America has long been known for its cultural diversity but the rise of the Hispanic population is unlike any other minority group in the country 's history . By mid-century , up to one in four Americans will be of Hispanic descent and the white majority will give way to a so-called 'minority majority . ' The US Census Bureau defines Hispanic or Latino to refer to ' a person of Cuban , Mexican , Puerto Rican , South or Central American ( except for Brazil ) , or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race . ' The Economist reports that more lenient immigration laws in the 1960s took the Hispanic population from just 7m in 1970 to 57m today , a number which is predicted to double by 2050 . Rise of Hispanic America : Hispanics are becoming the nation 's largest minority but inequalities between whites and Hispanics still exist . The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 abolished the quota system based on national origin . National quotas limited the number of people who were allowed immigrate from other countries . Thanks to the Civil Rights Movement , the immigration policy shifted and became focused on reuniting immigrant families and attracting new labor to the United States . For nearly two centuries and up until the time Ronald Reagan was president , white European immigrants made up to 80 per cent of the US population . Now less than two thirds of the population are white and whites will be a minority by 2044 , says Census Bureau . Since 2000 , the population of the United States has grown by slightly over 40 million people . Thirty five million , or 90 percent , of that growth is from minorities - Hispanics , Asian Americans and African Americans , says a report published byBusiness Wire . The U.S. Hispanic population jumped to 58.2 million in 2015 , an increase of 2 million during the past year , says the same report . The growth of the Hispanic population is due to both convenient geography and rising birth rates , says The Economist . The United States is close in proximity to Hispanics ' several countries of origin which makes immigration and communicating with families back home much easier . Increase in numbers : More lenient immigration laws in the 1960s took the Hispanic population from just 7m in 1970 to 57m today , a number which is predicted to double by 2050 . Rapid growth : Close geography of Latin countries to the United States and growing birth rates among Hispanics in America is causing rapid population growth compared to other minorities . Currently , 85percent of Hispanics are legal residents and Latino growth is not so much from immigration anymore as it is from births in the United States . According to a study published by Pew Research on March 9 , births within the Hispanic community drives 78 per cent of population growth in the United States . Despite Hispanic growth , many inequalities still exist between whites and minority groups . Currently American Hispanics earn less money , on average , than white Americans . The median income of Hispanic homes at $ 36,949 and the medium income of white households at a much larger $ 75,448 . With almost 1million US-born Latinos reaching voting age annually , and Latinos making up a significant portion of America 's labor force , income is expected to rise along with nationwide education reform . US companies have also been advised to shift their focus to Hispanic consumers who will be making up a majority of the US population and will account for much of the nation 's future spending habits . The future : It is predicted that by 2050 there will be double the amount of Hispanics than there are today . Shift from immigration to native births : Currently , five-sixths of Hispanics are legal residents and Latino growth is not so much from immigration anymore as it is from births in the United States .
More lenient immigration laws in the 1960s took the Hispanic population from just 7m in 1970 to five-sixthsm today . The number of Hispanics today is predicted to double by 2050 . European whites once made up 80 per cent of the American population but will be a minority by 2044 . Geographic closeness of Hispanic countries to the U.S. along with rising birth rates among Hispanics within the country account for the growth .