A new national survey shows that the Latino Population rose 47 percent from 2000 to 2011, with the largest segment of Latinos being people of Mexican descent representing about two-thirds of all Latinos.
The Pew Research Hispanic Center in Washington, D.C., found that the number of Latinos in the U.S. during those 11 years increased from 35.2 million to 51.9 million, according to the Seattle Times. The total U.S. population as of 2011 was 311.6 million, which means that 16.7 percent of people living in the U.S. were Latino, compared with 12.5 percent in 2000. That percentage is expected to increase.
The 2011 numbers are based on the American Community Survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, which surveyed three percent of the households in the U.S. The households were contacted during 2011 and the numbers were compiled over the past year. The 2000 numbers were based on the census from that year.
The census says that it figures include undocumented people. There are thought to be 11 million to 12 million undocumented people in the U.S., 80 percent who are Latino. The largest number of Latinos in the U.S., are people of Mexican descent making up 64.5 percent of Latinos or 33.5 million.
Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens from birth, number 4.9 million; Salvadorans 1.95 million; Cubans, 1.88 million; and Guatemalans, 1.22 million.
Not only did the number of Latinos and their percentage of the U.S. population increase, but the percentage of Latinos in the U.S. who are U.S.-born rose from 59.9 percent to 63.8 percent.
The three states with the highest Hispanic population are California, with 14.4 million; Texas, 9.8 million; and Florida 4.35 million. At least 10 states saw an increase in their Latino populations of more than 100 percent since 2000.
The survey shows educational levels rose over the 11 years. The high-school dropout rate among Latinos ages 16 to 19 plummeted from 17.5 percent in 2000 to 6.8 percent in 2011. The percentage of Latinos enrolled in college rose sharply from 20 to 32.9 percent in the 11 years.
Thirteen million Latinos live in poverty, 25.9 percent of the total Latino population, and 22 percent receive food stamps. The median income of a Latino household in 2011 was $39,000.
Latinos have by far the highest percentage of people without health insurance, 30 percent.