U.S. Hispanic Population Tops 45 Million

The total Hispanic population of the U.S. hit 45.5 million on July 1, 2007, or 15.1 percent of the total population of 301.6 million, according to data just published by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The latest Census Bureau estimates also showed that the Hispanic population of 16 states had now exceeded 500,000.

Hispanics made up the nation's largest minority group in 2007, followed by blacks at 40.7 million. Twenty states recorded black populations of more than 500,000. Blacks were the largest minority group in 24 states, compared with 20 states in which Hispanics were the largest minority group.

Four states and the District of Columbia were "majority-minority" states, in which minorities comprise more than 50 percent of the total population. Hawaii led the nation with a population that was 75 percent minority in 2007, followed by the District of Columbia (68 percent), New Mexico (58 percent), California (57 percent) and Texas (52 percent).

Overall, the nation's minority population reached 102.5 million in 2007 -- 34 percent of the total. California had a minority population of 20.9 million -- 20 percent of the nation's total, Texas had a minority population of 12.5 million -- 12 percent of the U.S. total.

Also See:
Number of "Majority-Minority" States Grows
How America Has Changed Over Last 100 Years - 1900 to 2000
Doctors to Treat More Elderly and Minorities by 2020