A majority of Latinos say their financial situation is in only fair or poor shape and that they are dissatisfied with the direction of the country. Even so, most are satisfied with how things are going in their own lives, according to the new survey.
Latinos’ views on nation’s direction
Like other Americans, a strong majority of Latinos are dissatisfied with the direction of the country. Seven-in-ten Latinos (70%) say they are dissatisfied with how things are going in the country today, up from 49% in March 2021 and nearly as high as at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, when 77% were dissatisfied.
A greater share of Latino Republicans and Republican leaners than Latino Democrats and Democratic leaners are dissatisfied with the nation’s direction (78% vs. 67%), though a clear majority in both groups express dissatisfaction.
About three-in-four Latinos who are upper income (78%) and middle income (75%) say they are dissatisfied with the way the way things are going in the country today, a greater share than among Latinos with lower incomes (64%).
U.S.-born Hispanics are more likely than Hispanic immigrants to say they are dissatisfied with the country’s current state (78% vs. 60%). Among Hispanics who are English dominant, 84% are dissatisfied with the nation’s direction, compared with 68% of bilingual Hispanics and 57% of Spanish-dominant Hispanics.
Nearly eight-in-ten of those with no religious affiliation (79%) say they are dissatisfied with the nation’s direction, a greater share than among evangelical Protestants (71%) and Catholics (61%).
More than three-quarters of Hispanics who say being Hispanic is less important to how they think of themselves (76%) say they are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country today, a greater share than among Hispanics who say being Hispanic is very or extremely important (67%).
Notably, across all major demographic subgroups of the nation’s Latino population, majorities say they are dissatisfied with the country’s direction.
About eight-in-ten Cubans and Puerto Ricans (81% each) in the U.S. say they are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country today, a greater share than among Mexicans (67%) and Central Americans (67%).
Latinos’ views of their personal finances
A majority of Latinos (58%) say their personal financial situation is in only fair or poor shape, with similar shares of Democrats and Democratic leaners (59%) and Republicans and Republican leaners (50%) saying so.
About half of Latino registered voters (51%) rate their personal financial situation as fair or poor, while 57% of Latinos who are not registered to vote say the same.
The gap in how Hispanics rate their personal financial situation is especially wide by income groups. Nearly three-in-four Hispanics with lower incomes (74%) say their financial situation is in only fair or poor shape, a far greater share than among middle-income Hispanics (45%) and upper-income Hispanics (18%).
There are also notable differences in how Hispanics rate their financial situation by education. A majority of Hispanics with a high school degree or less (64%) say their personal financial situation is fair or poor, compared with 40% of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Among language groups, a majority of Hispanics who are Spanish dominant (74%) say their personal financial situation is fair or poor, far greater than among Latinos who are bilingual (47%). Meanwhile, 56% of Latinos who are English dominant rate their personal financial situation as fair or poor.
How Hispanics rate their personal lives
Even though the survey finds Latinos are dissatisfied with the nation’s direction and are likely to say their personal finances are in only fair or poor shape, a clear majority say things are going well on a personal level. About two-thirds (68%) are satisfied with the way things are going in their life today, with similar shares of Latino Democrats and Republicans saying so (these shares include independents who lean toward either party). U.S. adults overall (67%) have a similarly positive view of the way things are going in their personal lives.
Meanwhile, 76% of Latinos older than 65 say they are satisfied with their life, a greater share than among those ages 18 to 29 (62%) and ages 30 to 49 (68%).
About eight-in-ten Hispanics who have an upper income (82%) say they are satisfied with the way things are going in their life, a greater share than among Latinos with middle incomes (69%) and lower incomes (65%).
Comparable shares of Latino registered voters and Latinos who are not registered to vote say they are satisfied with the way things are going in their life today (70% vs. 63%).
