Data Dive: Metro Atlanta’s Latino Population Fast-growing, Young, and Diverse

Written by Kate Sweeney

The Atlanta region is home to a thriving Hispanic and Latino* population. In fact, nearly half the region’s foreign-born population hails from Latin America.

Here’s a look at how this dynamic population is shaping the Atlanta region.

These days, most of metro Atlanta’s new Latinos hail from… the United States

Latino population growth chart — In fact, in the 1990-2000 period, 69% of the region’s Latino population growth came from international migration.

In just one decade, metro Atlanta’s Latino population more than doubled

Between 2000 and 2010, metro Atlanta’s Hispanic/Latino population grew from 268,851 to 547,400. That’s a rate of **102%.** The growth is expected to continue going forward, with the Hispanic/Latino population increasing by 150% between 2010-2040.

In 2015, Hispanics made up more than 10% of the region’s population

The 29-county metro Atlanta MSA ranks 20th among US metros in the size of its Hispanic/Latino population. The largest concentrations live in Gwinnett, Barrow, Hall, Forsyth, North Fulton, and Cobb counties.

Georgia has the fastest Latino growth rate of any state in the nation

Between 2000 and 2015, Georgia’s Hispanic/Latino population increased by 118%. Florida and Texas came in second and third, with growth rates of 86% and 60%, respectively.

The Atlanta region’s Latino population is relatively young

The median age of metro Atlanta Latinos is 26. That’s compared to a median age of 36 for the population overall, and to a median age of 41 for individuals who identify as white, non-Hispanic. Why this matters: Different age groups have different needs and goals, which is key for the region’s leaders to keep in mind as they make policy and planning decisions.

For more on this story, head over to ARC’s research blog 33n.

*(Note: We use the terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” interchangeably here, as they are closely related. But there is a difference: The former refers to Spanish-speaking countries, while the latter refers to Latin American countries, including non-Spanish speaking countries like Brazil.)

What’s Next ATL, produced by the Atlanta Regional Commission, is a community resource that explores how metro Atlanta is growing and changing, and how the region is addressing its most pressing challenges.