Documents: The State of Latino children and youth in the United States

National Council of La Raza

Since 1990, the number of Latino children under age 18 living in the United States has doubled, making them one of the fastest-growing segments of the national population. Significantly, of the 16 million Latino children currently living in the U.S., nine out of ten are U.S.-born citizens. Clearly, Latino children and youth—our future workers, voters, taxpayers, and consumers—are poised to become a critical part of the country’s economic, social, and political well-being.

Latino families have many strengths, including stability, youth, a commitment to the health and welfare of their children, a strong work ethic, and an ability to develop cohesive communities. However, Latino children also face unique and substantial challenges, and their circumstances can vary widely depending on their parents’ countries of origin, education levels, English language ability, and income. Poverty levels in particular remain unacceptably high among Latino children: while 32% of children living in poverty in 2007 were Latino, it is projected that by 2030 that portion will rise to 44% if the trend remains constant. The information that follows paints a broad portrait of today’s Latino children and youth, highlighting particular areas of concern that must be addressed by our policies and programs in order to ensure the future well-being of this population. Attending to the needs of Latino children and youth will lead not only to improved opportunities in Latino communities, but to the success of our entire nation.

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