Latinos now make up one in five U.S. residents

Los Angeles, CA.- For the first time in U.S. history, one in every five residents is of Latino origin, according to a new report from the Latino GDP Project at UCLA and California Lutheran University. The Latino population has reached 68 million, reflecting an annual increase of 2 million people between 2023 and 2024.

The study, based on updated U.S. Census Bureau data, shows the Latino population grew 2.9% in a single year—nearly six times faster than other demographic groups. Researchers attributed this rise primarily to natural population growth, with 3.2 million more births than deaths among Latinos since 2020, while other groups saw a decline of 1.3 million.

The report also highlighted record gains in the Latino workforce, which climbed 5.5% in 2024 to 35.1 million workers, marking a 46.5% increase since 2010 and a participation rate of 69%, the highest on record. Researchers praised the community’s resilience, emphasizing values of hard work and optimism.

Earlier this year, Latino GDP data showed that the U.S. Latino economy generated US$4.1 trillion, ranking as the fifth largest in the world, surpassing India.