The Hispanic Population and America’s ‘Next Normal’ [INSIGHT]

It’s a new year … and while we normally focus on highly specific insights about Hispanic Millennials in this blog, over the new few weeks we’re going to take a step back to look at the larger context.

Tr3s recently developed a new report, “The Latinization of America … A ‘Next Normal’ Exploration.” This analysis highlights the latest research on Hispanic Millennials’ contribution to the changing demographics of the United States, what life is like for the fast growing second-generation population, and new meanings of acculturation.

From that report, here are some key insights on how Hispanics are shaping the “next normal” in U.S. population demographics:

When it comes to the U.S. population, the “mainstream” is shifting from white to multicultural. In 1980, the U.S. was 80% white/non-multicultural. By 2012, that proportion had decreased to 64%. And in the years to come, the multicultural, non-white population will account for larger and larger percentages of the population.

Multicultural America is becoming more Latino. Hispanics, African-Americans, and Asians represented just 20% of the population in 1980. By 2012, that percentage nearly doubled to 36%. Over that more than twenty year period, Hispanics have grown to represent a much larger proportion of the multicultural population. They were 32% of the multicultural segment in 1980 — and grew to 47% in 2012.

By 2050, there will be as many young Latinos in the U.S. as white non-Hispanics. Unlike waves of past immigrants, Hispanics will grow to be equal in size to the host population. In 1980, non-Hispanic whites were 74% of the under-18 population and Hispanics were 9%. By 2050, the two groups will be even, with both projected to represent 36% of the population under 18.

Already, Hispanics are the engine of growth for the 18-34 demographic. From 2015 to 2020, Hispanics 18-34 are projected to increase by over 1.8 million. Over that same period for that age group, non-Hispanic whites will decrease in size by nearly 1.3 million. Blacks and Asians will also grow – but on a much smaller scale (by 84,000 and 267,000, respectively).

The youth population is very Latino. Today, Hispanics represent more than 1 in 5 people under 35. And that proportion rises when it comes to the very young: Latinos account for almost 1 in 4 births in the U.S.

Truly, Hispanics are America’s future.

Sources for “The Latinization of America … A ‘Next Normal’ Exploration”: Ipsos-OTX Tr3s Hispanic Adult Millennial Study (2012); Simmons (2011-2013); Pew Hispanic Center (2011/2012); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey & Synovate Population Data (1980-2012); Nat’l Vital Statistics Reports (2011); Nielsen 2014 Population Data + NTIH Audience Data; Octagon “Cooltura” Panel Data & Adult Millennial Workshop Data (2007-2013); Guia Focus Group & In-Home Data (2012-2013)