Sharp Rise in Mexican Population Leads Growth of Latinos in New York City;
Puerto Ricans Remain Largest Group, but Dominicans Could Surpass Them

A dramatic increase of Mexicans led the growth of New York City's overall Latino population, which rose to 28% of all city residents in 2007, according to the latest report of the Latino Data Project published by the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

The total Latino population of 2.4 million was up 2.5% from 2006, with the number of Mexicans rising by a "remarkable" 9.8% to 290,000, the Latino Data Project reported. Mexicans comprised more than 12% of Latinos residents, "due in large part to continued migration" to the city. Ecuadorians showed the next-largest rate of growth. They increased by more than 8%, to 200,000.

Puerto Ricans remained the largest group among all Latinos living in the city, with a population of 778,000, increasing marginally (by 1%) for the first time since 1980. Also for the first time since 1980 the Dominican population declined marginally (by 1.3%). Dominicans remained the city's second-largest Latino group, with a population of 602,000. In 2007, Latinos comprised more than 50% of all residents in the Bronx, 28% in Queens, 26% in Manhattan, 20% in Brooklyn, and 15% in Staten Island.

"If population growth continues at the yearly rates found between 2000 and 2007, Dominicans will surpass Puerto Ricans and become the largest sector of the city's Latino population in 2020," the Latino Data Project noted. "Mexicans will surpass Puerto Ricans to become the second-largest Latino national group behind Dominicans in 2022. And in only another two years, by 2024, Mexicans will surpass Dominicans to become New York City's most numerous Latino nationality."

In terms of socio-economic mobility, the Latino Data Project also found that the city's smaller Latino groups, such as Colombians, Cubans, Ecuadorians and Hondurans, "have experienced the greatest increases in annual family income and educational attainment," exceeding the larger, more-established groups of Dominicans, Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans.

The Latino Data Project makes information available on the growing Latino population of the United States and especially New York City through the analysis of extant data available from a variety of sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Institute for Health, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and state and local-level data sources. All the reports are available at http://web.gc.cuny.edu/lastudies/.

The Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies is a research institute that works for the advancement of the study of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Latinos in the United States in the doctoral programs at the CUNY Graduate Center. One of its major priorities is to provide funding and research opportunities to Latino students at the Ph.D. level. It has also established and helps administer an interdisciplinary specialization in Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies in the Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies program. For additional information, contact the Center at 212-817-8438 or by email at clacls@gc.cuny.edu.

The Graduate Center is devoted primarily to doctoral studies and awards most of the City University of New York's Ph.D.s. An internationally recognized center for advanced studies and a national model for public doctoral education, the school offers more than thirty doctoral programs as well as a number of master's programs. Many of its faculty members are among the world's leading scholars in their respective fields, and its alumni hold major positions in industry and government, as well as in academia. The Graduate Center is also home to more than thirty interdisciplinary research centers and institutes focused on areas of compelling social, civic, cultural, and scientific concerns. Located in a landmark Fifth Avenue building, the Graduate Center has become a vital part of New York City's intellectual and cultural life with its extensive array of public lectures, exhibitions, concerts, and theatrical events. Further information on the Graduate Center and its programs can be found at www.gc.cuny.edu.