Latin American Fact Sheet
March 3rd, 2008
Population
There are over 40 million people in the U.S. today of Hispanic origin. This is the single largest ethnic group in the country, surpassing African Americans. It represents 14.2% of the total U.S. population and is growing at the rate of over 1.7 million a year. Over 53% of the 2003 foreign born population in the U.S. is from Latin America. By 2020, the U.S. Hispanic population is projected to double to 70 million, or 21 percent of the U.S. population, and by 2050, it is projected to number more than 100 million. In fact, the number of Hispanics in the U.S. today is greater than the entire population of Canada. Hispanics accounted for over 40% of the country�s population growth between 1990 and 2000. They are currently the fifth-largest Spanish-speaking community in the world, behind those of Mexico, Colombia, Spain and Argentina.
Language
In 1968, of Public High School students studying a foreign language, 37% studied French and 48% studied Spanish. In 2000, 19% studied French and 70% studied Spanish. In 1968, of students enrolled in US institutions of higher education 34% studied French and 32% studied Spanish. In 2002, 14% studied French and 53% studied Spanish.
Business and Entrepreneurship
According to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce there are 2 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the U.S., generating over $300 billion in annual gross receipts. One out of every 10 small businesses in the country is currently estimated to be Hispanic. Hispanics account for over 13% of the documented U.S. labor force and are expected to increase to 20% by 2030. U.S. Hispanic purchasing power currently surpasses $700 billion and is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2010. The net worth of Hispanics surpassed $534 billion in 2000.
Direct Foreign Investment
Foreign direct investment in Latin America increased by 11% between 2005 and 2006 from $75 billion to $84 billion. The U.S. represents the dominant portion of this capital inflow with approximately 40% of the total. The total stock of foreign direct investment in the region grew from $357 billion in 2005 to 388 billion in 2006, a 9% increase. Interestingly, the region has also become a source of foreign direct investment, albeit at a still relatively modest level, as its most important multinational corporations (known as Multilatinas or Translatinas) have consolidated and expanded internationally. Some notable examples are CEMEX, Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, Petroleos de Venezuela, and others.
Trade
Latin America, although not the largest, is the fastest growing U.S. regional trade partner. Between 1990 and 1999, total U.S. merchandise trade (exports plus imports) with Latin America grew by 163% compared to 82% for Asia, 70% for Western Europe, 24% for Africa, and 93% for the world. Latin America is capturing a larger share of U.S. trade, expanding from 13.3% of total U.S. trade in 1990 to 18.0% in 1999, although this growth has not been uniform across the region. In 2000, the United States exported merchandise to Latin America and the Caribbean worth $164 billion (21% of world totals). $150.5 billion was to Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Honduras, and Costa Rica in that order. In 2000, the United States imported merchandise from Latin America and the Caribbean worth $204 billion (17% of world totals). $193 billion was from Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Chile, Argentina, and Honduras in that order. In 1999, imports from Latin America grew in kind, by 16% on average, All countries benefited as imports increased by 16% from Mexico, 12% from Brazil, 2 1% from Venezuela, 13% from Argentina, 34% from Colombia, and 16% from Chile.
Locally, in 2006, 27% of Louisiana�s merchandise exports where to Latin America and the Caribbean. Mexico is one of the state’s principal export destinations accounting for 9.3% of all exports in 2006. Other important destinations in Latin America are Colombia (2.7%) and Brazil (2%). If you consider New Orleans total trade (imports plus exports), Mexico is Louisiana�s main trading partner at close to 8%. Venezuela is #6 (5%) and Brazil #10 (3.4%). Just these three countries represent over 16% of N.O.’s total trade.
Energy
Of the four top U.S. energy suppliers�Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Venezuela—two are in Latin America. Whereas oil imports from the Middle East represent 22% of the U.S. total, those from Latin America represent 34%.
Environment
More than forty percent of all tropical forest preserved on the planet is located in Brazil. These forests serve as the Earth�s lungs, absorbing carbon dioxide in its atmosphere, producing oxygen, and attenuating global warming. At the same time, Latin American forests are among the vastest sources of biodiversity available in the planet. This biodiversity is essential for the preservation of the genetic integrity of our species. It is also a storehouse of potential medicines and could hold the cure for our most deadly chronic illnesses.
Mar
22
Albert Fishlow to Speak on "Is Brazil the Country of the Future?"
The Center for Inter-American Policy and Research, the Department of Economics and the Office of Academic Affairs and Provost are pleased to welcome Albert Fishlow to Tulane for a keynote speech entitled ...
Call for Papers for the Network of Inequality and Poverty of LACEA
April 9th, 2010 in General
The Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the LACEA/IDB/WB/UNDP Research Network on Inequality and Poverty will be held in New Orleans, USA on April 9 at the ...
ContinueAlbert Fishlow to Speak on "Is Brazil the Country of the Future?"
March 22nd, 2010 in General
The Center for Inter-American Policy and Research, the Department of Economics and the Office of Academic Affairs and Provost are pleased to welcome ...
ContinuePopulism in Brazil: from Getulio to Lula
March 5th, 2010 in Human Development
The Center for Inter-American Policy and Research and The Department of Political Science Invite you to a luncheon with Leslie Bethell Emeritus Professor ...
ContinueA Meeting with the President of the Inter-American Dialogue
March 1st, 2010 in Inter-American Relations
The Center for Inter-American Policy and Research Invites you to a meeting with the President of Inter-American Dialogue Peter Hakim Monday, March ...
ContinueA Conversation with the OAS Secretary General
January 7th, 2010 in General, Inter-American Relations
On January 7th, José Miguel Insulza, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), held a conversation with students, faculty ...
ContinueCIPR Seminar Series Event: Democratization in Central America
December 2nd, 2009 in
On December 2, 2009 Jorge Vargas Cullel, Deputy Director State of the Nation Program, Costa Rica spoke on Democratization in Central America. He also ...
ContinueCIPR sponsors Tulane Students at the Washington Model General Assembly of the Organization of American States (WMOAS)
November 23rd, 2009 in General, Human Development
The annual Washington Model General Assembly of the Organization of American States (WMOAS) is a five-day simulation of the OAS General Assembly designed ...
ContinueU.S. - Venezuelan Relations and a New Era for the Americas
November 19th, 2009 in Inter-American Relations
The Center for Inter-American Policy and Research (CIPR) and The Department of Political Science at Tulane University hosted a talk by the Venezuelan ...
ContinueCuba 50 Years of Revolution: Politics, Economics, Environment, Race and Relations with USA
November 13th, 2009 in Future Of Cuba, Inter-American Relations
The Center for Inter-American Policy and Research and the Cuban and Caribbean Studies Institute at Tulane University held a one-day conference on CUBA: ...
ContinueCuba Scholars Convene on Campus
November 12th, 2009 in Future Of Cuba, General
Brandon Meginley newwave@tulane.edu New Orleans has strong historical ties to Cuba. In the early 19th century, an influx of 10,000 French-speaking ...
ContinueMeeting with Honduran economist and sociologist Leticia Salomón
October 19th, 2009 in Human Development, Inter-American Relations
he Center for Inter-American Policy and Research and the Departments of History and Political Science invited you to a meeting with Honduran economist ...
ContinueCIPR Seeks Fellows for 2010-2011
October 13th, 2009 in General
Tulane University: Inter-American Policy and Research Fellowship. The Center for Inter-American Policy and Research (CIPR) invites applications for a ...
Continue$12.3 Million Gift for Latin American Studies
October 13th, 2009 in General
The Tulane University Center for Inter-American Policy and Research (CIPR) will receive grants totaling $12.3 million to support the study of Latin America, ...
ContinuePaolo Spadoni, CIPR Post-Doc, Quoted in Reuters
July 24th, 2009 in Future Of Cuba
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Cuba/idUSTRE56N3HH20090724 ...
ContinueCIPR Closes the Search for Fellows for 2009-2010
April 22nd, 2009 in General
CIPR closes the search for fellows for 2009-2010. ...
ContinueCIPR's Director speaks at the SECOLAS Annual Conference
April 21st, 2009 in General
Ludovico Feoli, CIPR’s director speaks at the SECOLAS 2009 / Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies Annual Conference. Please find his ...
ContinueCIPR Post-Doc Quoted in the Press
April 16th, 2009 in Future Of Cuba, Inter-American Relations
Paolo Spadoni spoke with Jeff Franks of Reuters regarding the latest news on Cuba and the US Read more about it here: Obama waits for Cuba signals to ...
ContinueCIPR Seeks Fellows for 2009-2010
December 17th, 2008 in General
The Center for Inter-American Policy and Research (CIPR) invites applications for a research fellowship for the Academic Year of 2009-2010. Applications ...
ContinueCIPR Seeks Fellows for 2009
October 1st, 2008 in General
The Center for Inter-American Policy and Research (CIPR) invites applications for a research fellowship for 2009. Applications from the social and historical ...
ContinueMeet our Current Post-Doc Researcher, María del Mar Martínez-Rosón
August 24th, 2009 in Future Of Cuba, General, Inter-American Relations
María del Mar Martínez Rosón María del Mar Martínez Rosón is a 2009-2010 post-doctoral research fellow. From September 2008 to July 2009, she was an associate ...
ContinueMeet our Graduate Student, Heriberto Cabada
August 24th, 2009 in General
Heriberto Cabada is originally from Miami, Florida. His interest in Latin America is derived from his Cuban heritage and upbringing in Miami, FL. He earned his B.A. in International Relations from ...
ContinueMeet our Graduate Student, Keri Libby
August 24th, 2009 in General
Originally from Hilliard, Florida, Keri Libby earned her B.A. in Government from Berry College, minoring in Spanish with a certificate in Latin American Studies. Her interest in Latin America began ...
ContinueForthcoming Article of Arturo Sotomayor in Security Studies
August 21st, 2009 in Inter-American Relations
Why States Participate in UN Peace Missions While Others Don’s: An Analysis of Civil-Military Relations and Its Effects on Latin America’s Contributions to Peacekeeping. This is the title ...
ContinuePaolo Spadoni on Failed Sanctions: Transnational Players and the U.S. Embargo against Cuba
May 13th, 2009 in Future Of Cuba
Please read the introduction and the conclusion of his forthcoming book here: Failed Sanctions: Transnational Players and the U.S. Embargo against Cuba. Please do not quote without the author’s ...
ContinuePaolo Spadoni on The Current Situation of Foreign Investment in Cuba / 2004
April 21st, 2009 in Future Of Cuba
Please read Paolo Spadoni’s article on The Current Situation of Foreign Investment in Cuba 2004 ...
ContinueForthcoming Article of Arturo Sotomayor in Journal of International Peacekeeping
April 4th, 2009 in Inter-American Relations
Arturo Sotomayor’s article on Different Paths and Divergent Policies in the UN Security System: Brazil and Mexico in Comparative Perspective will be published in Journal of Intermational ...
ContinueMeet Our Past CIPR Post-Doc Researchers
February 27th, 2009 in General
Arturo Sotomayor The Center for Inter-American Policy and Research (CIPR) is pleased to introduce its first research fellow Arturo C. Sotomayor. Arturo is assistant professor of international relations ...
ContinueArturo Sotomayor Co-Authors The Report on Growth and Responsibility
January 27th, 2009 in Inter-American Relations
Arturo Sotomayor writes on Mexico in Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Report on Growth and Responsibility. ...
ContinuePaolo Spadoni on The U.S. Financial Flows in the Cuban Economy
November 12th, 2008 in Future Of Cuba
Check on Paolo Spadoni’s article on The U.S. Financial Flows in the Cuban Economy ...
ContinuePaolo Spadoni on The U.S. Congress and the Cuban Embargo
September 25th, 2008 in Future Of Cuba
Please read Paolo Spadoni’s article on The U.S. Congress and the Cuban Embargo ...
ContinueMeet Our Current Post-Doc Researcher, Paolo Spadoni
August 21st, 2008 in Future Of Cuba, General, Human Development, Inter-American Relations
Paolo Spadoni Fall 2008 – Spring 2010 Paolo Spadoni is a 2008-2010 post-doctoral research fellow. From August 2006 to May 2008, he was a visiting assistant professor at the Department of Political ...
Continue"U.S.-Latin America Relations: A New Direction for a New Reality" from the Council on Foreign Relations
May 19th, 2008 in Inter-American Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations has released a new report produced by an independent task force chaired by Charlene Barshefsky, Senior International Partner, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP ...
ContinueWhy the Latin American Region Matters to the U.S.
April 11th, 2008 in Inter-American Relations
Latin America is a source of cultural, economic, and environmental opportunity for the U.S. Its proximity to the U.S. makes it a natural tourist destination, trade partner, and source of investment. ...
ContinueLatin America: Neglected but not Irrelevant
December 17th, 2007 in Inter-American Relations
Most attention of the press and the foreign policy establishment these days seems focused on places other than Latin America. Whether it is military and strategic issues in the Middle East or economic ...
Continue