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Hispanic growth fueled by higher fertility rates

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By The Associated Press | Thursday, May 08, 2008 |

   WASHINGTON — Hispanic women born in the United States are more likely to have children out of wedlock than women who are immigrant Hispanics or non-Hispanics, according to an analysis released by Pew Hispanic Center Thursday.

   Hispanic women generally, both U.S.-born and immigrants, have higher fertility rates than non Hispanics — 84 births per 1,000 Hispanic women compared with 63 per 1,000 non-Hispanic women.

   The differences can also be found between Hispanic women born in this country — 73 births per 1,000 women — and immigrant Hispanic women — 96 per 1,000 women.

   Hispanics are now 15.1 percent of the U.S. population, according to Census data released last week. Their numbers are growing more because of births than immigration.

   One-in-four children under 5 years old in the U.S. is Hispanic, the Census Bureau reported. These numbers are likely to fuel growth of the Hispanic population in this country.

   One of the more surprising findings in the Pew study was the difference in out-of-wedlock births when comparing Hispanic women born in this country and Hispanic women who are immigrants.

   Half of all births to Hispanic women born in this country were to single mothers, according to Pew research. About 35 percent of immigrant Hispanic women who gave birth were unmarried, nearly equal to the rate for non-Hispanic women. The study provided no reasons for the differences in out-of-wedlock rates.

   The Pew study looked at many aspects of Hispanic women, showing contrasts not only between Hispanic and non-Hispanic women, but also between Hispanic women born in this country and immigrant Hispanic women.

   ``They are not just mothers. They also are workers, neighbors, daughters, sisters. They are citizens,'' said Felisa Gonzalez, the chief researcher for the analysis.

   The analysis also found:

   — Hispanic women born in this country are more likely than non-Hispanic women to be in the work force.

   — Hispanic women born in this country working full-time earn less — $540 per week — than non-Hispanic women working full time, who earn $615 per week. Immigrant Hispanic women working full-time earn an average $400 per week.

   — Almost half of Hispanic women immigrants have less than a high school education. About 46 percent of Hispanic women born in this country have at least some college education.