A little about Dominicans

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Dominican Republic: flag

Dominican Republic: flag

A total of 1.3 million Hispanics of Dominican origin resided in the United States in 2008, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Dominicans in this statistical profile are people who self-identified as Hispanics of Dominican origin; this means either they themselves are Dominican immigrants or they trace their family ancestry to the Dominican Republic.

Dominicans are the fifth-largest population of Hispanic origin living in the United States, accounting for 2.8% of the U.S. Hispanic population in 2008. Mexicans constituted 30.7 million, or 65.7%, of the Hispanic population.1

This statistical profile compares the demographic, income and economic characteristics of the Dominican population with the characteristics of all Hispanics and the U.S. population overall. It is based on Pew Hispanic Center tabulations of the 2008 American Community Survey. Key facts include:

• Immigration status. Nearly six-in-ten of Dominicans (57.3%) in the United States are foreign born, compared with 38.1% of Hispanics and 12.5% of the U.S. population overall. Most immigrants from the Dominican Republic (57.0%) arrived in the U.S. in 1990 or later. Nearly half of Dominican immigrants (47.4%) are U.S. citizens.

• Language. A majority of Dominicans (53.4%) speak English proficiently.2 Some 46.6% of Dominicans ages 5 and older report speaking English less than very well, compared with 37.3% of all Hispanics.

• Age. Dominicans are younger than the U.S. population and older than Hispanics overall. The median age of Dominicans is 29; the median ages of the U.S. population and all Hispanics are 36 and 27, respectively.

• Marital status. Dominicans are less likely than Hispanics overall to be married—38.7% versus 46.5%.

• Fertility. Half (52.0%) of Dominican women ages 15 to 44 who gave birth in the 12 months prior to the survey were unmarried. That was greater than the rate for all Hispanic women—38.8%—and the rate for U.S. women— 34.5%.

• Regional dispersion. Eight-in-ten Dominicans (79.4%) live in the Northeast, and half (50.6%) live in New York.

• Educational attainment. Dominicans have slightly higher levels of education than the Hispanic population overall. Sixteen percent of Dominicans ages 25 and older—compared with 12.9% of all U.S. Hispanics—have obtained at least a bachelor’s degree.

• Income. The median annual personal earnings for Dominicans ages 16 and older were $20,571 in 2008; the median earnings for all U.S. Hispanics were $21,488.

• Poverty status. The share of Dominicans who live in poverty, 23.2%, is nearly double the rate for the general U.S. population (12.7%) and higher than the 20.7% share among all Hispanics.

• Health Insurance. One-quarter of Dominicans (23.4%) do not have health insurance compared with 31.7% of all Hispanics and 15.4% of the general U.S. population. Additionally, 12.5% of Dominicans younger than 18 are uninsured.

• Homeownership. The rate of Dominican homeownership (28.3%) is lower than the rate for all Hispanics (49.1%) and the U.S. population (66.6%) as a whole.

Percentages are computed before numbers are rounded.2 Dominicans ages 5 and older who report speaking only English at home or speaking English very well.

Source: Pew Hispanic Center

Let’s talk about Salvadorans

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A total of 1.6 million Hispanics of Salvadoran origin resided in the United States in 2008, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Salvadorans in this statistical profile are people who self-identified as Hispanics of Salvadoran origin; this means either they themselves are Salvadoran immigrants or they trace their family ancestry to El Salvador. Salvadorans are the fourth-largest population of Hispanic origin living in the United States, accounting for 3.3% of the U.S. Hispanic population in 2008. Mexicans constituted 30.7 million, or 65.7%, of the Hispanic population.

1 This statistical profile compares the demographic, income and economic characteristics of the Salvadoran population with the characteristics of all Hispanics and the U.S. population overall. It is based on Pew Hispanic Center tabulations of the 2008 American Community Survey. Key facts include:

• Immigration status. Nearly two-thirds of Salvadorans (64.7%) in the United States are foreign born, compared with 38.1% of Hispanics and 12.5% of the U.S. population overall. Most immigrants from El Salvador (58.4%) arrived in the U.S. in 1990 or later. Three-in-ten of Salvadoran immigrants (29.2%) are U.S. citizens.

• Language. Less than half of Salvadorans (44.2%) speak English proficiently.2 Some 55.8% of Salvadorans ages 5 and older report speaking English less than very well, compared with 37.3% of all Hispanics.

• Age. Salvadorans are younger than the U.S. population and older than Hispanics overall. The median age of Salvadorans is 29; the median ages of the U.S. population and all Hispanics are 36 and 27, respectively.

1 Percentages are computed before numbers are rounded.

2 Salvadorans ages 5 and older who report speaking only English at home or speaking English very well.

• Marital status. Less than half of Salvadorans (44.6%)and Hispanics overall (46.5%) are married.

• Fertility. Four-in-ten (37.9%) of Salvadoran women ages 15 to 44 who gave birth in the 12 months prior to the survey were unmarried. That was similar to the rate for all Hispanic women—38.8%—but greater than the rate for U.S. women—34.5%.

• Regional dispersion. Nearly four-in-ten Salvadorans (37.5%) live in California, and one-in-seven (14.3%) live in Texas.

• Educational attainment. Salvadorans have lower levels of education than the Hispanic population overall. Fifty-three percent of Salvadorans ages 25 and older—compared with 39.2% of all U.S. Hispanics—have not obtained at least a high school diploma.

• Income. The median annual personal earnings for Salvadorans ages 16 and older were $20,368 in 2008; the median earnings for all U.S. Hispanics were $21,488.

• Poverty status. The share of Salvadorans who live in poverty, 15.4%, is higher than the rate for the general U.S. population (12.7%) and below the 20.7% share among all Hispanics.

• Health Insurance. Four-in-ten Salvadorans (38.9%) do not have health insurance compared with 31.7% of all Hispanics and 15.4% of the general U.S. population. Additionally, 21.7% of Salvadorans younger than 18 are uninsured.

• Homeownership. The rate of Salvadoran homeownership (46.0%) is lower than the rate for all Hispanics (49.1%) and the U.S. population (66.6%) as a whole.

Source: Pew Hispanic

Have you heard about Cubans?

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A total of 1.6 million Hispanics of Cuban origin resided in the United States in 2008, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Cubans in this statistical profile are people who self-identified as Hispanics of Cuban origin; this means either they themselves are Cuban immigrants or they trace their family ancestry to Cuba. Cubans are the third-largest population of Hispanic origin living in the United States, accounting for 3.5% of the U.S. Hispanic population in 2008. Mexicans constituted 30.7 million, or 65.7%, and Puerto Ricans 4.2 million, or 8.9%, of the Hispanic population.

1 This statistical profile compares the demographic, income and economic characteristics of the Cuban population with the characteristics of all Hispanics and the U.S. population overall. It is based on Pew Hispanic Center tabulations of the 2008 American Community Survey. Key facts include:

• Immigration status. Six-in-ten Cubans (60.1%) in the United States are foreign born compared with 38.1% of Hispanics and 12.5% of the U.S. population overall. Most immigrants from Cuba (57.2%) arrived in the U.S. before 1990. Most Cuban immigrants (58.2%) are U.S. citizens.

• Language. A majority of Cubans (58.3%) speak English proficiently.

2 Some 41.7% of Cubans ages 5 and older report speaking English less than very well, compared with 37.3% of all Hispanics.

• Age. Cubans are older than the U.S. population and Hispanics overall. The median age of Cubans is 41; the median ages of the U.S. population and all Hispanics are 36 and 27, respectively.

• Marital status. Cubans are more likely than Hispanics overall to be married—49.1% versus 46.5%.

1 Percentages are computed before numbers are rounded.

2 Cubans ages 5 and older who report speaking only English at home or speaking English very well.

• Fertility. One-quarter (26.1%) of Cuban women ages 15 to 44 who gave birth in the 12 months prior to the survey were unmarried. That was less than the rate for all Hispanic women—38.8%—and the rate for U.S. women—34.5%.

• Regional dispersion. Cubans are the most geographically concentrated Hispanic origin group. Nearly seven-in-ten (68.5%) live in Florida.

• Educational attainment. Cubans have higher levels of education than the Hispanic population overall. Twenty-five percent of Cubans ages 25 and older—compared with 12.9% of all U.S. Hispanics—have obtained at least a bachelor’s degree.

• Income. The median annual personal earnings for Cubans ages 16 and older were $26,478 in 2008; the median earnings for all U.S. Hispanics were $21,488.

• Poverty status. The share of Cubans who live in poverty, 13.2%, is similar to that of the general U.S. population (12.7%) and below the 20.7% share among all Hispanics.

• Health Insurance. Nearly one-quarter of Cubans (22.7%) do not have health insurance compared with 31.7% of all Hispanics and 15.4% of the general U.S. population. Additionally, 14.5% of Cubans younger than 18 are uninsured.

• Homeownership. The rate of Cuban homeownership (59.7%) is higher than the rate for all Hispanics (49.1%) but lower than the 66.6% rate for the U.S. population as a whole.

Source: Pew Hispanic

What are Puerto Ricans like?

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A total of 4.2 million Hispanics of Puerto Rican origin resided in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia in 2008, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. That is a slightly greater number than the population of Puerto Rico itself in 2008, which was 4.0 million. Puerto Ricans in this statistical profile are people who self-identified as Hispanics of Puerto Rican origin; this means either they themselves were born in Puerto Rico or they trace their family ancestry to Puerto Rico. This statistical profile focuses on the characteristics of Puerto Ricans residing in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, henceforth the United States.

1 Puerto Ricans are the second-largest population of Hispanic origin living in the United States, accounting for 8.9% of the U.S. Hispanic population in 2008. Mexicans constituted 30.7 million, or 65.7%, of the Hispanic population.

2 This profile compares the demographic, income and economic characteristics of Puerto Ricans with the characteristics of all Hispanics and the U.S. population overall. It is based on Pew Hispanic Center tabulations of the 2008 American Community Survey. Key facts include:

• Immigration status. Most Puerto Ricans in the United States—2.8 million in all—were born in the 50 states or the District of Columbia. Additionally, one-third of the Puerto Rican population in the U.S.—1.3 million—was born in Puerto Rico. People born in Puerto Rico are also considered native born because they are U.S. citizens by birth. A small number of people of Puerto Rican origin—46,000—were born outside of the U.S. or Puerto Rico and were not U.S. citizens by birth. They are considered foreign born.

• Language. Eight-in-ten Puerto Ricans (80.5%) speak English proficiently.

3 Some 19.5% of Puerto Ricans ages 5 and older report speaking English less than very well, compared with 37.3% of all Hispanics.

1 Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, but all references to the United States in this profile refer to the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

2 Percentages are computed before numbers are rounded.

3 Puerto Ricans ages 5 and older who report speaking only English at home or speaking English very well.

• Age. Puerto Ricans are younger than the U.S. population and older than Hispanics overall. The median age of Puerto Ricans is29; the median ages of the U.S. population and all Hispanics are 36 and 27, respectively.

• Marital status. Puerto Ricans are less likely than Hispanics overall to be married—37.3% versus 46.5%.

• Fertility. Nearly six-in-ten (57.1%) of Puerto Rican women ages 15 to 44 who gave birth in the 12 months prior to the survey were unmarried. That was greater than the rate for all Hispanic women—38.8%—and the rate for U.S. women—34.5%.

• Regional dispersion. A majority of Puerto Ricans (55.4%) live in the Northeast, mostly in the New York (26.0%). Nearly three-in-ten (27.9%) Puerto Ricans live in the South, mostly in Florida (17.9%).

• Educational attainment. Puerto Ricans have higher levels of education than the Hispanic population overall. Twenty-seven percent of Puerto Ricans ages 25 and older—compared with 39.2% of all U.S. Hispanics—have not obtained at least a high school diploma.

• Income. The median annual personal earnings for Puerto Ricans ages 16 and older were $26,478 in 2008; the median earnings for all U.S. Hispanics were $21,488.

• Poverty status. The share of Puerto Ricans who live in poverty, 22.6%, is higher than the rate for the general U.S. population (12.7%) and similar to the 20.7% share among all Hispanics.

• Health Insurance. Nearly one-in-six Puerto Ricans (15.6%) do not have health insurance compared with 31.7% of all Hispanics and 15.4% of the general U.S. population. Additionally, 8.1% of Puerto Ricans younger than 18 are uninsured.

• Homeownership. The rate of Puerto Rican homeownership (40.3%) is lower than the rate for all Hispanics (49.1%) and the U.S. population (66.6%) as a whole.
Source: Pew Hispanic

Revealing facts on Mexican Hispanics

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A total of 30.7 million Hispanics of Mexican origin resided in the United States in 2008, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Mexicans in this statistical profile are people who self-identified as Hispanics of Mexican origin or Mexican Hispanics; this means either they themselves are Mexican immigrants or they trace their family ancestry to Mexico.  Mexicans are the largest population of Hispanic origin living in the United States, accounting for nearly two-thirds (65.7%) of the U.S. Hispanic population in 2008.

1 This statistical profile compares the demographic, income and economic characteristics of the Mexican Hispanics population with the characteristics of all Hispanics and the U.S. population overall. It is based on Pew Hispanic Center tabulations of the 2008 American Community Survey. Key facts include:

• Immigration status. Nearly four-in-ten Mexicans (37.0%) in the United States are foreign born, compared with 38.1% of Hispanics and 12.5% of the U.S. population overall. Most immigrants from Mexico (63.4%) arrived in the U.S. in 1990 or later. Two-in-ten of Mexican immigrants (22.0%) are U.S. citizens.

• Language. A majority of Mexicans (61.6%) speak English proficiently.

2 Some 38.4% of Mexicans ages 5 and older report speaking English less than very well, compared with 37.3% of all Hispanics.

• Age. Mexican Hispanics are younger than the U.S. population and Hispanics overall. The median age of Mexican Hispanics is 25; the median ages of the U.S. population and all Hispanics are 36 and 27, respectively.

• Marital status. Less than half of Mexican Hispanics (48.2%) and Hispanics overall (46.5%) are married.

1 Percentages are computed before numbers are rounded.

2 Mexicans ages 5 and older who report speaking only English at home or speaking English very well.

• Fertility. Thirty-eight percent of Mexican women ages 15 to 44 who gave birth in the 12 months prior to the survey were unmarried. That was similar to the rate for all Hispanic women—38.8%—but greater than the rate for U.S. women—34.5%.

• Regional dispersion. Nearly four-in-ten Mexicans (36.7%) live in California, and one-in-four (25.2%) live in Texas.

• Educational attainment. Mexicans have lower levels of education than the Hispanic population overall. Nine percent of Mexican Hispanics ages 25 and older—compared with 12.9% of all U.S. Hispanics—have obtained at least a bachelor’s degree.

• Income. The median annual personal earnings for Mexicans ages 16 and older were $20,368 in 2008; the median earnings for all U.S. Hispanics were $21,488.

• Poverty status. The share of Mexicans who live in poverty, 22.3%, is higher than the rate for the general U.S. population (12.7%) and similar to the share for all Hispanics (20.7%).

• Health Insurance. One-third of Mexicans (34.8%) do not have health insurance compared with 31.7% of all Hispanics and 15.4% of the general U.S. population. Additionally, 20.4% of Mexicans younger than 18 are uninsured.

• Homeownership. The rate of Mexican homeownership (50.5%) is similar to the rate for all Hispanics (49.1%) but lower than the 66.6% rate for the U.S. population as a whole.
Source: Pew Hispanic