbers of Hispanics are El Salvador (937,000),
Cuba (925,000), the Dominican Republic (688,000), Guatemala
(590,000) and Colombia (500,000).
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Income and Poverty
$34,241
The real median income of Hispanic households in 2004,
unchanged from the previous year.
21.9%
The poverty rate among Hispanics in 2004, unchanged from
2003. |
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18%