Population
» By 1999, the Latino/a population in the United States reached an estimated 31.4 million, and is expected to triple to 98.2 million by 2050.  Latinos/as currently represent 12% of the total U.S. population and are expected to rise to 24% by 2050. Five years from now, in 2005, it is predicted Latinos/as will become the nation's largest minority group.
U.S. Census Bureau, January 2000

Top Seven States with Highest Latino/a Population in 1998

State

Population

1 California

10,112,986

2 Texas

5,862,835

3 New York

2,624,930

4 Florida

2,243,441

5 Illinois

1,224,309

6 Arizona

1,033,822

7 New Jersey

1,004,010

U.S. Census Bureau, October 1999
Top Five States with the Highest Percentage Growth of Latino/a Population from 1990 to 1998

State

Percentage Growth

Total Population

1 Arkansas

148%

49,473

2 Nevada

123%

278,499

3 North Carolina

110%

161,220

4 Georgia

102%

220,312

5 Nebraska

96%

72,519

U.S. Census Bureau, October 1999

» In 1997, 39% of all Latinos/as were under the age of 19. Among the general U.S. population 30% were under 19.
U.S. Census Bureau, 1997

Statistics