Pew Research: 9 Insights into Recent Latino Immigrants to the U.S.
Pew Research conducted a study on recent Latino immigrants in the United States. This article provides an overview of the key traits and developments within this group.
In 2021, the United States was home to nearly 20 million Latino immigrants, constituting nearly one-third (31.8%) of the country's total Latino population.
Declining Numbers: The number of recent Hispanic immigrants to the U.S. has declined over the years. In 2000, there were 3.8 million foreign-born Hispanics who had been in the U.S. for five years or less. This number decreased to 3 million in 2010 and further to 2.6 million in 2021.
Shift in Population: Conversely, the population of Hispanic immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for more than five years has grown significantly, from 10.4 million in 2000 to 15.9 million in 2010 and 17.3 million in 2021.
Diverse Origins: Recent Hispanic immigrants to the U.S. represent a diverse group, with Mexicans being the largest, making up 34% of recent arrivals in 2021. Other significant groups include Guatemalan, Honduran, Dominican, and Venezuelan immigrants.
Age Differences: The median age for recent Hispanic immigrants is 27.9 years, with significant variation among different origin groups. Cubans and Venezuelans have the highest median ages, while Hondurans and Guatemalans are the youngest.
Educational Attainment: Venezuelans stand out as the most likely to have a bachelor's degree among recent Hispanic immigrants, with 62% having completed at least a bachelor's degree. In contrast, recent Guatemalan arrivals have the lowest level of college experience.
Gender Distribution: Women are increasingly represented among recent Hispanic immigrants, accounting for 47.8% of all recent arrivals in 2021. This figure has risen from 43.6% in 2000. Notably, certain origin groups have a higher proportion of women.
Marital Status: Four-in-ten recent Latino immigrant adults have never been married, with Guatemalan, Honduran, and Salvadoran immigrants having the highest rates of never being married. On the other hand, a majority of recent Mexican immigrants are married.
Geographic Distribution: Recent arrivals make up a substantial portion of Hispanic immigrants in some states, such as Louisiana, where they represent over 25% of the Hispanic immigrant population. However, states like California, Texas, and Florida still have the largest overall Latino immigrant populations.
English Proficiency: About a quarter of recent Latino immigrants are proficient in English, but proficiency levels vary by origin group. Venezuelan, Peruvian, and Colombian immigrants have higher rates of English proficiency, while Guatemalan, Nicaraguan, and Honduran immigrants are less likely to be proficient.
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