not of Hispanic origin population. Table 2 and figure 4 show that in 1991 about 40.7 percent of Hispanic children, under 18 years of age were living in poverty. In comparison, one third this rate (13.3 percent), of White not of Hispanic origin children under 18 years of age, were living in poverty.

Among the subgroups, the highest poverty rate was reported among children of Puerto Rican origin, with (58.4 percent) living in poverty. The proportion of Mexican origin children in poverty was 39.9 percent, while the poverty rates of Cuban children was 33.3 percent, Central and South American children was 33.6 percent and Other Hispanic origin children was 33.8 percent origin.20 Hispanic children represented 21 percent of all children living in poverty, but they were only 12 percent of all children in the United States. (table 2)

Family Poverty. Hispanic families are more likely to be in poverty than non-Hispanic White families. Based on 1991 income figures, 26.5 percent of Hispanic families fell below the poverty level, as compared to 7.1 percent of non-Hispanic White families. Among different family types, 14.8 percent of Hispanic families with a householder 65 years of age or older, were living in poverty, 38.1 percent of families with a householder who was not a high school graduate and about half (49.7 percent) of

2oThe difference between the poverty rates of children of Mexican, Cuban, and Other Hispanic origin is not statistically significant.

all families headed by females without a husband present. In comparison, 4.3 percent of non-Hispanic White families maintained by persons 65 years of age or older were in poverty, 17.0 percent of those with a householder who was not a high school graduate, and 24.6 percent of those headed by a female without a husband present. (table 4)21

Among subgroups, families of Puerto Rican origin were the most likely to be in poverty in 1991 (35.5 percent). The high poverty rate among the Puerto Rican families may be related, at least in part, to a high proportion of families maintained by females without a spouse present. In 1991, about 41 percent of all Puerto Rican families were maintained by a female without a spouse present. Three quarters (76.4 percent) of Puerto Rican families in poverty were maintained by a female without a spouse present.

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21 The difference in the proportion of Hispanic families in poverty with a householder 65 years old and older and non Hispanic White families with a householder that is not a high school graduate is not statistically significant.