Facts you should know about Latinos, the largest minority group in the U.S., who will be celebrating their Hispanic Heritage Month beginning Sept.15 until Oct.15. 

Hispanics and Latinos
(Photo : Reutersconnect)

Latino community is the largest minority group in the country. According to the Pew Research Center, there are around 32 million eligible Latino voters. It is not a surprise anymore why candidates continue to court the Latino and Hispanic community as the election nears. 

Meanwhile, as the largest minority group in the country will be celebrating the Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept.15 to Oct.15, here are some facts that you should know according to Pew Research Center:

1. U.S. Hispanic Population

Hispanic and Latino in the U.S have reached a combined total population of 60.6 million in 2019. This makes the Hispanics and Latinos as the second-fastest-growing racial or ethnic group. Additionally, 19 percent of the country's total population is coming from the Hispanic and Latino community.

2. Hispanics with college experience

The increase of the population of Hispanics and Latinos in the country has also paved the way to increase the number of Hispanics to have college experience. In 2018, 45 percent of Hispanics age 25 and older had at least a college experience. 

3. Latinos who speak in English

 Around 71 percent of Latinos in the country age five and older spoke English proficiently since 2018. A big leap from 59 percent in 2000. One of the factors seen in this increasing number is also the growth of U.S.-born Latinos in the country.

4.Top Hispanic origin groups in the country

People of Mexican origin are composed of around 36.9 million. They are followed by Puerto Ricans with 5.7 million, Cubans with 2.3 million, Salvadorans with nearly 2.4 million, and all other Latinos of around 2.2 million. Mexicans in the Hispanic community is 61.9 percent. 

5. Four out of five Latinos are U.S. citizens

As of 2018, about 80% of Latinos living in the country are U.S. citizens, up from 74% in 2010. This includes people born in the U.S. and its territories (including Puerto Rico), people born abroad to American parents, and immigrants who have become naturalized citizens. Among the origin groups, virtually all Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens. Spaniards (91%), Panamanians (89%), and Mexicans (80%) have some of the highest citizenship rates, while Hondurans (53%) and Venezuelans (51%) have the lowest rates.

6. 32 Million are eligible to vote

There are around 32 million Latinos in the U.S. who are eligible to vote for the upcoming 2020 U.S. Presidential election. They are followed by the African-Americans who have 30 million eligible voters. This is the first time that Latinos surpassed the African-Americans. 

7. Five States are homes of Latinos 

Eligible Latinos who will vote live in these five states. These are California (7.9 million) alone holds about a quarter of the U.S. Latino electorate. It is followed by Texas (5.6 million), Florida (3.1 million), New York (2.0 million), and Arizona (1.2 million).

8. Florida and Texas

These two states share the highest number of eligible voters in the country. About 54% of naturalized citizens who are eligible voters in Florida are Latino, the highest in the nation. Texas (52%) is the only other state where Latinos make up at least half of immigrant eligible voters.

These are just some of the facts that you should know about the Hispanics and Latinos in the country as they celebrate their Hispanic Heritage Month.