Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

The 10 Largest Hispanic Origin Groups: Characteristics, Rankings, Top Counties

V. Economics and Health Insurance

Income

  • In 2010, the median household income for Hispanics in the U.S. was $40,000, less than the U.S. median of $49,800.

  • Ecuadorians have the highest median household income among these groups, at $50,000. The median household incomes for Colombians ($49,500) and Peruvians ($48,000) are slightly less than that.
  • Dominicans ($34,000), Puerto Ricans ($36,000) and Hondurans ($38,900) rank in the bottom three on the measure of median household income.

Poverty

  • The poverty rate among Hispanics was 25% in 2010. That compares with a 15% rate for the entire U.S. A recent Pew Hispanic Center report showed that more Latino children are living in poverty than any other major racial or ethnic group (Lopez and Velasco, 2011).

  • The poverty rate is highest among Hondurans, Puerto Ricans and Mexicans (27%). They are closely followed by two groups at 26%— Dominicans and Guatemalans.
  • Only Colombians and Peruvians have poverty rates below the total U.S. rate (15%). At 13%, the poverty rate is lowest among Columbians. They are followed closely by Peruvians (14%).

Health Insurance

  • Some 31% of Hispanics do not have health insurance, about twice the share of the overall U.S. population (16%).

  • Half of Hondurans are uninsured. The next most likely to lack insurance are Guatemalans (48%) and Salvadorans (41%).
  • Puerto Ricans (15%), Dominicans (22%) and Cubans (25%) are the groups least likely to lack health insurance.

Homeownership

  • Fewer than half (47%) of Hispanic household heads own their homes, lower than the overall U.S. rate of 65%.

  • Nearly six-in-ten (57%) Cubans own their homes—the highest homeownership rate among the 10 largest Hispanic origin groups. Mexicans have the second highest homeownership rate at 50%. They are followed by Colombians and Peruvians—both with homeownership rates of 49%.
  • The three groups least likely to be homeowners are Dominicans (24%), Hondurans (29%) and Guatemalans (30%).
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