The U.S. Census Bureau reports that as of July 1, 2010, the nation’s Hispanic population had reached 50.5 million, representing 16.3 percent of the total U.S. population of 308.7 million, and making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest ethnic or race minority. Hispanics are also the fastest-growing ethnic group, expected to increase in size by 5 percent in 2012. The Hispanic population has exceeded one million in seven states and there are Hispanic populations greater than 500,000 in 16 states.
