Race & Ethnicity 9/9/26

Latinos in the U.S. express a mix of hope and skepticism about the American dream. One-in-five Latinos say they’ve 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 – and 27% say it doesn’t exist at all. For most Hispanics living in the U.S., their Hispanic identity is an important part of how they see themselves. But there is no single view of what that identity means for their lives: Some see it as a source of connection or advantage, while others associate it with obstacles to getting ahead. In all six Latin American countries we surveyed in 2026, a majority of Catholics express a favorable opinion of Pope Leo XIV. Some of the most positive views are in Peru, where he lived for about two decades and became a bishop in 2014.