2/3rds of U.S. Hispanics are Mexican

Published: April 22, 2010 at 5:06 PM

WASHINGTON, April 22 (UPI) -- Mexicans are the largest Hispanic group in the United States, with nearly two-thirds identifying themselves that way, a study released Thursday said.

The Pew Hispanic Center reported the total Hispanic population is 46.8 million, which includes 30.7 million Mexicans, 4.15 million Puerto Ricans and 1.63 million Cubans, 1.56 million Salvadorans and 1.33 million Dominicans.

There are marked demographic differences among the groups. For example, the median age of Cubans is 41 and of Mexicans 25.

While about 30 percent of Peruvians and Colombians and 25 percent of Cubans have a college degree, only 10 percent of Hondurans do. Mexicans, Guatemalans and Salvadorans are even less likely to have graduated from college.

Puerto Ricans, hailing from a U.S. territory, are overwhelmingly U.S. citizens and more than 80 percent are proficient in English. More than 70 percent of Cubans and Mexicans are citizens, and more than half speak English well.

Central Americans tend to have the lowest rates of both citizenship and English proficiency.

Peruvians, Colombians and Ecuadorians have the highest median income, while Central Americans, Mexicans and Dominicans have the lowest.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/04/ ... 1271970397