U.S. Hispanic population outpaces overall population growth, data show

WASHINGTON — The nation's Hispanic population grew four times faster than the total U.S. population between 2000 and 2010, with Mexicans representing the largest Hispanic group, according to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The recently released 2010 Census brief shows that the Hispanic population increased by 15.2 million between 2000 and 2010 and accounted for more than half of the total U.S. population increase of 27.3 million. Between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population grew by 43% — four times the nation's 9.7% growth rate.

About three-quarters of Hispanics in the United States are reported as Mexican, Puerto Rican or Cuban origin in the 2010 Census.

Mexican origin was the largest group, representing 63% of the total U.S. Hispanic population, up from 58% in 2000. This group increased by 54% and saw the largest numeric change (11.2 million), growing from 20.6 million in 2000 to 31.8 million in 2010. Mexicans accounted for about three-fourths of the 15.2 million increase in the total Hispanic population between 2000 and 2010.

Puerto Ricans were the second largest group, followed by the Cuban origin population, according to the data.