{"id":373909,"date":"2026-09-01T09:55:41","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T13:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=373909"},"modified":"2026-09-01T09:55:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T13:55:41","slug":"latinos-are-split-on-whether-the-american-dream-is-achievable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/race-and-ethnicity\/2026\/09\/01\/latinos-are-split-on-whether-the-american-dream-is-achievable\/","title":{"rendered":"Latinos Are Split on Whether the American Dream Is Achievable"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Yet majorities say their standard of living is better than their parents\u2019 and express optimism about their children\u2019s future<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"An<\/a>
(Momo Productions\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
About this research<\/summary>\n

This Pew Research Center analysis focuses on U.S. Latinos\u2019 views of the American dream and their outlook on economic mobility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did we do this?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pew Research Center conducts high-quality research to inform the public, journalists and decision-makers. This analysis builds on a larger body of work that explores the attitudes and experiences of Latinos in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Pew Research Center<\/a>, our research on Hispanics in the U.S.<\/a> and other research on race and ethnicity<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we do this?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This analysis is based on Pew Research Center\u2019s latest National Survey of Latinos, conducted from Oct. 6 to 16, 2025, among a sample of 8,046 U.S. adults. Some 4,923 Hispanics were surveyed, with 1,125 respondents who are members of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel<\/a> (ATP) and 3,798 respondents who are members of SSRS\u2019s Opinion Panel<\/a>. The survey also included 3,114 non-Hispanic ATP members. Here are the questions used for this analysis<\/a>, detailed responses<\/a> and the methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The survey was conducted in English and Spanish. Respondents were recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This kind of recruitment gives nearly all U.S. adults a chance of selection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviews took place either online or by telephone with a live interviewer. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education, presidential vote (among voters) and other factors. Read more about the ATP\u2019s methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

List of key terms<\/summary>\n

The terms Hispanic<\/strong> and Latino<\/strong> are used interchangeably in this report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The term immigrant<\/strong> refers to respondents born outside the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico. When data is available, this group also includes people born outside these places to parents born outside these places. The terms immigrant and foreign born<\/strong> are used interchangeably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The term U.S. born<\/strong> refers to respondents born in the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico. When the data is available, this group also includes those born elsewhere to at least one parent who was born in these places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second generation<\/strong> refers to respondents who are U.S. born with at least one immigrant parent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third or higher generation<\/strong> refers to respondents who are U.S. born with both parents also U.S. born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This analysis includes comparisons between Latino adults and other adults. In these cases, the term other<\/strong> U.S. adults<\/strong> refers to are those who are not Hispanic. The terms other U.S. adults, other adults<\/strong> and other Americans<\/strong> are used interchangeably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We asked respondents whether they have achieved the American dream, are on their way to achieving it, believe it\u2019s out of reach or that it doesn\u2019t exist. We use the phrase believe the American dream exists<\/strong> to refer to those who say they have achieved it, they are on their way to achieving it, or that it is out of reach. This group excludes those who say the American dream does not exist.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Latinos in the United States express a mix of hope and skepticism about the American dream. Like other Americans, they are divided on whether the dream is attainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One-in-five Latinos say they\u2019ve achieved the American dream, and 33% say they are on their way to achieving it. However, 18% say the American dream is out of reach for them \u2013 and 27% say it doesn\u2019t exist at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked whether the American dream is harder or easier to achieve than it was for their parents, Hispanics are more likely to say it has become harder. This suggests a shift from a decade ago, when Hispanics were more likely to say the American dream was easier<\/em> for them to achieve than it had been for their parents.[1. In a 2016 Pew Research Center phone survey<\/a>, Latinos were more likely to say the American dream had become easier rather harder to achieve than it was for their parents. These phone survey results are not directly comparable to our more recent polls due to a shift in survey mode from telephone surveys to online ones. For more information, read \u201cWhat our transition to online polling means for decades of phone survey trends<\/a>.\u201d] <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet when it comes to Latinos\u2019 assessments of their standard of living \u2013 a key part of how many of them define the American dream<\/a> \u2013 their outlook leans more positive. Far more Latinos say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n