English becomes dominant language among later immigrant generations as Spanish declines % of U.S. adults with Hispanic ancestry who are English dominant Bilingua Spanish dominant Among self-identified Hispanics
Among self-identified Hispanics, 61% of immigrants are Spanish dominant, meaning they are more proficient in speaking and reading in Spanish than they are in English. By comparison, only 6% of the second generation is Spanish dominant and essentially none of the third generation is Spanish dominant, according to the Center’s estimates.
While a small share of U.S.-born Latinos are Spanish dominant, a larger share is bilingual. Among second-generation self-identified Latinos – i.e., the U.S.-born children of immigrant parents – about half (51%) are bilingual. Among third or higher generation self-identified Latinos, that share is 24%.
English becomes dominant language  | among later immigrant generations as  | Spanish declines  | % of U.S. adults with Hispanic ancestry who are  | English dominant Bilingua Spanish dominant  | Selfidentified  | 28  | 36  | 36  | Hispanics  | Among self-identified Hispanics  | Foreign born  | 32  | 61  | Second  | 43  | 51 6  | generation  | Third generation or higher  | 75  | 24  | generation higher  | Self-dentified  | 90 10  | non-Hispanics  | Note: Selfidentified Hispanics are those who say they are Hispanic  | Selfidentified non-Hispanics are those who saythey are not  | Hispanic or Latino non-Hispanics butsey they have Hispanic ancestry orheritage  | Source Pew Research Center: 2015 National Surveyof Latinos (Oct.  | 21-Nov. 30, 2015) and survey ofselfidentified non-Hispanics 2016). with  | Hispanic ancestry orheritage only (Nov 11 2015-Feb 7. 2016).  | "Hispanic Identity Fades Across Genera tions as Immigrant  | Connections Fall Away*  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 