This report describes the United States' Hispanic population in 2000, profiling demographic and socioeconomic characteristics such as geographic distribution, age, educational attainment, earnings, and poverty status. These characteristics are compared with those of non-Hispanic whites, and because Hispanics are a heterogeneous group, variability within the Hispanic group is also discussed. Findings are based on data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau in the March 2000 Current Population Survey. Hispanics reported that their origin was Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central American, or South American. Hispanics may be of any race. Approximately one in eight people in the United States is Hispanic in origin. Hispanics are more geographically concentrated than non-Hispanic whites and are more likely to live inside central cities of metropolitan areas. One in four foreign-born Hispanics is a naturalized citizen. Hispanics live in family homes that are larger than those of non-Hispanic whites. More than two in five Hispanics have not graduated from high school, and educational attainment varies. Hispanics are much more likely than non-Hispanic whites to be unemployed and to be impoverished. Hispanic workers earn less than non-Hispanic whites, and the groups have different occupational distributions. (SM)