Table 2-2: Selected Characteristics of the Hispanic/Latino/Spanish Pop

Race, Ethnicity, and Language Data: Standardization for Health Care Qu

Table 2-2. Selected Characteristics of the Hispanic/Latino/Spanish Population in the United States

Hispanic Groups	Number (in millions)	Percent of U.S. Hispanic Population	Percent of U.S. Population	Native Born (%)	Speak a Language Other Than English at Home and Speak English Less Than "Very Well" (%)	Less Than High School Graduation^a (%)	Poverty Rate (%)
Mexican	20.9	59.3	7.4	58.5	43.1	54.2	23.5
Puerto Rican	3.4	9.7	1.2	98.6^b	26.7	36.7	25.8
Cuban	1.2	3.5	0.4	31.5	45.9	37.1	14.6
Central American	1.8	5.1	0.6	24.5	56.8	54.0	19.9
Costa Rican^c	(0.07)	(0.2)
Guatemalan	(0.37)	(1.1)
Honduran	(0.22)	(0.6)
Nicaraguan	(0.18)	(0.5)
Panamanian	(0.09)	(0.3)
Salvadoran	(0.66)	(1.9)
Other	(0.10)	(0.3)
South American	1.4	4.0	0.5	23.4	47.6	23.9	15.0
Argentinean	(0.10)	(0.3)
Bolivian	(0.04)	(0.1)
Chilean	(0.07)	(0.2)
Colombian	(0.47)	(1.3)
Ecuadorian	(0.26)	(0.7)
Paraguayan	(0.01)	(0.0)
Peruvian	(0.23)	(0.7)
Uruguayan	(0.02)	(0.1)
Venezuelan	(0.09)	(0.3)
Other South American	(0.06)	(0.2)
Dominican	0.8	2.2	0.3	31.8	53.7	48.9	27.5
Spaniard	0.1	0.3	-	59.8	25.3	23.0	12.8
Other Hispanic^c	5.5	15.7	2.0	72.4	29.8	40.0	21.5
Total Hispanic	35.3	100	NA	59.8	40.6	47.6	22.6
Total U.S. Population	281.4	NA	12.5	88.9	8.1	19.6	12.4

^a Population 25 and older.
^b Persons born in Puerto Rico are automatically U.S. citizens. In the case of Puerto Ricans, they are not considered foreign-born.
^c Includes general responses such as Hispanic, Spanish, and Latino.

Source: Ramirez, 2004.

Return to Document

Current as of March 2010

Internet Citation: Table 2-2: Selected Characteristics of the Hispanic/Latino/Spanish Pop: Race, Ethnicity, and Language Data: Standardization for Health Care Qu. March 2010. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/final-reports/iomracereport/reldatatab2-2.html