Most Hispanic/Latino states in the United States research summary. We used Saturday Night Science to research the states with the highest percentage of Hispanic/Latino residents for 2024. The data comes from the American Community Survey 2018-2022 vintage, which breaks down race by origin.
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The state with the highest percentage of Hispanic/Latino Americans is New Mexico. 49.78% of people in New Mexico are Hispanic.
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The state with the lowest percentage of Hispanic/Latino Americans is West Virginia. 1.84% of people in West Virginia are Hispanic.
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The state with the most Hispanic/Latino Americans is California. 15,617,930 people in California are Hispanic.
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The state with the fewest Hispanic/Latino Americans is Vermont. 13,793 people in Vermont are Hispanic.
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The United States has 61,755,866 Hispanic Americans and is 18.65% Hispanic.
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The most Hispanic states in the United States are New Mexico, Texas, California, Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Colorado, New Jersey, New York, and Illinois.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 States In America With The Largest Percentage Of Hispanic Population For 2024
In today’s article, we’re going to talk about some hispanic history and look at which states have the highest hispanic populations. There are very few personal opinions in this report. Most are facts.
It is also a fact that Mexican food is the best food in the country, especially the burritos at Alberto’s, a chain of mom and pop style mexican restaurants in the greater LA area.
You’ll also find the most Hispanic city in America in California – East Los Angeles. What state has the largest percentage of its population that is Hispanic? New Mexico ranks as the most hispanic state for 2024.
Okay, so, let’s begin our report on the most hispanic states in America. Or, if you’re interested in reading something else, check out:
The 10 Most Hispanic/Latino States In The United States For 2024
1. New Mexico
Population: 2,112,463
Hispanic Population: 1,051,626
Percent Hispanic: 49.8%
Percent Change: 15.1%
More On New Mexico: Biggest Cities | Average Rent
Where’s the most Hispanic state in the US for 2024? It’s New Mexico. New Mexico is 49.8% hispanic, which is a 15.07% increase since 2010. Albuquerque is 50% Hispanic. Every city with a population of over 5,000 residents is at least a quarter Hispanic here.
While California has by far the highest number of Hispanics in America, New Mexico has the nation’s largest percentage of Hispanic residents relative to its state’s total population. Nearly 1 in 3 residents of New Mexico speak Spanish at home.
2. Texas
Population: 29,243,342
Hispanic Population: 11,665,280
Percent Hispanic: 39.9%
Percent Change: 30.8%
More On Texas: Biggest Cities | Average Rent
The state of Texas is 39.9% Hispanic, which is 30.81% more Hispanic than it was in 2010. There are six cities along the Texas/Mexico border where the Hispanic population is effectively 100%, including Hidalgo, Texas. Houston is 44% hispanic, Dallas is 42% hispanic, and El Paso is 80% hispanic. According to the census, in Texas, Hispanics accounted for nearly half of all births.
3. California
Population: 39,356,104
Hispanic Population: 15,617,930
Percent Hispanic: 39.7%
Percent Change: 16.1%
More On California: Biggest Cities | Average Rent
California is 39.7% hispanic. There are 14 cities in California with Hispanic populations greater than 95%, and five where the population is effectively 99% Hispanic. A large number of Hispanic residents in California live along the US-Mexico border, in Southern California in general, and along the central Valley, a 500-mile long agriculture-rich region stretching from Bakersfield to Redding.
4. Arizona
Population: 7,172,282
Hispanic Population: 2,297,513
Percent Hispanic: 32.0%
Percent Change: 26.6%
More On Arizona: Biggest Cities | Average Rent
Arizona’s Hispanic population is 32.0%, which is a 26.61% increase since 2010. The most hispanic cities in Arizona include Somerton, San Luis, and Nogales which all have hispanic populations over 96%. Phoenix has a 43% hispanic population.
5. Nevada
Population: 3,104,817
Hispanic Population: 918,509
Percent Hispanic: 29.6%
Percent Change: 36.3%
More On Nevada: Biggest Cities | Average Rent
Moving on, we come to our fifth most Hispanic state in America, Nevada. In Nevada, the Hispanic population is nearly 4% higher than in Florida, at 29.6%. North Las Vegas is the most Hispanic city in Nevada, at 40%. In Las Vegas, 1 in 3 residents is Hispanic. Nevada’s Hispanic population has increased 36.3% since 2010.
According to the Nevada Bureau of Labor Statistics, most of Nevada jobs are in the greater Las Vegas region due to the city’s tourism industry. Hispanics occupy 22% of jobs in the tourism industry. Hispanics occupy 27% of all construction industry jobs, the largest percentage of all job categories. Hispanics occupy 23% of all agriculture jobs.
6. Florida
Population: 21,634,529
Hispanic Population: 5,738,283
Percent Hispanic: 26.5%
Percent Change: 43.6%
More On Florida: Biggest Cities | Average Rent
Our sixth most Hispanic state in America is Florida. In Florida, 26.5% of the population – or 1 in 4 residents, is Hispanic and growing. Florida is 43.62% more Hispanic than in 2010, making it the fastest-growing Hispanic state in the US. There are four cities in Miami Dade County with 90% or more Hispanic populations. Miami is 72% Hispanic.
In New York City, the majority of the Hispanic population is Puerto Rican, but that only comprises 10 percent of New York City’s total population. In Miami, 54% of the city is Cuban. About 13 percent of Miami-Dade’s Latinos are from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, and 32 percent are from other Central and South American countries such as Guatemala, Colombia, El Salvador, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Brazil.
7. Colorado
Population: 5,770,790
Hispanic Population: 1,273,762
Percent Hispanic: 22.1%
Percent Change: 29.5%
More On Colorado: Biggest Cities | Average Rent
Our next most Hispanic state in America is Colorado. In Colorado, 22.1% of the population is Hispanic. Colorado is 29.54% more Hispanic as a state than it was in 2010.
North Denver suburb Federal Heights is the most Hispanic city in the state at 60%. Pueblo is 52% hispanic. 1 in 3 residents in Denver, Colorado’s largest city, is Hispanic. 40% of Colorado’s population under 25 isn’t white. According to an article in the Denver Post, the Hispanic population is changing Colorado’s entire culture and economy.
8. New Jersey
Population: 9,249,063
Hispanic Population: 1,963,423
Percent Hispanic: 21.2%
Percent Change: 33.7%
More On New Jersey: Biggest Cities | Average Rent
In New Jersey, 21.2%, or 1 in 5 residents, is Hispanic. New Jersey is 33.73% more Hispanic than in 2010, the second biggest gain of any other state on this list.
The city of Perth Amboy, about 20 miles south of Newark, has the most Hispanics in New Jersey, at 82%. Union City, just across the Lincoln Tunnel from Manhattan, is 80% Hispanic. Camden is 49% Hispanic, and Newark is 37% Hispanic.
The northern part of Hudson County is nicknamed “Havana on the Hudson” for the large number of Cuban exiles and émigrés living there. Paterson, which is 60% hispanic, is home to Little Lima, a Peruvian enclave in Downtown. Paterson is considered by many to be the capital of Peru outside of… Peru. There are also a large number of Bolivians in Paterson.
9. New York
Population: 19,994,379
Hispanic Population: 3,895,714
Percent Hispanic: 19.5%
Percent Change: 18.5%
More On New York: Biggest Cities | Average Rent
Moving on, we come to our next most Hispanic state in America, New York. In New York, there are 3,895,714 Hispanics, making up 19.5% of the New York population. New York state is 18.45% more Hispanic since 2010.
Haverstraw, a town 45 miles north of New York City, is the state’s most Hispanic, with a Hispanic population of 69%. New York City is 28% Hispanic.
In New York, in particular, Puerto Ricans and Dominicans make up a large percentage of the Hispanic population. The Puerto Rican population of New York City is the largest outside Puerto Rico. The Hispanic breakdown of New York City is 9.4% Puerto Rican, 3.6% Mexican, .5% Cuban, and all other Hispanic groups make up 14.0%.
10. Illinois
Population: 12,757,634
Hispanic Population: 2,275,704
Percent Hispanic: 17.8%
Percent Change: 17.3%
More On Illinois: Biggest Cities | Average Rent
Here in Illinois, the Hispanic population is 17.8%, or one in every 6 Illinois residents. This statistic represents a 17.31% increase in the last ten years. For perspective, the least Hispanic state is West Virginia, where the Hispanic population is 1.4%. That means there are 12 times as many Hispanics in Illinois as in West Virginia.
Cicero, a west Chicago suburb of 83,000 residents, is 89% Hispanic – the largest Hispanic population in Illinois.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Hispanic States in The US
When we analyze the racial demographics of states, we look at statistics. In particular, we can look to the recently released 2018-2022 American Community Survey for a detailed breakdown of race by state.
Specifically, we looked at table B03002, which has the breakdown of people by Hispanic/Latino and race.
We looked at the percentage of the population of each state that identified as Hispanic/Latino.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 50 in terms of that percentage, with the state having the highest overall percentage being named the “State In America with the Largest Hispanic population” — New Mexico. We updated this article for 2024. This article is our tenth time ranking the most Hispanic states in America.
The “least Hispanic” state according to the data? That would be West Virginia, which is only 1.84% Hispanic as of the latest data. Wow.
Summary: The States With The Largest Hispanic Populations in the US
As the demographics change in New Mexico and in the other states we discussed today, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the American population adjusts. Researchers have noted that native-born Hispanics are assimilating more into the traditional American people and are slowly losing their native identity with each new generation.
The most Hispanic states in the United States are New Mexico, Texas, California, Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Colorado, New Jersey, New York, and Illinois.
By the year 2050, it’s expected the Hispanic population will be a quarter of the total population in the United States.
Hopefully, you’ve learned a lot in this book report and have a newfound appreciation for the Hispanic culture.
If you’re wondering, these are the states with the least number of Hispanics in America:
- West Virginia
- Maine
- Vermont
For more reading, check out:
Most Hispanic States In The United States For 2024
| Rank | State | Population | Hispanic Population | % Hispanic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | 2,112,463 | 1,051,626 | 49.8% |
| 2 | Texas | 29,243,342 | 11,665,280 | 39.9% |
| 3 | California | 39,356,104 | 15,617,930 | 39.7% |
| 4 | Arizona | 7,172,282 | 2,297,513 | 32.0% |
| 5 | Nevada | 3,104,817 | 918,509 | 29.6% |
| 6 | Florida | 21,634,529 | 5,738,283 | 26.5% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,770,790 | 1,273,762 | 22.1% |
| 8 | New Jersey | 9,249,063 | 1,963,423 | 21.2% |
| 9 | New York | 19,994,379 | 3,895,714 | 19.5% |
| 10 | Illinois | 12,757,634 | 2,275,704 | 17.8% |
| 11 | Connecticut | 3,611,317 | 627,408 | 17.4% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,094,250 | 183,196 | 16.7% |
| 13 | Utah | 3,283,809 | 480,843 | 14.6% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,229,374 | 583,066 | 13.8% |
| 15 | Washington | 7,688,549 | 1,037,153 | 13.5% |
| 16 | Idaho | 1,854,109 | 242,236 | 13.1% |
| 17 | Kansas | 2,935,922 | 369,970 | 12.6% |
| 18 | Massachusetts | 6,984,205 | 879,296 | 12.6% |
| 19 | Nebraska | 1,958,939 | 230,769 | 11.8% |
| 20 | Oklahoma | 3,970,497 | 458,686 | 11.6% |
| 21 | Hawaii | 1,450,589 | 159,023 | 11.0% |
| 22 | Maryland | 6,161,707 | 672,905 | 10.9% |
| 23 | Wyoming | 577,929 | 60,518 | 10.5% |
| 24 | Georgia | 10,722,325 | 1,078,457 | 10.1% |
| 25 | North Carolina | 10,470,214 | 1,051,008 | 10.0% |
| 26 | Virginia | 8,624,511 | 865,015 | 10.0% |
| 27 | Delaware | 993,635 | 98,696 | 9.9% |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | 12,989,208 | 1,055,108 | 8.1% |
| 29 | Arkansas | 3,018,669 | 243,321 | 8.1% |
| 30 | Indiana | 6,784,403 | 510,984 | 7.5% |
| 31 | Alaska | 734,821 | 54,890 | 7.5% |
| 32 | Wisconsin | 5,882,128 | 430,976 | 7.3% |
| 33 | Iowa | 3,188,836 | 208,637 | 6.5% |
| 34 | South Carolina | 5,142,750 | 318,875 | 6.2% |
| 35 | Tennessee | 6,923,772 | 412,622 | 6.0% |
| 36 | Minnesota | 5,695,292 | 327,049 | 5.7% |
| 37 | Louisiana | 4,640,546 | 255,584 | 5.5% |
| 38 | Michigan | 10,057,921 | 550,427 | 5.5% |
| 39 | Alabama | 5,028,092 | 232,407 | 4.6% |
| 40 | Missouri | 6,154,422 | 280,078 | 4.6% |
| 41 | South Dakota | 890,342 | 39,197 | 4.4% |
| 42 | North Dakota | 776,874 | 33,189 | 4.3% |
| 43 | New Hampshire | 1,379,610 | 58,654 | 4.3% |
| 44 | Montana | 1,091,840 | 45,881 | 4.2% |
| 45 | Ohio | 11,774,683 | 494,625 | 4.2% |
| 46 | Kentucky | 4,502,935 | 180,481 | 4.0% |
| 47 | Mississippi | 2,958,846 | 97,123 | 3.3% |
| 48 | Vermont | 643,816 | 13,793 | 2.1% |
| 49 | Maine | 1,366,949 | 25,898 | 1.9% |
| 50 | West Virginia | 1,792,967 | 32,910 | 1.8% |
Hispanic Places By State
Alaska Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Alabama Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Arkansas Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Arizona Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
California Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Colorado Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Connecticut Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Delaware Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Florida Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Georgia Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Hawaii Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Iowa Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Idaho Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Illinois Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Indiana Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Louisiana Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Massachusetts Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Maryland Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Maine Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Michigan Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Minnesota Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Missouri Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Mississippi Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Montana Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
North Carolina Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
North Dakota Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Nebraska Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
New Hampshire Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
New Jersey Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
New Mexico Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Ohio Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Oklahoma Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Oregon Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Pennsylvania Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Rhode Island Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
South Carolina Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
South Dakota Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Tennessee Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Texas Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Utah Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Virginia Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Vermont Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Washington Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population
Wisconsin Cities With The Largest Hispanic Population