NCLR
North Carolina
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LA RAZA www.nclr.org
State Fact Sheet
As the data below show, Hispanics✝ are quickly becoming a population with a national presence. The most dramatic Latino population growth has occurred in "nontraditional" states, and Hispanics are now the largest minority in the country. Given that almost half of Hispanics are under 25 years old, they will constitute a large segment of the future U.S. population, workforce, and electorate.
North Carolina Compared to the Nation ▼ ▼
▼
North Carolina Hispanic Population, by Age: 2003
North Carolina is the state with the 15th-largest Latino population.1 Between 1990 and 2000, the growth rate of the Latino population in North Carolina ranked first in the country.1 Of all states, North Carolina has the 26th-largest share of Latinos when compared to the total state population.1
U.S. North Carolina
Growth Rate (1990-2000)1
Total
Hispanic
Hispanic Percent of Population2
282,909,885
39,194,837
13.9%
13.2%
57.9%
36.0 years
26.7 years
8,146,508
456,334
5.6%
21.4%
393.9%
35.8 years
24.4 years
Population (2003)2
45-64 yrs. 6.8%
Under 5 yrs. 14.3%
30-44 yrs. 26.2%
5-19 yrs. 23.9%
Median Age (2003)2
Total
Hispanic
Total
Hispanic
20-29 yrs. 27.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2003 American Community Survey
North Carolina Hispanic Population, by Ethnic Subgroup: 2003
Economic Well-Being ▼
Over 65 yrs. 1.4%
Latinos represent an increasing share of workers and taxpayers, yet they are overwhelmingly vulnerable to economic downturns and experience high poverty rates, especially among working families with children.
Cuban 1.5% Puerto Rican 7.9%
Total (2003) Hispanic (2003) In Labor Force3 Participation Rate* Unemployed Unemployment Rate Population Below Poverty Level Percent of Population Below Poverty Population Under 18 (Children)2 Children Below Poverty Level Percent of Children Below Poverty 2
Hispanic Proportion of Total
4,230,000 66.8% 273,000 6.5%
307,000 78.9% 25,000 8.1%
7.3% -9.2% --
1,136,243 14.0% 2,032,959 382,164 18.8%
102,076 22.5% 153,449 40,533 26.4%
9.0% -7.5% 10.6% --
* The Labor Force Participation Rate is calculated using the civilian, noninstitutionalized population, not the total population.
2
Median Household Income (2003): Hispanic Median Household Income (2003):2
$38,234 $31,497
Dominican 0.5% Other Hispanic 4.0%
Central and South American 15.8% Mexican 70.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2003 American Community Survey
North Carolina Hispanic Population, by Citizenship Status: 2000
Foreign-born, not yet citizens 52.9%
Native-born citizens 39.1%
Foreign-born, naturalized citizens 8.0% ✝ The terms "Hispanic" and "Latino" are used interchangeably by the U.S. Census Bureau and throughout this document to identify persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central and South American, Dominican, and Spanish descent; they may be of any race.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000