Topic updated: March 2013

Hispanic American Health

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines Hispanic or Latino as “a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.”  In data collection and presentation, federal agencies are required to use a minimum of two ethnicities: “Hispanic or Latino” and "Not Hispanic or Latino".

According to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates as of July 1, 2011, there are roughly 52.0 million Hispanics living in the United States, representing approximately 16.7% of the U.S. total population, making people of Hispanic origin the nation's largest ethnic or race minority.

The U.S. Hispanic population for July 1, 2050 is estimated to reach 132.8 million, constituting approximately 30% of the U.S. population by that date.

Among Hispanic subgroups, in 2010, Mexicans ranked as the largest at 63%. Following Mexicans were Puerto Ricans (9.2%), Cubans (3.5%),  Salvadorans (3.3%), Dominicans(2.8%), and the remaining 18.2% were people of other Hispanic or Latino origins.

In 2010, 23.2% of elementary and high school students were Hispanic, but only 6.2% ofcollege students were Hispanic.

As of July 1, 2011, the state with the largest Hispanic population was California (14.4 million), and the state with the highest percentage of Hispanic population was New Mexico (46.7%).

The percentage of Hispanics who lacked health insurance in 2010 was 30.7%.

Ten Leading Causes of Death for Hispanic/Latino Populations

  • Cancer
  • Heart disease
  • Unintentional injuries
  • Stroke
  • Diabetes
  • Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
  • Chronic lower respiratory disease
  • Influenza and Pneumonia
  • Homicide
  • Nephritis, Nephrotic Syndrome and Nephrosis

Health Disparities

  • The racial/ethnic disparity in both income and education, compared with non-Hispanic whites was greatest for Hispanics and non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaska Natives.
  • Next to Non-Hispanic blacks, Hispanics and American Indians/Alaska Natives had the highest percentages of householders living in inadequate, unhealthy housing.
  • Hispanics were more likely to reside in counties that did not meet the standard for ozone in comparison with non-Hispanic whites.
  • Hispanics had substantially higher uninsured rates, compared with Asian/Pacific Islanders and non-Hispanic whites.
  • Lower influenza vaccination coverage was observed for Hispanics, compared with non-Hispanic whites, among all persons aged > 6 months during the 2009-10 influenza season.
  • Among males aged ≤20 years, the prevalence of obesity was highest among Mexican-Americans, as compared to non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks.
  • During 2004-2007, the rate of preventable hospitalizations was higher among Hispanics, compared with non-Hispanic whites.
  • Hispanics continued to experience a disproportionate burden of HIV diagnoses.
  • In 2008, the birth rate for Hispanic adolescents was approximately 5 times the rate for Asian/Pacific Islander adolescents, 3 times the rate for non-Hispanic white adolescents, and somewhat higher than the rates for non-Hispanic black and American Indian/Alaska Native adolescents.

Taken from the CDC information on Hispanic or Latino Populations.

Hispanic Textile Art

New Jersey Resources

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