North Carolina Minority Health Facts Hispanics/Latinos
1
North Carolina
Minority Health Facts

	

Office of Minority Health and State Center for Health Statistics September 1999
Demographics
According to the 1997 Census, Latinos* constitute approxi-mately
11.1% (29.7 million) of the United States (U.S.)
population. Latinos are projected to be the largest minority
group in the country by the year 2010; by 2050, about 1 in 4
Americans will be Latino. The Latino population in the U.S.
consists of people from diverse racial and cultural back-grounds
and countries of origin. Nationally, in 1994,
Mexicans made up the largest Latino group (64%) followed
by Central and South Americans (14%) and Puerto Ricans
(11%). In the U.S., Latinos represent the largest foreign-born
population group (44.2%); however, over half (55.8%) of all
Latinos living in the U.S. are born here.
North Carolina has experienced rapid growth in its Latino
population during the past ten years. Most of this
increase can be attributed to high levels of migration due
to economic opportunities in agriculture, construction
and food industries, as well as high Latino birth rates.
While precise data are not available, there are many
estimates of the Latino population in North Carolina. In
1997, the Census Bureau projected the state’s Latino
population to be 149,390.1 In 1996, a public health survey
estimated the Latino population at 229,902.2 In 1998,
another survey estimated the Latino population to be
315,001.3 Although reliable data on country of origin is
not readily available for North Carolina, the Mexican
population is considered to be the largest Latino group in
the state. Overall, the Latino population in the U.S. and
North Carolina is relatively young, with a median age of
26 years.1
The Latino population’s recent growth in North Carolina
is evidenced by the rapid increase in the number of Latino
children enrolled in the public school system. The
percentage increase in the state’s public school enroll-ment
between the years 1990-91 and 1998-99 was higher
among Latino children than other racial/ethnic groups.4
Birth rate data also portray this population growth (see
page 3).
Composition of
U.S. Latino Population, 1994
Cuban
5%
Central/South
American
14%
Other
Hispanic
Origin
6%
Puerto Rican
11%
Mexican
64%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Percent Growth in North Carolina Public School
Student Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity from
1990-91 to 1998-99
349.1
7.9 17.0 7.7
115.5
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Hispanics Whites African
Americans
American
Indians
Asians
Percent Growth
*In this fact sheet, the terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” have
been used interchangeably.
As is the case with other racial and ethnic minorities,
Latinos are disproportionately affected by certain health
problems. Latinos also face numerous barriers in access-ing
and using health care services.
Paying for Health Care
Poverty has been identified as a major barrier to receiving
appropriate health care. Although the poverty rate for
Latino families in the U.S. fell from 26.4% in 1996 to 24.7%
in 1997, a large proportion of Latino families continue to
live below the poverty level. While health insurance
coverage plays a major role in improving access to health