The question of who is Hispanic has long been a topic of discussion in the United States, sparking debates about identity among Americans with roots in Latin America or Spain. This conversation often extends to understanding if specific nationalities within this broader group, such as Mexican, constitute an ethnicity.
So, Is Mexican An Ethnicity? Within the framework used by the U.S. government and institutions like the Census Bureau, “Hispanic” is considered an ethnicity, not a race. This means that Mexicans, along with other groups from Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America and Spain, are categorized as Hispanic ethnicity. However, this definition is not without its complexities and nuances, especially when considering how individuals identify themselves and how race intersects with ethnicity.
This article delves into these questions, exploring how the Hispanic population, including Mexicans, is identified and counted in the U.S., the relationship between ethnicity and race, and the ongoing evolution of these terms. We will draw upon data from the U.S. Census Bureau and surveys from the Pew Research Center to provide a comprehensive understanding of this multifaceted topic.
To answer the question of who is Hispanic, including whether Mexican is an ethnicity, this analysis draws on about five decades of U.S. Census Bureau data and about two decades of Pew Research Center surveys of Hispanic adults in the United States.
National counts of the Latino population come from the Census Bureau’s decennial census (this includes P.L. 94-171 census data) and official population estimates. The bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) provides demographic details such as race, country of origin and intermarriage rates. Some ACS data was accessed through IPUMS USA from the University of Minnesota.
Views of Hispanic identity draw on the Center’s National Survey of Latinos (NSL), which is fielded in English and Spanish. The survey has been conducted online since 2019, primarily through the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), which is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. Hispanic adult population by gender, Hispanic origin, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the ATP’s methodology. The NSL was conducted by phone from 2002 to 2018.
Read further details on how the Census Bureau asked about race and ethnicity and coded responses in the 2020 census. Here is a full list of origin groups that were coded as Hispanic in the 2020 census.
The Growing Hispanic Population in the U.S.
The Hispanic population in the United States is substantial and continues to grow. As of July 1, 2023, the Census Bureau estimated that there were 65.2 million Hispanics in the U.S. This figure represents more than 19% of the total U.S. population, making Hispanics the second-largest racial or ethnic group in the nation after White Americans. This significant demographic presence underscores the importance of understanding Hispanic identity, including the ethnicity of Mexicans and other subgroups within this population.
A line chart showing that U.S. Hispanic population exceeded 65 million in 2023.
U.S. Hispanic Population Growth: A line chart illustrating the steady growth of the Hispanic population in the U.S., exceeding 65 million in 2023, highlighting its increasing demographic significance.
How are Hispanics, Including Mexicans, Counted?
Understanding how Hispanics are counted is crucial to grasping the concept of Hispanic ethnicity. Government surveys and public opinion polls, including those conducted by the Census Bureau, often ask about Hispanic origin and race separately. This separation is based on the official view that “Hispanic” is an ethnicity, not a race.
The primary method for counting Hispanics is self-identification. If someone identifies as Hispanic, they are generally counted as such. Pew Research Center and other polling organizations follow this approach. The Census Bureau largely adheres to this as well. For example, in census forms, individuals are asked if they are of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin. If they answer yes, they are counted as Hispanic. This includes individuals of Mexican origin, Puerto Rican origin, Cuban origin, and other Spanish-speaking backgrounds.
However, there are nuances in the Census Bureau’s approach. For instance, in the past, if someone only selected “Other Hispanic” and wrote in a non-Hispanic response like “Irish,” they would be recoded as non-Hispanic. But starting in 2020, the Census Bureau broadened its criteria. Now, even if someone doesn’t explicitly check a Hispanic box but answers the race question by writing in a Hispanic origin, such as “Mexican,” “Argentinean,” or “Colombian,” they are counted as Hispanic. This change reflects an effort to be more inclusive in capturing Hispanic identity.
An image showing how the U.S. Census Bureau determines who is Hispanic in government surveys.
Census Bureau Hispanic Identification Process: A flowchart illustrating the process used by the U.S. Census Bureau to determine Hispanic ethnicity in government surveys, emphasizing self-identification and write-in options.
Hispanic Ethnicity and Racial Identity
A key aspect of understanding Hispanic ethnicity is its distinction from race in the eyes of the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau considers Hispanic to be an ethnicity, meaning people of Hispanic origin can be of any race. This official stance, however, is often debated, both within and outside the Hispanic community.
While the government classifies Hispanic as an ethnicity, some Hispanics themselves view it differently. A 2015 Pew Research Center survey revealed that 17% of Hispanic adults considered being Hispanic mainly a matter of race, while 29% saw it as primarily about ancestry, and 42% viewed it as mainly about culture. This diversity in perception highlights the complexity of Hispanic identity and how it is understood beyond governmental classifications.
When it comes to racial identification in Census Bureau surveys, Hispanics exhibit a wide range of responses. In the 2022 American Community Survey (ACS), a significant portion of Hispanics, 22.5 million, identified as “some other race” alone. This group largely consists of individuals who wrote in their Hispanic origin or nationality – for example, “Mexican” – as their race. Another 10.7 million Hispanics identified as White. Smaller numbers identified as American Indian (1.5 million), Black (1.0 million), or Asian (300,000).
This data underscores that while “Hispanic” is officially an ethnicity, many Hispanics’ racial identities are complex and do not neatly fit into the standard racial categories used by the Census Bureau. For many, their national origin, such as Mexican, is a more salient identity marker than the racial categories provided.
A bar chart showing that most Hispanics do not identify their race only as White, Black or Asian.
Racial Identification Among Hispanics: A bar chart showing the racial distribution of Hispanics according to the U.S. Census Bureau, highlighting that a large percentage identify as ‘Some Other Race,’ reflecting the ethnic dimension of Hispanic identity beyond traditional race categories.
The Rise of Multiracial Hispanic Identity
The number of Hispanics identifying as multiracial has increased significantly in recent years. In 2022, approximately 27.5 million Hispanics identified as more than one race, a substantial increase from just 3 million in 2010. This growth is largely due to more Hispanics identifying as both White and “some other race.”
This shift may be attributed to changes in census forms in 2020, which provided more space for written responses to the race question, and to increasing racial diversity within the Hispanic population itself. Many of these multiracial Hispanics are choosing to identify with both their Hispanic ethnicity and another racial category, further illustrating the intricate relationship between ethnicity and race for this group.
Future Changes in Census Classifications
The way race and ethnicity are categorized in the U.S. is set to change. The 2030 census will combine the race and ethnicity questions into a single question. This new format will include “Hispanic or Latino” as a checkbox option alongside other race groups. This change aims to improve accuracy and reduce the number of people who choose “Some other race,” particularly among Hispanics.
However, these proposed changes have also raised concerns. Some critics worry that combining the questions could lead to an undercount of specific subgroups within the Hispanic community, such as Afro-Latinos. The debate around these changes highlights the ongoing challenges in accurately and inclusively representing the diverse identities within the U.S. population, including the complexities of Hispanic and Mexican ethnicity.
An image showing the new combined race and ethnicity question on U.S. Census Bureau surveys will include ‘Hispanic or Latino’ and ‘Middle Eastern or North African,’
Combined Race and Ethnicity Question: An image displaying the proposed combined race and ethnicity question for the 2030 U.S. Census, which includes ‘Hispanic or Latino’ as a checkbox option, reflecting an evolving approach to categorization.
The Official Definition of Hispanic or Latino
The U.S. government has an official definition for “Hispanic or Latino.” In 1976, Congress mandated the collection and analysis of data for “Americans of Spanish origin or descent.” This legislation defined this group as those who identify as being of Spanish-speaking background and trace their origin to Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central and South America, and other Spanish-speaking countries, including Spain. This definition, therefore, encompasses Mexicans as part of the broader Hispanic ethnicity.
To implement this law, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) developed Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 (SPD 15). The most recent revision in March 2024 defines “Hispanic or Latino” as “individuals of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Salvadoran, Cuban, Dominican, Guatemalan, and other Central or South American or Spanish culture or origin.” This official definition clearly establishes Mexican as a Hispanic ethnicity within the U.S. governmental framework.
Evolution of Hispanic Counting by the Census Bureau
The Census Bureau’s approach to counting Hispanics has evolved over time. While the first comprehensive effort to count Hispanics nationwide began in 1980, earlier attempts were made. For example, the 1930 census included “Mexican” as a racial category, reflecting the historical context and evolving understanding of Mexican identity in the U.S.
In 1970, a question about “origin or descent” was introduced, including categories like “Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, Other Spanish.” However, this method led to an undercount, partly because it did not include terms like “Mexican American.” By 1980, the current approach of directly asking if someone is Hispanic was adopted, with the term “Latino” added in 2000 to the question: “Is this person Spanish/Hispanic/Latino?”
These changes illustrate the ongoing effort to accurately capture the Hispanic population, including Mexicans, and reflect the evolving understanding and terminology surrounding Hispanic ethnicity in the United States.
Hispanic vs. Latino: Understanding the Terms
The terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” are often used interchangeably, but distinctions exist. Both are pan-ethnic terms intended to describe people of Spanish-speaking origin in the U.S. The Census Bureau frequently uses “Hispanic” or “Hispanic or Latino.”
Some differentiate the terms by defining “Hispanic” as referring to people from Spain or Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, aligning with the federal definition. In this view, “Latino” refers to people from Latin America, regardless of language, thus including Brazilians (Portuguese-speaking) but not Spaniards.
However, it’s important to note that these pan-ethnic labels, while widely used, are not universally embraced. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that 52% of Hispanics prefer to identify by their family’s country of origin (e.g., Mexican, Cuban, Salvadoran), while only 30% use pan-ethnic terms like Hispanic, Latino, Latinx, or Latine. Within pan-ethnic labels, “Hispanic” is still preferred by 52% of Hispanics, while 29% prefer “Latino.”
For many, particularly Mexican Americans, their national origin is a primary identifier, even as they recognize themselves as part of the broader Hispanic or Latino community.
A stacked bar chart showing that Hispanics describe their identity in different ways.
Hispanic Identity Preferences: A stacked bar chart illustrating how Hispanics in the U.S. prefer to describe their identity, showing a preference for country of origin over pan-ethnic labels like Hispanic or Latino.
The Emergence of ‘Latinx’ and ‘Latine’
“Latinx” and “Latine” are newer pan-ethnic terms that have emerged as alternatives to Hispanic and Latino, particularly in news, entertainment, corporate, and academic spheres. These terms are intended to be gender-neutral and LGBTQ+-inclusive, addressing critiques that “Hispanic” and “Latino” are gendered terms rooted in Spanish.
However, these terms are not widely used or embraced by the Hispanic population. While awareness of “Latinx” has increased, only 4% of Hispanic adults use it to describe themselves (2023 data). “Latine” is even less known, with only 18% of Hispanics having heard of it. Moreover, a significant majority of Hispanics aware of “Latinx” believe it should not be used to describe Hispanics or Latinos.
The limited adoption of “Latinx” and “Latine” suggests that while these terms aim to be more inclusive, they do not resonate with the majority of the Hispanic community, who often prefer “Hispanic,” “Latino,” or their country of origin. For many Mexican Americans, these newer terms are even less relevant to their identity than “Hispanic” or “Latino.”
A line chart showing that awareness of ‘Latinx’ has doubled since 2019, but use remains low.
Awareness vs. Usage of Latinx: A line chart showing that while awareness of ‘Latinx’ among U.S. Hispanics has increased since 2019, its actual usage remains very low, indicating a gap between awareness and acceptance.
A pie chart showing that about 1 in 5 Hispanics have heard of ‘Latine.’
Awareness of Latine: A pie chart indicating that only about one in five Hispanics in the U.S. have heard of the term ‘Latine,’ illustrating its limited recognition within the community.
Factors Influencing Hispanic Identity
Various factors influence how Hispanic identity is perceived and experienced. Language, parental background, and even last names can play a role, although self-identification remains the primary determinant. Many U.S. Hispanics hold inclusive views of Hispanic identity, recognizing the diversity within the group.
Intermarriage rates are also shaping Hispanic identity. Increasingly, Hispanic families include non-Hispanic members. In 2022, 22% of married Hispanics had a non-Hispanic spouse. Among newlyweds, 30% of Hispanics married someone non-Hispanic. This trend is even more pronounced among U.S.-born Hispanics, where 41% of newlyweds married non-Hispanics, compared to 11% of immigrant newlyweds.
Parental background also plays a role. A 2015 survey found that 15% of U.S. Hispanic adults had at least one non-Hispanic parent, rising to 29% among the U.S.-born and 48% among later generations. These trends suggest that while Hispanic ethnicity remains a significant identity, it is also evolving and becoming more fluid across generations, particularly for groups like Mexican Americans who have been in the U.S. for many generations.
A chart showing that, in 2022, 3 in 10 Hispanic newlyweds in the U.S. married someone who is not Hispanic.
Intermarriage Rates Among Hispanics: A chart showing that approximately 3 in 10 Hispanic newlyweds in the U.S. married someone who is not Hispanic in 2022, highlighting increasing intermarriage and its impact on Hispanic identity.
Skin Color and Hispanic Identity
While skin color does not officially determine Hispanic ethnicity in surveys, it is a significant factor in the lived experiences of Hispanics. Latinos exhibit a wide range of skin tones, reflecting the diversity within the group. A 2021 Pew Research Center survey using a skin color palette showed that Latinos reported a variety of skin tones, with most selecting lighter shades.
Notably, a majority of Latino adults (57%) believe skin color shapes their daily life experiences. Many also perceive that lighter skin color can be advantageous, while darker skin color can be a disadvantage for Latinos in the U.S. (59% and 62% respectively). This highlights the intersection of race, ethnicity, and colorism within the Hispanic community, including among Mexicans, even as “Hispanic” is officially defined as an ethnicity separate from race.
Afro-Latinos and Hispanic Identity
Afro-Latino identity further complicates the relationship between race and Hispanic ethnicity. Afro-Latinos have distinct experiences shaped by both their African ancestry and their Hispanic background. While most Afro-Latinos identify as Hispanic or Latino, a notable portion does not (approximately one-in-seven).
In 2020, about 6 million Afro-Latino adults lived in the U.S., representing 12% of the adult Latino population. This subgroup underscores that Hispanic identity is not monolithic and intersects with racial identities in complex ways. For Afro-Mexicans, for example, their identity encompasses both their Mexican ethnicity and their African heritage, which may or may not align with the broader “Hispanic” classification.
A bar chart showing that Afro-Latinos are about 2% of U.S. adult population and 12% of Latino adults but almost one-in-seven do not identify as Hispanic or Latino.
Afro-Latino Identity: A bar chart showing that Afro-Latinos constitute 2% of the U.S. adult population and 12% of Latino adults, but a significant fraction do not identify as Hispanic or Latino, illustrating the complexities of intersectional identities.
Borderline Cases: Brazilians, Portuguese, Belizeans, and Filipinos
The official definition of Hispanic or Latino is specific to those of “Spanish culture or origin.” This definition excludes Brazilians, Portuguese, Belizeans, and Filipinos. While these groups may share cultural or linguistic connections to Latin America or Spain, they are generally categorized as non-Hispanic by the U.S. government.
However, self-identification can diverge from official classifications. A data processing error in a 2020 Census Bureau survey provided a glimpse into this. Over 416,000 Brazilians in the U.S. self-identified as Hispanic or Latino, even though they are officially categorized as non-Hispanic. This highlights that personal identity and official definitions do not always align, and that for many, particularly those from Latin American countries, “Hispanic” or “Latino” may resonate as a broader cultural or regional identity, regardless of specific linguistic or national origins.
Hispanic Ancestry vs. Self-Identification
Finally, it’s crucial to recognize that having Hispanic ancestry does not automatically equate to identifying as Hispanic. A 2015-16 Pew Research Center survey estimated that of the 42.7 million adults with Hispanic ancestry in the U.S., about 5 million (11%) did not identify as Hispanic or Latino.
Hispanic self-identification also decreases across generations. While nearly all immigrants from Latin America identify as Hispanic, only about half of fourth-generation Americans with Hispanic heritage do so. This generational shift underscores that Hispanic ethnicity, while rooted in ancestry, is also a dynamic and evolving identity that can fade over time, especially as immigrant connections weaken and individuals become more integrated into broader American society. For Mexican Americans, who represent a large and long-established Hispanic subgroup in the U.S., this generational aspect of ethnic identity is particularly relevant.
Hispanic Identity Across Generations: A diverging bar chart illustrating the decline in Hispanic or Latino self-identification across immigrant generations among Americans with Hispanic ancestry, highlighting the generational dynamics of ethnic identity.
Conclusion: Mexican as a Hispanic Ethnicity in a Complex Landscape
In conclusion, within the U.S. context, Mexican is indeed considered a Hispanic ethnicity. The U.S. government and institutions like the Census Bureau officially classify “Hispanic” as an ethnicity, encompassing individuals of Mexican, Spanish, and other Spanish-speaking Latin American origins. Mexicans, therefore, fall under this Hispanic ethnic umbrella.
However, the concept of Hispanic ethnicity, including Mexican ethnicity, is far from simple. It is a complex and multifaceted identity shaped by history, culture, language, self-identification, and evolving social and political landscapes. While officially an ethnicity, “Hispanic” intersects with race in intricate ways, and many Hispanics, including Mexicans, have complex racial identities that go beyond standard census categories.
Furthermore, the terms used to describe this population, such as Hispanic, Latino, Latinx, and Latine, are themselves subjects of debate and evolving usage. While “Hispanic” and “Latino” remain the most widely recognized, newer terms aim for greater inclusivity, though their adoption within the Hispanic community is still limited.
Ultimately, understanding whether Mexican is an ethnicity requires acknowledging both the official classifications and the lived experiences and diverse self-perceptions of Mexican Americans and the broader Hispanic population in the United States. It is an ethnicity within a complex and evolving framework of identity in America.
