WE-2R

e the American... Hispanics

Issued September 1993

U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration BUREAU OF THE CENSUS Acknowledgments

This report was prepared by staff of the Ethnic and Hispanic Statistics Branch under the supervisionJorge ofdel Pinal.

General direction was providedSusan by J. Lapham, Population Division. The contents of the report were reviewed byJanice Valdisera andMichael Levin, Population Division, and Paula Coupe andDwight Johnson, Public Information Office. Marie Pees, Population Division, provided computer programming support. Debra Niner andMary Kennedy, Population Division, provided review assistance.

Alfredo Navarro, Decennial Statistical Studies Division provided sampling review.

The staff of Administrative and Publications Services Division, Walter C. Odom, Chief, performed publication planning, design, composition, editorial review, and printing planning and procurement.Cynthia G. Brooks provided publication coordination and editing.Theodora Forgione provided table design and composition services.Kim Blackwell provided design and graphics services.Diane Oliff–Michael coordinated printing services. e, the American Hispanics

Introduction

We, the American Hispanics traceWe have not always appeared in the our origin or descent to Spaincensus or to as a separate ethnic group. Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and In 1930, Mexicans" were counted many other SpanishĆspeaking counĆand in 1940, persons of Spanish tries of Latin America. Our ancesĆmother tongue" were reported. In tors were among the early explorers1950 and 1960, persons of Spanish and settlers of the New World.surname" In were reported. The 1970 1609, 11 years before the Pilgrimscensus asked persons about their landed at Plymouth Rock, our MestiĆorigin," and respondents could zo (Indian and Spanish) ancestorschoose among several Hispanic oriĆ settled in what is now Santa Fe,gins listed on the questionnaire. In New Mexico. 1980 and 1990, persons of SpanĆ ish/Hispanic" origin reported as Several historical events also Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or shaped our presence in America:other Hispanic." The 1990 census the Louisiana Purchase, admissiontabulated information for about 30 of Florida and Texas into theadditional Union, HispanicĆorigin groups. the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which ended the MexicanĆAmerican War, the SpanishĆAmerican War,Because the of our increasing diversity, Mexican Revolution, labor shortagesthe Census Bureau presents social during World War I and Worldand War economic II, characteristics for the Cuban Revolution, and politicalspecific HispanicĆorigin groups such instability in Central and South as Mexican, Puerto Rican, or Cuban. America in the recent past. AlĆThis report represents a fraction of though our common ancestry the wealth of information available and language bind us, we arefrom the Bureau of the Census on quite diverse. Hispanic Americans.

1 We are a large, fast growing segmentFigure of 1. the Nation's population. Hispanic Population: 1930 to 2050 Census (Millions. Middle series projections) Projections Since 1930, some segments of the Hispanic population have been counted in the census. In 1930, 1.3 million Mexicans" were reported. In 80.7 1950, 2.3 million persons of Spanish surname" were reported, and in 1970, 9.1 million persons of 70.0 Spanish" origin were reported.

59.2 In 1990, there were 22.4 million Hispanics in the United States, almost 9 percent of the Nation's 49.0 nearly 250 million people. The Hispanic populaĆ tion in 1990 was slightly less than the entire U.S. 39.3 population in 1850.

30.6 The Census Bureau's 1992 middle series projecĆ 24.1 tions suggest rapid growth may continue into the 22.4 20th century. The population could rise from 14.6 24 million in 1992 to 31 million by the year 2000, 59 million by 2030, and 81 million by 2050. 9.1 3.5 1.3 1.6 2.3 19301940195019601970198019901992200020102020203020402050

Note: Data for 1930 include only Mexicans," data for 1940 include Our population grew over 7 times as persons of Spanish mother tongue," and data for 1950 and 1960 include persons of Spanish surname." fast as the rest of the Nation between 1980 and 1990. Figure 2. Hispanic Population 1980 to 1990 The Hispanic population grew by 53 percent Growth: 1970 to 1990 1970 to 1980 between 1980 and 1990 and by 61 percent beĆ (Percent) tween 1970 and 1980. Several factors contribĆ 6.8 uted to the tremendous increase in the HispanicNon-Hispanic population since 1970. Among them are a higher 9.1 birth rate than the rest of the population and substantial immigration from Mexico, Central 53.0 Hispanic America, the Caribbean, and South America. 61.0

The Mexican population nearly doubled 54.4 Mexican between 1970 and 1980, and nearly doubled 92.8 again by 1990. 35.4 Puerto Rican Both the Cuban and Puerto Rican populations 40.9 grew at a rate at least four times as fast as the rest of the Nation. 30.0 Cuban 47.5 Other Hispanic populations grew dramatically 66.7 between 1980 and 1990, partly as a resultOther of theHispanic large influx of Central and South American immiĆ 18.9 grants during this time period.

2 We are concentrated in a small number Figure 3. of States, mostly in the South and West. Hispanic Population for Selected States: 1990 In 1990, nearly 9 of every 10 Hispanics lived in (Percent distribution) just 10 States. The four States with the largest proportion of Hispanics were California, Texas,

New York, and Florida. All other States 13.0 California 34.4 The remaining States with significant proportionsMassachusetts 1.3 of Hispanics were Illinois, New Jersey, Arizona, Colorado 1.9 New Mexico, Colorado, and Massachusetts. New Mexico 2.6 Arizona 3.1 Most Hispanics lived in the Southwestern New Jersey 3.3 States of the Nation: New Mexico, California, Illinois 4.0 Texas, and Arizona. Florida 7.0 Nearly 40 percent of New Mexican residents were Hispanic, and about 26 percent of CaliforniaNew York 9.9 Texas 19.4 and Texas residents were Hispanic. Nearly 20 percent of Arizona residents were Hispanic.

More than 10 percent of the residents of Colorado, New York, Florida, and Nevada were Hispanic.

Figure 4.

AK Hispanic Population: 1990 3.2 (Percent of State)

NH WA 1.0 4.4 VT ME MT ND 0.7 1.5 0.7 0.6 OR MN MA 4.8 4.0 1.2 NY ID SD WI 12.3 RI 5.3 WY 0.8 1.9 MI 4.6 5.7 2.2 PA NJ CT NE IA OH 2.0 9.6 6.5 NV 2.3 1.2 IL IN 1.3 DE 10.4 UT WV CO 7.9 1.8 VA 2.4 4.9 0.5 CA 12.9 KS MO KY 2.6 MD DC 25.8 3.8 0.6 2.6 1.2 NC 5.4 TN 1.2 OK 0.7 AZ NM 2.7 AR SC 18.8 38.2 0.8 0.9 HI GA MS AL 7.3 1.7 LA 0.6 0.6 TX 2.2 25.5 18.0 and over FL 9.0 to 17.9 12.2 1.0 to 8.9 Less than 1.0

3 We come from many Figure 5. different origins. Central Other Central Hispanic Population by Type American American 2.1 of Origin: 1990 In 1990, Mexicans were the Costa Rican 4.3 largest Hispanic group, repreĆ(Percent) Panamanian 7.0 Honduran 9.9 senting about 61 percent of Nicaraguan 15.3 the 22.3 million Hispanics. Puerto Guatemalan 20.3 Puerto Ricans were the seĆMexican Rican 12.1 61.2 cond largest group, about Cuban 4.8 12 percent; and Cubans were Dominican 2.4 Salvadoran 42.7 about 5 percent of the HispanĆ Other Hispanic 3.9 ic population. Spaniard1 4.4 South American Central Americans repreĆ Central Other South American 6.0 American 11.7 sented about 6 percent of the South total Hispanic population. Chilean 6.6 American 4.7 Argentinean 9.7 However, of the Central AmeriĆ cans, about 43 percent were Peruvian 16.9 Salvadoran, 20 percent were Guatemalan, and Ecuadorian 18.5 about 15 percent were Nicaraguan.

South Americans represented nearly 5 percent Colombian 36.6 of the Hispanic population. Of the South AmeriĆ cans, 37 percent were Colombian, 19 percent 1Includes those who were Ecuadorian, and 17 percent were Peruvian. reported Spanish."

Dominicans, Spaniards, and other Hispanics each were over 2 percent of the Hispanic population.Figure 6. Age of the Population: 1990 (Percent)

Our population has a higher Hispanic Non-Hispanic proportion of young adults and children 0.4 85 years and over1.3 and fewer elderly than the nonĆ 0.6 80 to 84 years 1.7 Hispanic population. 1.0 75 to 79 years 2.6 In 1990, nearly 7 out of every 10 Hispanics were 1.3 70 to 74 years 3.4 younger than 35 years old compared with just 2.0 65 to 69 years 4.3 over 5 out of every 10 nonĆHispanics. 2.5 60 to 64 years 4.4 2.9 55 to 59 years 4.4 Among the elderly, about 5 percent of 3.4 50 to 54 years 4.7 Hispanics were 65 years old and over compared 4.3 45 to 49 years 5.7 with 13 percent of nonĆHispanics. 5.7 40 to 44 years 7.2 Nearly 40 percent of the Hispanic population was 7.4 35 to 39 years 8.1 under 20 years old, compared with 28 percent9.2 30 to 34 years 8.7 of the nonĆHispanic population. This reflects10.5 a 25 to 29 years 8.4 relatively high fertility rate among Hispanics who10.3 20 to 24 years 7.4 have recently immigrated. 9.2 15 to 19 years 6.9 9.0 10 to 14 years 6.7 9.8 5 to 9 years 7.0 10.7 Under 5 years 7.1

4 We made great strides in educational Figure 7. attainment since 1970. Educational Attainment: 1970 to 1990 In 1990, about half of the Hispanic population (Percent of persons 25 Hispanic NonĆHispanic had at least a high school diploma and 1 inHigh 11 school years old and over) graduate earned a bachelor's degree or higher. However,or higher 49.8 Hispanic adults were less likely than nonĆ 1990 Hispanic adults to complete high school 77.2 or college. 44.0 1980 In 1980, about 4 of 10 Hispanics completed 67.7

4 years or more of high school and 1 of every 32.1 13 completed 4 years or more of college. 1970 53.1 Bachelor’s degree or higher In 1970, only 3 of 10 Hispanics 25 years 9.2 old and over completed at least 4 years of high 1990 21.2 school. Less than 1 in 20 completed 4 years or more of college. 7.6 1980 16.7

4.5 1970 10.8

Figure 8. Our educational attainment varies Educational Attainment High school among different Hispanic groups. for Selected Hispanic graduate or higher Origin Groups: 1990 Although about half of the Hispanic population Bachelor's (Percent of persons 25 years degree or received a high school diploma or higher in 1990, old and over) higher individual Hispanic groups varied from a high of 49.8 77 percent for Spaniards to a low of 43 percentHispanic for Dominicans. 9.2 44.2 Mexican About 44 percent of Mexicans, 53 percent of 6.2 Puerto Ricans, and 57 percent of Cubans had 53.4 Puerto Rican a high school diploma or higher. 9.5

56.8 Cuban About 46 percent of Central Americans and 16.6 71 percent of South Americans received a high 42.6 school diploma or higher in 1990. Dominican 7.8

Nearly 10 percent of the Hispanic population Central 45.6 American received a bachelor's degree or higher in 1990. 9.0 However, about 20 percent of Spaniards and South 70.7 American South Americans received a bachelor's 19.5 degree or higher compared with only 6 percent 76.7 of Mexicans. Spaniard 20.5

5 Although many of us were foreign born, Figure 9. about 64 percent of us were born in the Nativity and Citizenship Native United States. for Selected Hispanic ForeignĆborn, naturalized Origin Groups: 1990 In 1990, over 7.8 million Hispanics were foreign ForeignĆborn, born. Hispanic foreign born from Mexico, Central (Percent distribution) not a citizen America, the Caribbean, and South America repĆ resented about 43 percent of all foreignĆborn perĆ sons in the United States. Hispanic 64.2 9.4 26.4 Nearly threeĆquarters of the Hispanic population were nativeĆborn and naturalized citizens Mexican 66.7 7.5 25.8 compared with about 97 percent of the nonĆHispanic population. Cuban 28.3 36.1 35.6 About 83 percent of Spaniards and about 67 perĆ cent of Mexicans were born in the United States. About 21 percent of Central Americans andDominican 29.4 19.1 51.5 25 percent of South Americans were born here. Central Among foreignĆborn Hispanics, the proportion American 21.0 14.6 64.4 who were not citizens in 1990 varied from less than 10 percent for Spaniards to nearly 65 perĆ South 25.1 21.2 53.7 cent for Central Americans. Many Central American Americans are relatively recent immigrants to America and have not had time to go through Spaniard 82.6 7.9 9.5 the naturalization process.

Note: All persons born in Puerto Rico are American citizens. Figure 10. Year of Entry for About half of us who were foreign born Selected Foreign- came to the United States between Entered before 1960 Born Hispanic 1980 and 1990. Entered 1960 to 1969 Groups: 1990 Entered 1970 to 1979 Whether pulled by the need to be reunited with (Percent distribution) Entered 1980 to 1990 families or pushed by political events in the counĆ try of birth, many Hispanics moved to the United States between 1980 and 1990. Hispanic 6.8 15.0 27.5 50.7 Just over half of the Hispanic foreign born arrived in America since 1980. About 28 percentMexican 7.9 10.7 31.0 50.4 arrived between 1970 and 1979, 15 percent between 1960 and 1969, and about 7 percent before 1960. Cuban 9.0 46.3 18.8 25.9 About 20 percent of the Central American foreign 2.8 born arrived between 1970 and 1979, and aboutDominican 17.2 26.6 53.5 70 percent arrived between 1980 and 1990. 2.9 Central Americans represented the largest proĆ Central 7.2 20.1 69.9 portion of newly arrived Hispanic immigrants American during the 1980's. 4.1 South 18.3 26.5 51.1 About 46 percent of the Cuban foreign bornAmerican arrived between 1960 and 1969. Many Cuban refugees arrived in the United States followingSpaniard 17.0 24.6 24.8 33.7 the Cuban Missile Crisis in the early part of that decade.

6 Nearly 3 million of us are legal Figure 11. All other places immigrants who arrived between 1980 Legal Immigration by Area Latin America and 1990. of Origin: 1951 to 1990 Asia (Thousands) Europe Prior to 1950, the vast majority of legal immiĆ grants arrived from Europe. From 1950 to 1990, 7,339 a new wave (nearly 20 million) of legal immigrants 381 arrived, many from Latin America. Between 1951 and 1960, over 2.5 million people entered the country legally. Of those, 1 in 5 came from 3,458 Latin America. 4,493 293

Between 1961 and 1970, 3.3 million immigrants 3,320 1,812 entered the United States, with 1 in 3 coming 486 from Latin America. During the 1970's, there 2,425 387 1,283 were nearly 4.5 million immigrants, with about 2,738 559 40 percent coming from Latin America. 1,588 428 153 1,123 By the 1980's, 47 percent of immigrants were 1,326 800 762 from Latin America. 1951 to 1960 1961 to 1970 1971 to 1980 1981 to 1990 Note: Information for this graph came from the 1991 Statistical YearĆ book of Immigration and Naturalization Service, MĆ367. Latin America includes Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.

The Spanish language is a tie that binds Figure 12. us together. Language Spoken at Home and Ability to Speak English for Selected Hispanic Groups: 1990 In 1990, about 14 percent of the Nation's population 5 years old and over spoke a language other than(Percent of persons 5 years old and over who speak Spanish at home) English at home. Spanish was spoken by about oneĆ Speak Spanish, do not half of all nonĆEnglish speakers in the United States. speak English very well"

Speak Spanish, speak Also in 1990, about 78 percent of Hispanics English very well" spoke a language other than English at home. Spanish was spoken by nearly all of the HispanicHispanic 50.8 49.2 nonĆEnglish speakers. Mexican 50.9 49.1

Of the Hispanics who spoke Spanish at home,Puerto about oneĆhalf spoke English very well" and about halfRican did 41.4 58.6 not speak English very well." Cuban 54.5 45.5

A greater proportion of Dominicans and CentralDominican 63.7 36.3 Americans than Puerto Ricans and Spaniards who spoke Spanish at home did not speak EnglishCentral 65.5 34.5 very well." American South 54.6 45.4 American

Spaniard 31.9 68.1

7 Fewer of us held jobs as managers or Figure 13. professionals than nonĆHispanics. Occupation by Sex: 1990 (Percent 16 years old and over in civilian labor force) In 1990, about 28 percent of Hispanic males 16 Operators, years old and over worked as operators, fabricaĆ fabricators, and Services tors, and laborers compared with about 19 perĆ laborers Technical, sales, cent of nonĆHispanic males. Precision, production, and administrative craft, and repair support Farming, forestry, Managerial and Technical, sales, and administrative support positions and fishing professional specialty provided employment for the largest share (about Male 39 percent) of Hispanic females compared with about 45 percent for nonĆHispanic females. Hispanic 28.1 19.7 7.3 16.1 16.7 12.0

3.6 Only about 12 percent of Hispanic males held manaĆ NonĆ 19.2 18.1 10.2 21.5 27.4 gerial and professional specialty positions comparedHispanic with about 27 percent of nonĆHispanic males.

Female Service occupations provided employment for about 3.5 1.6 17 percent of nonĆHispanic females compared with Hispanic 15.2 23.5 39.1 17.0 about 24 percent of Hispanic females. 1.9 0.8 NonĆ Hispanic 7.2 17.0 44.8 28.2

In 1990, most of us lived in family Figure 14. MarriedĆ households. Families by Type for couple families Selected Hispanic Male householder families, no wife About 70 percent of Hispanic families were mainĆ Groups: 1990 present tained by married couples, about 9 percent by a male(Percent of families) Female householder families, no with no wife present, and 22 percent by a female with husband present no husband present.

Hispanic 69.9 8.5 21.6 The distribution of families by type varied among Hispanic groups. Over threeĆquarters of Cuban and Spaniard families were maintained byMexican 73.0 8.8 18.2 married couples. Puerto 56.3 7.1 36.6 Rican Families maintained by a female with no husband present were found primarily among Puerto Rican Cuban 78.1 5.7 16.3 and Dominican families.

Dominican 50.0 8.7 41.2 About 14 percent of Central American families were families maintained by a male with no Central 63.3 14.1 22.6 wife present. American

South 73.0 9.0 18.0 American

Spaniard 76.3 5.7 18.0

8 Our median family income was lower Figure 15. than that for all Americans. Median Family Income All families for Selected Hispanic Female In 1990, the median family income for Hispanics Groups: 1990 householder, no husband was $25,064, lower than the median family inĆ (In 1989 dollars) present come of $35,225 for all Americans. $35,225 TOTAL $17,414 Hispanic female householders with no husband $25,064 present had lower median incomes than all feĆHispanic male householders with no husband present, $12,406 $12,406 and $17,414, respectively. Mexican $24,119 $12,714 Of the Hispanic groups shown, Dominicans Puerto Rican $21,941 had the lowest median family income ($19,726), $8,912 and Spaniards had the highest median family $32,417 income ($36,680). Cuban $19,511

$19,726 Puerto Rican female householders with no husĆDominican band present had the lowest income, $8,912, $9,724 $36,680 while Cuban and Spaniard female householders Spaniard with no husband present had the highest $20,000 incomes, $19,511 and $20,000, respectively.

Figure 16. Families living Poverty Rates for in poverty Selected Hispanic Females Over 1 million of our families lived in Groups: 1990 Children poverty in 1990. (Percent in poverty) Elderly

Just over 2 of every 10 Hispanic families were 22.3 27.2 living in poverty in 1990 compared with lessHispanic than 18.4 1 of every 10 nonĆHispanic families. 24.0 23.4 28.0 About 30 percent of Puerto Rican families, Mexican 18.8 33 percent of Dominican families, about 24.7 29.6 10 percent of Spaniard families, 11 percent of Puerto 35.1 Cuban families, 23 percent of Mexican families, Rican 22.1 29.7 and 21 percent of Central American families 11.4 were below the poverty level in 1990. 16.0 Cuban 9.4 24.2 Hispanic females, children, and elderly also had 33.4 higher proportions living in poverty than their Dominican 36.1 21.3 nonĆHispanic counterparts. About 27 percent of 33.1 Hispanic females lived in poverty compared with 20.9 Central 25.6 13 percent of nonĆHispanic females. American 14.5 19.4 About 18 percent of Hispanic children under 12.0 South 16.1 18 years old lived in poverty compared with American 10.5 17 percent of nonĆHispanic children. Twice as 18.3 9.7 many elderly Hispanics 65 years old and over Spaniard 13.3 lived in poverty than nonĆHispanic elderly, 10.6 12.7 24 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

9 Information in this report is based on the 1990 Census of Population and Housing. Estimated popĆ ulation and housing unit totals based on tabulations from only the sample counts may differ from the offiĆ cial 100Ćpercent counts. Such differences result, in part, from a sample of households rather than all households. Differences also can occur because of the interview situation and the processing rules difĆ fering between the 100Ćpercent and sample tabulaĆ tions. These types of differences are referred to as nonsampling errors.

Other reports in this series:

We, the American Blacks We, the American Asians We, the American Pacific Islanders We, the First Americans We, the Americans: Our Homes We, the American Foreign Born We, the American Women We, the American Elderly We, the American Children We, the Americans: Our Education We, the Americans

For additional information, please contact:

Ethnic and Hispanic Statistics Branch Population Division Bureau of the Census Washington, DC 20233