This ethnic group includes any person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. According to 2020 Census data, there are 62.1 million Hispanics living in the United States. This group represents 18.9 percent of the total U.S. population, the nation’s second largest racial or ethnic group after non-Hispanic whites. In 2020, among Hispanic subgroups, Mexicans ranked as the largest at 61.6 percent. Following this group are Puerto Ricans (9.6 percent), Central Americans (9.3 percent), South Americans (6.4 percent), Other Hispanic/Latino (including Spanish) (5.8 percent), and Cuban (3.9 percent). In 2020, states with the largest Hispanic populations were Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Texas. In 2020, 25.7 percent of Hispanics were under the age 18 compared to 53 percent of non-Hispanic whites.
Language fluency varies among Hispanic subgroups who reside within the mainland United States. 2019 census data shows that 71.1 percent of Hispanics speak a language other than English at home, including 70.4 percent of Mexicans, 58.9 percent of Puerto Ricans, 77.7 percent of Cubans, 86.2 percent of Central Americans. 28.4 percent of Hispanics state that they are not fluent in English.
According to 2019 U.S. Census Bureau data, 71.8 percent of Hispanics in comparison to 94.6 percent non-Hispanic whites had a high school diploma or higher. 18.8 percent of Hispanics in comparison to 40.1 percent of non-Hispanic whites had a bachelor's degree or higher. 5.7 percent of Hispanics held a graduate or advanced professional degree, as compared to 15.1 percent of the non-Hispanic white population.
According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021 data, 22.9 percent of Hispanics, in comparison to 15.0 percent non-Hispanic whites, worked within service occupations. 24.5 percent of Hispanics in comparison to 42.8 percent of whites worked in managerial or professional occupations. Among full-time year-round workers in 2020, the average Hispanic/Latino median household income was $55,321 in comparison to $74,912 for non-Hispanic white households. In 2020, the unemployment rate for Hispanics was 10.4, as compared to 7.5 for non-Hispanic whites according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that 17 percent of Hispanics in comparison to 8.2 percent of non-Hispanic whites were living at the poverty level.
It is significant to note that Hispanics have the highest uninsured rates of any racial or ethnic group within the United States. In 2020, the Census Bureau reported that 49.9 percent of Hispanics had private insurance coverage, as compared to 73.9 percent for non-Hispanic whites. Among Hispanic subgroups, examples of coverage varied: 47.9 percent of Mexicans, 56.3 percent of Puerto Ricans, 57.4 percent of Cubans, 41.7 percent of Central Americans. In 2020, 35.9 percent of all Hispanics had Medicaid or public health insurance coverage, as compared to 33.8 percent for non-Hispanic whites. Public health insurance coverage varied among Hispanic subgroups: 36.4 percent of Mexicans, 43.7 percent of Puerto Ricans, 33.7 of Cubans, and 33.0 percent of Central Americans. Those without health insurance coverage varied among Hispanic subgroups: 20.3 percent of Mexicans, 8.0 percent of Puerto Ricans, 14.0 percent of Cubans and 19.4 percent of Central Americans. In 2020, 18.3 percent of the Hispanic population was not covered by health insurance, as compared to 5.4 percent of the non-Hispanic white population per Census Bureau report.
According to 2020 Census Bureau projections, the 2060 life expectancies at birth for Hispanics are 86.5 years, with 88.2 years for women, and 84.8 years for men. For non-Hispanic whites, the projected life expectancies are 85.6 years, with 87.4 years for women, and 84.0 years for men. Hispanic health is often shaped by factors such as language/cultural barriers, lack of access to preventive care, and the lack of health insurance. According to 2019 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the leading causes of death among Hispanics include cancer, heart disease, unintentional injuries (accidents), stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. In 2020, the leading cause of death for Hispanics was COVID-19. Some other causes of mortality that significantly affect Hispanics include chronic lower respiratory diseases (including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), liver disease, influenza and pneumonia, suicide, and kidney disease.
Hispanics have higher rates of obesity than non-Hispanic whites. There also are disparities among Hispanic subgroups. For instance, the rate of low birthweight infants is higher for the total Hispanic population in comparison to non-Hispanic whites, and Puerto Ricans have the highest rates of low birthweights among Hispanics.
FAQs
Nearly 1 in 4 Hispanics has high blood pressure, which can be a precursor to a heart attack, stroke, kidney disease or heart failure. Chronic kidney disease. Hispanics are 1.5 times more likely to have kidney failure compared to other Americans.
How do Hispanics view health and wellness? ›
Hispanics are very aware of their health in that they are concerned about conditions such as pain, weight control, anxiety/stress, or cardiovascular issues, more so than the general population. Hispanics also place slightly more emphasis on the non-physical aspects of well-being than the general population.
What is the Hispanic health paradox? ›
The Hispanic paradox is an epidemiological finding that Hispanic Americans tend to have health outcomes that "paradoxically" are comparable to, or in some cases better than, those of their U.S. non-Hispanic White counterparts, even though Hispanics have lower average income and education, higher rates of disability, as ...
What is the Latino health paradox refers to? ›
The Latino health paradox refers to the contradictory finding that indicates Latinos in the United States tend to have significantly better health and mortality outcomes than the average population despite generally low socioeconomic status.
What is the biggest health threat to aging Latinos? ›
Dementia seems to disproportionately affect Latinos compared to other groups. And more than 50% of people of Hispanic descent will have type 2 diabetes in their lifetime compared to less than 40% for the rest of the population.
What challenges do Latinos face? ›
Two-thirds (67%) of Hispanic immigrants are working, mainly in hourly jobs. Despite high rates of employment, most have annual household incomes under $40,000 leading to challenges affording basic needs. Among working Hispanic immigrants, at least half (55%) report experiencing discrimination in the workplace.
What are the barriers to healthcare for Hispanic people? ›
Language and cultural barriers, as well as higher levels of poverty, are among the social and economic factors contributing to disparate health outcomes for Hispanic Americans.
Why are Hispanics underrepresented in healthcare? ›
Based on preliminary research, the factors contributing to this underrepresentation include lack of role models and resources, as well as urban schools that are infested with violence, drugs, and poverty as they are not equally funded, and financially not able to succeed.
What is the difference between Latino and Hispanic? ›
Hispanic refers to a person with ancestry from a country whose primary language is Spanish. Latino and its variations refer to a person with origins from anywhere in Latin America (Mexico, South and Central America) and the Caribbean.
Why do Hispanics have longer life expectancy? ›
Older U.S. Hispanics tend to be healthier than non-Hispanic whites or blacks, Hayward and his colleagues have found. Fatal chronic diseases—heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, and stroke—are much less prevalent among older Hispanics than among other racial and ethnic groups.
For Hispanic people, mental illness is viewed as a sign of weakness or as having religious connotations (ie, punishment, lack of faith, unholy practices). Awareness of these connotations is important because they not only impact access to care and help-seeking behaviors but also psychoeducation.
Why are Hispanics locked out of the healthcare system? ›
Barriers to Access. Hispanics face a variety of financial and nonfinancial barriers to obtaining appropriate and timely health care. Degree of acculturation, language, and immigration status all directly affect access to care.
What are the three major health problems of Latinos? ›
According to 2019 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the leading causes of death among Hispanics include cancer, heart disease, unintentional injuries (accidents), stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease.
What are health disparities for Hispanics? ›
Health disparities create challenges for specific groups to get the care they need. HIV, STDs, viral hepatitis, and tuberculosis affect Hispanic or Latino People due to health disparities.
How do Latinos view healthcare? ›
Hispanic Americans are relatively less likely to see differential treatment as major factors: 30% say health care providers being less likely to give Hispanic people the most advanced medical care is a major reason for health disparities, while 27% say that hospitals and medical centers giving Hispanics' well-being ...
Are there any common health issues prevalent in Latin America? ›
Heart Disease/Stroke
But the major concern in Latin America is the rise in heart disease and stroke risk factors, such as the growing rate of obesity, tobacco use and other problems tied to cardiovascular health. The need for health care equipment to diagnose and treat these problems is a significant one.
What are common health risk behaviors and diseases among Hispanics in the United States? ›
Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality. The rates of overweight and obesity have increased among Hispanics as well, and they remain higher in Hispanics than in non-Hispanic whites.
What are the most common respective health problems of Mexicans? ›
Mexican Americans, Central Americans, Caribbean Islanders, and South Americans and their descendants living in the U.S. tend to face higher rates of diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Issues like obesity, poverty, and access to health care also contribute substantially to their health challenges.
What are the struggles of being Latino in the United States? ›
Despite now being the largest minority group and representing about 19 percent of the population of the United States, Latinas and Latinos still battle issues like immigration, education, healthcare, housing, and voting rights.
