Latinas, or women of Hispanic origin, make up a significant portion of the United States population. According to 2019 census estimates, there are approximately 62.13 million Latinos living in the U.S., representing 18.7% of the total population. Of these, around 31.17 million are female. With their numbers steadily rising each year, Latinas have become an increasingly important demographic group in America. This article will examine which states have the highest populations of Latinas and the factors driving these trends.
Quick Answers
– The U.S. state with the highest Latina population is California, which is home to over 7.6 million Latinas as of 2019.
– Other states with large Latina populations include Texas (4.1 million), Florida (2.7 million), New York (2.3 million), and Illinois (1 million).
– High migration from Latin American countries over past decades and higher birth rates among the Latina population are key factors leading to these state-level population distributions.
– Cultural and economic hubs like Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and New York City all help attract Latina migrants domestically.
Latina Population Across All States
To understand which states have the most Latinas, we’ll first examine the Latina population breakdown across the entire United States. According to 2019 American Community Survey 1-year estimates, these are the top 10 states ranked by total number of Latina residents:
| State | Total Latina Population |
|---|---|
| California | 7,659,181 |
| Texas | 4,143,234 |
| Florida | 2,701,428 |
| New York | 2,339,150 |
| Illinois | 1,008,368 |
| Arizona | 996,948 |
| New Jersey | 853,386 |
| Colorado | 582,371 |
| New Mexico | 480,527 |
| Georgia | 454,801 |
As we can see, California far surpasses any other state with over 7.6 million Latinas living there. This accounts for 18.7% of California’s total population. Texas and Florida take the next spots with 4.1 million and 2.7 million Latinas respectively.
New York and Illinois round out the top 5, with over 2 million and 1 million Latina residents each. The remaining states in the top 10 are Arizona, New Jersey, Colorado, New Mexico, and Georgia, each with between 450,000-996,000 Latinas.
Percentage of State Population
Looking at the percentage of state population that is Latina also provides useful insight:
| State | Latina Percentage of State Population |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | 48.8% |
| California | 18.7% |
| Texas | 17.2% |
| Arizona | 16.7% |
| Nevada | 16.6% |
| Florida | 15.7% |
| Colorado | 12.6% |
| New Jersey | 11.5% |
| New York | 11.5% |
| Illinois | 9.6% |
In terms of percentage of population, New Mexico actually has the highest concentration of Latinas at 48.8%. California and Texas follow with 18.7% and 17.2% respectively. Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Colorado, New Jersey, New York, and Illinois round out the top 10 states by percentage.
This shows that even though California has the highest absolute number of Latinas, other states like New Mexico have a higher share relative to their total population. Location and proximity to the southern border clearly correlates to a higher representation of Latinas.
Factors Driving Latina Populations
There are several key factors that help explain why certain states have grown to have such sizable Latina populations:
Immigration Trends
Immigration from Latin American countries is a major driver behind the growth of Latina populations in U.S. states. Looking at the national origin of Latina groups shows the significance of immigration:
– 31.6% of Latina women in the U.S. are foreign born. Of these:
– 52.7% were born in Mexico
– 24.8% in Central & South America
– 13.5% in Caribbean
– 4.4% in Spain
Decades of immigration, both authorized and unauthorized, have led to the increase in Latina populations across the country. States like California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois have been major destination points for these migrant flows.
The search for economic opportunity and family reunification have been primary motivators. The cultural comfort of existing Latino enclaves in certain states further perpetuates the cycle.
Birth Rates
Higher fertility rates among Latina women also contribute to their population growth in states. According to 2019 CDC data, Hispanic women had the highest birth rate of any racial/ethnic group at 64.1 births per 1,000 women aged 15-44. This is nearly 20% higher than the overall U.S. fertility rate of 52.8 births per 1,000 women.
The youthfulness and childbearing years of many Latina immigrants and second-generation families play into these birth rate differences across states.
Domestic Migration
In addition to immigration, domestic migration patterns have significantly shaped Latina state populations. Many Latinas move either from Puerto Rico to the mainland U.S. or relocate from other states.
California, Texas, Florida, and New York have been top destination choices due to their economic opportunities, cultural amenities, and family connections. Cities like Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, Chicago, and NYC attract Latinas for employment and education.
Top 10 Metro Areas for Latinas
Looking at the metropolitan area level provides further insight into geographic distributions. Here are the top 10 metro areas with the largest Latina populations as of 2019:
| Metro Area | Total Latina Population |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,104,119 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 1,654,554 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL | 1,101,077 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 990,845 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 859,224 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 809,928 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 735,470 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 534,944 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 523,728 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | 470,560 |
The Los Angeles metro area stands out with over 2 million Latinas, followed by New York, Miami, and Houston all with over 1 million. Major cities in California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, and Arizona account for the top destinations.
The economic and cultural hubs provided by these metros have clearly attracted large Latina populations, both foreign-born and U.S.-born. Cities offer employment, education, cuisine, music/arts, and community.
Conclusion
In summary, California is decisively the U.S. state with largest Latina population at over 7.6 million residents. However, other states like Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, and Arizona also boast Latina populations numbering in the millions. New Mexico has the highest Latina concentration at nearly 50% of state population.
Underlying factors driving these state distributions include high immigration from Latin America, particularly Mexico, higher Latina birth rates, and domestic migration patterns. Iconic gateway cities like Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and New York help attract Latinas seeking both economic opportunity and cultural amenities.
Tracking where Latinas reside across different states and metro areas provides valuable understanding of America’s shifting demographics and cultural tapestry. As the Latina population continues expanding in coming decades, their geographic concentrations across certain states will have profound political, economic, and social implications for the nation.