Final answer:
As of 2019, Latinos/Latinas make up 18.5 percent of the U.S. population. The term 'Latino' refers to individuals with Latin American heritage and is often used interchangeably with 'Hispanic,' which includes people of Spanish culture or origin. Despite being the largest ethnic minority, Hispanic Americans are underrepresented in state legislature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The percentage of Americans who identify themselves as part of the Latinos/Latinas population has grown significantly over the years. As of 2019, this group was estimated to constitute 18.5 percent of the total U.S. population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This marks a substantial increase from 1970, when Hispanics made up less than five percent of the population. By 2010, Hispanics had become the largest ethnic minority in the United States, surpassing African Americans.
The term Latino refers to individuals with Latin American heritage, a majority of whom have racially mixed European and American ancestry, traditionally known as Mestizo. Although the term Hispanic includes people of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race, the U.S. government does not officially recognize "Latino" or "mestizo" as racial categories. Consequently, Latinx (mestizos) living in the U.S typically select "other" on racial identification questions in censuses and surveys, leading to large demographics identifying as "Hispanic Other" in cities with significant Latinx populations like Los Angeles.
Despite their growing numbers, Hispanic Americans are underrepresented in state legislature, with Latino representatives accounting for only 4.4 percent of state legislators compared to their 18.5 percent share of the population. Meanwhile, terms like Latino and Hispanic remain commonly used, although some prefer to identify with their specific country of origin.