Latino Diversity: The Surprising Growth and Changing Face of the Latino Community in America

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Key Points:
-Today, 1 out of every 5 is residents of the U.S. is Latino.
-The Latino population comprises distinct groups from across the Americas and the Caribbean and is racially, culturally, linguistically and socioeconomically diverse.
-Understanding how different Latino groups are uniquely impacted by social, political and economic factors is important in crafting long-term policy.

As the nation’s Latino population has grown from 35 million in 2000 to more than 62 million, so have Latinos’ overall levels of education, home ownership and economic security. But these gains also mask marked differences within the increasingly diverse Latino population, say UCLA researchers.

“Latinos are often treated as a monolith in discussions about policy, but our report finds great diversity in how different groups experience opportunities and gains,” said Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas, the institute’s research director. “Through a better understanding of the shifts and trends, we hope to improve the conversation about how to better serve the needs of this diverse community.”

Today, 1 of every 5 residents of the U.S. is Latino, with Latinos accounting for more than half of U.S. population growth over the past two decades. But the face of that population is changing significantly. While those of Mexican descent still make up the majority, at nearly 60%, the percentage of Paraguayans, Hondurans and Guatemalans has quadrupled, and the Venezuelan community has increased more than sixfold.

The report also shows that Latinos have expanded beyond traditional geographic enclaves, moving into areas of the Midwest and South with historically sparse Latino populations. North and South Dakota, for example, experienced the fastest growth in Latino population over the last 20 years, while Kentucky, South Carolina and Alabama all saw increases well above 200%.