Hispanic/Latinos in Wisconsin: Overview

The term Hispanic or Latino refers to persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.¹  On this website, these populations will be termed Hispanic/Latino.

According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau population estimate, there are almost 53 million Hispanics/Latinos living in the United States.² This group represents 16.9 percent of the total U.S. population.³ In 2012, 33.2 percent of Hispanics/Latinos were under the age of 18, in comparison to 19.7 percent of non-Hispanic Whites.⁴ Among Hispanics/Latinos, Mexicans are the largest subgroup, at 64.3 percent.⁵ According to a 2007 Census Bureau report, 64 percent of Hispanics/Latinos, in comparison to 92 percent of non-Hispanic Whites, have a high school diploma.⁶ Additionally, only 13.8 percent of Hispanics/Latinos (compared with 32.5 percent of non-Hispanic Whites) have a bachelor's degree or higher.⁷

Hispanics/Latinos have the highest uninsured rates of any racial or ethnic group in the United States.⁸ In 2007, 32.1 percent of the Hispanic/Latino population was not covered by health insurance, compared with 10.4 percent of the non-Hispanic White population.⁹ Hispanic/Latino health is often shaped by factors such as language and cultural barriers, lack of access to preventive care, and the lack of health insurance.¹⁰

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that leading causes of illness and death among Hispanics/Latinos include heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries (accidents), stroke, and diabetes.¹¹ Other health conditions and risk factors that significantly affect Hispanics/Latinos are: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, HIV/AIDS, obesity, suicide, and liver disease.¹² However, there are also disparities among Hispanic/Latino subgroups. For instance, while the rate of low birthweight infants is lower for the total Hispanic/Latino population in comparison to non-Hispanic Whites, Puerto Ricans have a low birthweight rate twice that of non-Hispanic Whites.¹³ Puerto Ricans also suffer disproportionately from asthma, HIV/AIDS, and infant mortality.¹⁴ Mexican-Americans suffer disproportionately from diabetes.¹⁵

Wisconsin Population

Hispanics/Latinos are the second largest and fastest growing minority racial and ethnic population in Wisconsin.¹⁶ As of 2008, this group constituted 5 percent of the population, totaling 285,801 people.¹⁷ This population has increased 46.8% since the 2000 Census.¹⁸

As of 2008, two-thirds of Wisconsin's Hispanic/Latino population was concentrated in Milwaukee, Dane, Racine, Kenosha, and Brown counties.¹⁹ However, this population is rapidly growing in other areas of Wisconsin. Milwaukee County is home to 112,931 Hispanics/Latinos, comprising 39.5 percent of Wisconsin's Hispanic/Latino population.²⁰ Wisconsin's Hispanic/Latino population is relatively young, with a median age of 24.8 years in 2008, compared to 38.2 years for the total state population.²¹ Thirty-nine percent are under age 18, compared to 23 percent of the total state population.²² Also, while 13 percent of Wisconsin's total population was age 65 and older, only 4 percent of the Hispanic/Latino population was 65 and older.²³

History

Health Facts

Additional Information

Citations:

1. The Health of Racial and Ethnic Populations of Wisconsin: 2001-2005.
2. Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007.
3. Ibid.
4. http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=3&lvlid=64
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Income, Poverty and Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=3&lvlid=64
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
15. Ibid.
16. The Health of Racial and Ethnic Populations of Wisconsin: 2001-2005.
17. Minority Health Profile 2008.
18. Ibid.
19. Ibid.
20. Ibid.
21. Ibid.
22. Ibid.
23. Ibid.

Additional Information about Hispanic/Latinos in Wisconsin

• More information on Hispanic/Latino population estimates is available from an interactive data query system, Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health (WISH), on the Wisconsin Department of Health Services site.
• A synopsis of health-related findings about Hispanic/Latinos in Wisconsin can be found in the Department's Wisconsin Minority Health Report, 2001-2005, P-45716 (PDF).

Related links

• Wisconsin Historical Society
• University of Wisconsin, Madison, Chican@ and Latin@ Studies
• University of Wisconsin, Madison, Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies
• Milwaukee Latino Health Coalition
• The Latino Health Council and La Movida
• Collaborative Center for Health Equity
• U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program

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