what percentage of illegal immigrants are hispanic

The best available estimates suggest that roughly half to about two‑thirds of undocumented (“illegal”) immigrants in the United States are Hispanic/Latino, depending on the year and the specific dataset used.

Quick Scoop

Before going into detail, a few key points:

• Hispanic immigrants are the largest single group among undocumented immigrants in the U.S.

• Mexicans alone account for a large share, though that share has declined over time as the undocumented population has become more diverse.
• Public perceptions often overestimate both how many Latinos are undocumented and the share of undocumented immigrants who are Hispanic.

What percentage are Hispanic?

There is no single official, up‑to‑the‑minute percentage published every year, but multiple research organizations give a good range:

• A report on undocumented immigrants by country of origin found that Mexicans made up about 40–41% of undocumented immigrants in 2019.
• Another demographic profile notes that Hispanic immigrants as a whole make up the largest undocumented group , meaning that when you add Central American, South American, and Caribbean origins, the share rises well above the Mexican figure alone.

• Pew Research and other analyses have highlighted that, over the past decade, the undocumented population is “more diverse, less Mexican” , meaning the non‑Hispanic share (Asia, Africa, other regions) has grown, pulling the Hispanic share down from older estimates that were often above two‑thirds.

Putting these strands together, a reasonable, evidence‑based description today is:

Approximately 50–65% of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. are Hispanic/Latino , with Mexicans making up around 40% and other Latin American origins comprising most of the rest.

This is a range, not a single precise number, because estimates depend on methodology, timing, and data sources.

Why the numbers are tricky

A few reasons you don’t see a simple, official “exact percentage”:

1. Undocumented status is hard to measure.
   Researchers use survey data, administrative records, and statistical modeling to estimate how many people are in the country without authorization and where they come from.

2. The population is changing.
   Recent work shows growth in undocumented immigrants from Asia, Africa, and other regions , so the Hispanic share is gradually shrinking in relative terms, even if the absolute number of undocumented Hispanics remains high.

3. Different definitions of “Hispanic.”
   Some studies focus on country of origin (e.g., Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras), others on ethnicity (Latino/Hispanic), and the exact classification affects the percentage.

Because of these challenges, responsible sources generally present ranges and trends rather than claiming a single, fixed number.

Common misconceptions and public opinion

Surveys show that Americans often overestimate how many Latinos are undocumented:

• One poll found that only about 13% of U.S. Latinos are undocumented , but many Americans assume that one‑third to even 40% of Hispanics lack legal status.
• Concern about immigration has fluctuated; recent polling indicates fewer Americans now say they want strictly less immigration, and more see immigration as beneficial, even while the topic remains politically charged.

These findings suggest that public debate often magnifies the association between Latin American origin and undocumented status beyond what the data support.

Broader context: immigrants in the U.S.

To place this in context:

• As of 2024, immigrants (documented and undocumented combined) are at a record share of the U.S. population.

• Latinos overall (including citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented people) nearly doubled from about 35 million in 2000 to around 68 million by 2024.

• Most undocumented immigrants have lived in the country for many years and are woven into communities, families, and local economies.

These points show that undocumented immigrants are only a subset of a much larger and diverse Hispanic and immigrant population.

Mini FAQ

Q: So, what’s a fair short answer to “what percentage of illegal immigrants are Hispanic?”
A fair, data‑grounded short answer today is: roughly half to about two‑thirds , with Mexicans alone accounting for about 40%, and other Hispanic origins making up an additional share.

Q: Does this mean most Hispanics are undocumented?
No. Only about 13% of Latinos in the U.S. are undocumented ; the vast majority are citizens or legal residents.

Simple HTML table of key stats

html

<table>
  <tr>
    <th>Group / Measure</th>
    <th>Approximate Value</th>
    <th>Source</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Mexican share of undocumented immigrants (2019)</td>
    <td>About 40–41%</td>
    <td>[web:10]</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Estimated Hispanic/Latino share of undocumented immigrants (recent years)</td>
    <td>Roughly 50–65%</td>
    <td>[web:7][web:18]</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Share of U.S. Latinos who are undocumented</td>
    <td>About 13%</td>
    <td>[web:9]</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Size of U.S. Latino population, 2000</td>
    <td>35.3 million</td>
    <td>[web:2][web:12]</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Size of U.S. Latino population, 2024</td>
    <td>68 million</td>
    <td>[web:2][web:12]</td>
  </tr>
</table>

TL;DR: The best research indicates that about half to roughly two‑thirds of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. are Hispanic or Latino, with Mexicans making up around 40% of the undocumented population and other Latin American groups comprising much of the rest.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.