As the population in Colorado continues to change dramatically, the Latino Leadership Institute is dedicated to informing individuals and organizations from across the state about the diverse Latino population. Demography may not always determine destiny, but knowledge can be the true change agent in predicting and preparing for tomorrow.
Colorado’s Demographic Destiny
Today, nearly 70 percent of Colorado’s population is non-Hispanic white. By 2040, the white population will decline to 55 percent. Over the next 20 years, the Latino population will increase from a current share of 21 percent of the population (1.1 million Latinos) to 33 percent. With rapid growth comes great opportunity and potential challenges. 1 in 4 Coloradans will be Latino by the end of this decade.
The median age of Latinos in Colorado is 27 compared to 42 for non-Hispanic whites.
Latino age distribution in Colorado
Non Hispanic White Age Distribution in Colorado
LANGUAGE
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47% of Latinos in Colorado speak only English at home. This is significantly higher than the national average of 27 percent.
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53% of Latinos in Colorado speak a varying level of Spanish. Of those who do speak Spanish, 78 percent speak English very well or well.
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Less than 10% of all Latinos in Colorado speak Spanish only.
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English is the overwhelmingly preferred language for Latinos in Colorado. However, given that nearly 80% of Latinos are native born, it is important to note that continuing to speak some Spanish in the home is an important element to Latino culture.
Geographic Data
Counties across Colorado saw significant population growth between 2010 and 2014. By comparison the Latino population growth outpaced the total population growth by an average of nearly 12 percent. Over the last 25 years, some of Colorado’s largest counties saw the Latino population increased by as much as 14000 percent. Since 1990, the average growth of the Latino population in Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, and Weld Counties was approximately 500%.
Colorado Counties with Latino population over 100,000
Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, El Paso
Colorado Counties with over 33% Latino population
Adams, Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano, Las Animas, Morgan, Otero, Prowers, Pueblo, Rio Grande, Saguache
Colorado Counties with Highest Latino Population Increase (2010-2014)
Adams, Arapahoe, El Paso, Jefferson, Weld
Partnership
The Latino leadership Institute is proud to partner with Latino Decisions and the Latino Data project in presenting, for the first time, extraordinary research findings about the rapidly changing Latino population in Colorado. The research was conducted by Latino Decisions in partnership the the Latino Data Project. The information and data are the intellectual property of Latino Decisions and the Latino Data Project. As experts in Latino research, Latino Decisions and the Latino Data Project have compiled the most comprehensive data available on Colorado’s Latino population. The Institute proudly presents this information.