BY THE NUMBERS
The U.S. Hispanic population has increased 17% in the past four years, to 41.3 million. Hispanics are projected to account for 46% of all U.S. population growth over the next 20 years. Although only 62% of all U.S. Hispanic adults have finished high school, 84% of U.S.-born Hispanics graduate. The median net worth of Hispanic households is $7,932, less than one-tenth the figure for non-Hispanic whites, $88,651. There were 1.6 million Hispanic-owned firms in the U.S. in 2002, a 30% increase since 1997. U.S. Hispanic workers sent an estimated $30 billion home to Latin American countries in 2003
ORIGINS AND IMMIGRATION
Today Hispanics are 14% of the U.S. population. About half were born outside the U.S., but most want to blend into American society
Country of ancestry
Mexico … 58%
Puerto Rico … 10%
Spain … 5%
Cuba … 5%
Dominican Rep. … 4%
U.S. … 4%
El Salvador … 2%
Portugal … 1%
All others … 11%
Place of birth:
Mainland U.S. 46%
Elsewhere 49%
Puerto Rico: 5%
Primary language spoken at home:
Spanish 43%
English 32%
Both 23%
Other/No answer: 2%
How important is it for Latinos to blend into the larger U.S. society?
Very important 64%
Somewhat important 24%
Not too important: 5%
Not at all important: 3%
Don’t know: 4%
Is legal immigration ...
... good for the U.S.? 65%
... bad for the U.S.? 17%
It depends/don’t know 17%
How much legal immigration should the U.S. allow?
More 32%
Less 17%
Same as now 41%
How serious a problem is illegal immigration?
61%
•Extremely 29%
•Very 32%
35%
•Somewhat 22%
•Not very 13%
Are illegal immigrants ...
... taking jobs from U.S. citizens? 14%
... taking jobs U.S. citizens don’t want? 74%
POLITICS AND ISSUES
Hispanics tend to be Democrats, but President Bush grabbed a significant share of their votes in 2004. Education and jobs are top concerns
Political affiliation:
Democrat 38%
Independent 22%
Republican 16%
Which party better represents the interests of Hispanics?
Democratic 54%
Republican 16%
Neither 9%
Do you expect a Hispanic to be nominated for President or Vice President ...
... in 2008?
Yes 40%
No 53%
... in 2012?
Yes 54%
No 37%
President Bush’s job performance:
Approve 44%
Disapprove 45%
Was the U.S. right to go to war with Iraq?
Yes 34%
No 56%