Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
Hispanic health - Statistics & Facts
Hispanic Americans or Latino Americans are the second largest ethnic group in the United States and include those Americans who are descended from Spain, Portugal, or the Spanish or Portuguese-speaking countries of Latin America. Hispanic Americans are faced with the same health problems as all other Americans to greater and lesser degrees. In 2022, the leading causes of death for Hispanics were heart disease, cancer, and accidents. The risk of developing heart disease and cancer can be decreased through a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise, a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol use. However, obesity, a risk factor for both heart disease and cancer, is a growing problem among Hispanics in the United States. The states with the highest share of Hispanics who are obese are Oklahoma, Illinois, and Mississippi, where over 40 percent of the Hispanic population is obese.
