U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. Department of Commerce News

EMBARGOED UNTIL: NOON, EDT, JUNE 18, 2003 (WEDNESDAY) 

                              
Robert Bernstein/Mike Bergman             CB03-100
Public Information Office                 Estimates
(301) 763-3030/457-3670 (fax)             Hispanic Report          
(301) 457-1037 (TDD)                         
e-mail: pio@census.gov                    
                                                            
                                             
Young, Diverse, Urban

               Hispanic Population Reaches All-Time High
           of 38.8 Million, New Census Bureau Estimates Show

  Lake Buena Vista, Fla.  The nation's Hispanic population grew much
faster than the population as a whole, increasing from 35.3 million on
April 1, 2000, to 38.8 million on July 1, 2002. Among the race groups,
Asians had the highest rate of growth at 9.0 percent.

  "The official population estimates now indicate that the Hispanic
community is the nation's largest minority community," said Census Bureau
Director Louis Kincannon. "This is an important event in this country an
event that we know is the result of the growth of a vibrant and diverse
population that is vital to America's future."

  Kincannon told the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
convention in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., that new Census Bureau population
estimates show that the Hispanic population grew 9.8 percent between
Census Day, April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2002. The rate of growth of the
population as a whole was 2.5 percent.

  According to the race and Hispanic-origin estimates, Hispanics accounted
for 3.5 million, or fully one-half, of the population increase of 6.9
million for the nation since April 1, 2000.

  The results show that about 53 percent of the recent growth among
Hispanics can be attributed to net international migration, while natural
increase the difference between births and deaths accounted for the
remaining 47 percent.

  The federal government treats Hispanic origin and race as separate and
distinct concepts. Separate questions are asked on Hispanic origin and
race. The question on Hispanic origin asked respondents if they were
Spanish, Hispanic or Latino. The question on race asked respondents to
report the race or races they considered themselves to be. Thus, Hispanics
may be of any race. (See U.S. Census Bureau Guidance on the Presentation
and Comparison of Race and Hispanic Origin Data.)

  According to the 2002 estimates, the number of people who identified
with one race, regardless of whether they also reported any other races,
was: 236.2 million for whites, 38.3 million for African-Americans, 13.1
million for Asians, 4.3 million for American Indians and Alaska Natives
and 943,000 for native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders. (See the
attached table for the number of people who reported only a single race.
Those numbers, plus the 4.2 million people who reported two-or-more-races,
sum to the total population.)

  Other highlights:

    - On July 1, 2002, the estimated resident population of the United 
      States was 288.4 million.This represents an increase of 2.5 percent
      or 6.9 million people since April 1, 2000.
                                
    - The U.S. median age continued to rise, from 35.3 years on April 1, 
      2000, to 35.7 years on July 1, 2002. The "baby boom" generation, 
      born between 1946 and 1964, continued to get older, and
      proportionally fewer children were being born to offset the aging of 
      this generation.

  The Census Bureau also issued a report on the characteristics of the
Hispanic population in the United States. This report is based on a
national survey of the civilian, non-institutional population, a slightly
smaller population than the resident population estimates discussed above.

  The report, The Hispanic Population in the United States: March 2002,
shows that more than 1-in-3 Hispanics were under age 18, and nearly
5-in-10 lived in central cities.

  The diversity of the various Hispanic or Latino groups is reflected in
the percentages of those 25 years old and older who by 2002 had graduated
from high school. These high school graduates among specific Hispanic
groups ranged from 74 percent for those of "other Hispanic origin" and 71
percent for Cubans to 51 percent for Mexicans. The difference between
those of "other Hispanic origin" and Cubans is not statistically
significant. Those of "other Hispanic origin" identified themselves with
such terms as Spaniard, Dominican or Tejano.

  Central and South Americans were more likely than other groups to work
in service occupations (27 percent), and Mexicans were less likely than
other groups to work in managerial or professional occupations (12
percent).

  Other highlights:

    - Among Latino groups, Puerto Ricans were more likely than other 
      groups to live in a central city within a metropolitan area 
      (57 percent), while Cubans were more likely to live outside the 
      central city but within a metropolitan area (77 percent).

    - About 26 percent of full-time, year-round Latino workers made 
      $35,000 or more in 2001, and about 12 percent made $50,000 or more.

    - In 2001, 21 percent of Hispanics were below the poverty line. 
      Hispanic children represented 18 percent of all children in the 
      United States but comprised 30 percent of all children in poverty.

  The report presents the latest tabulations on such characteristics as
place of residence, marital status, family type and size, educational
attainment, labor force participation, occupation, income and poverty. The
characteristics are shown for various Hispanic groups and are compared
with those of non-Hispanic whites.

  Data in the report come from the Annual Demographic Supplement to the
2002 Current Population Survey. As in all surveys, the data are subject to
sampling variability and other sources of error.

                               -X-

Resident Population Estimates of the United States by Race and Hispanic or Latino Origin:
April 1, 20001 and July 1, 2002
 (Numbers in millions)
Race and Hispanic Origin July 1, 2002
Population		 April 1, 2000
Population
Estimates
Base		 Change
April 1, 2000 - July 1, 2002
Numerical Percentage
TOTAL POPULATION
288.4
281.4
6.9
2.5
   One race
284.2
277.5
6.7
2.4
     White
232.6
228.1
4.5
2.0
      Black or African American
36.7
35.7
1.0
2.9
      American Indian and Alaska Native
2.8
2.7
0.1
3.3
      Asian
11.6
10.6
1.0
9.2
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
0.5
0.5
0.0
4.7
   Two or more races
4.2
3.9
0.3
7.3
         
   Race alone or in combination with one or more other races2        
     White
236.2
231.4
4.8
2.1
      Black or African American
38.3
37.1
1.2
3.3
      American Indian and Alaska Native
4.3
4.2
0.1
2.4
      Asian
13.1
12.0
1.1
9.0
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
0.9
0.9
0.0
4.0
         
NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO POPULATION
249.6
246.1
3.5
1.4
   One race
246.0
242.7
3.3
1.3
      White
196.8
195.6
1.3
0.6
      Black or African American
35.3
34.3
1.0
2.8
      American Indian and Alaska Native
2.2
2.1
0.1
2.8
      Asian
11.3
10.4
1.0
9.2
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
0.4
0.4
0.0
4.1
   Two or more races
3.6
3.4
0.2
6.9
         
   Race alone or in combination with one or more other races2        
     White
200.0
198.5
1.5
0.7
      Black or African American
36.6
35.5
1.1
3.1
      American Indian and Alaska Native
3.5
3.5
0.1
1.9
      Asian
12.7
11.6
1.1
9.0
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
0.8
0.8
0.0
3.4
         
HISPANIC OR LATINO POPULATION
38.8
35.3
3.5
9.8
   One race
38.2
34.8
3.4
9.8
      White
35.8
32.5
 3.3;
10.1  
      Black or African American
1.5
1.4
0.1
6.1
      American Indian and Alaska Native
0.6
0.6
0.0
5.2
      Asian
0.2
0.2
0.0
6.5
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
0.1
0.1
0.0
7.1
   Two or more races
0.5
0.5
0.0
9.7
         
   Race alone or in combination with one or more other races2        
     White
36.3
33.0
3.3
10.1  
      Black or African American
1.7
1.6
0.1
6.9
      American Indian and Alaska Native
0.8
0.8
0.0
4.8
      Asian
0.4
0.4
0.0
7.7
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
0.2
0.2
0.0
6.5

1The April 1, 2000, population estimates base race data have been modified to be consistent with the categories for which population
estimates are produced.

2In combination with one or more races listed.The five numbers add to more than the total population because individuals may be of
more than one race.

 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Public Information Office
(301) 763-3030
Last Revised: June 19, 2003 at 10:38:25 AM

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