Is Mexican and Hispanic the same thing?

No, Mexican and Hispanic are not the same thing. While there is some overlap between the two terms, they have distinct meanings.

Table of Contents

What is the difference between Mexican and Hispanic?

Mexican refers specifically to people from Mexico or of Mexican descent. Hispanic is a much broader term that refers to people from or with ancestry from any Spanish-speaking Latin American country. Here are some key differences:

All Mexicans are Hispanic, but not all Hispanics are Mexican. Hispanics include people from over 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Mexican refers to ethnicity and nationality while Hispanic mainly refers to ethnicity and heritage.
Hispanics can be of any race, while Mexicans are part of the Latino/Hispanic race.

Mexico has its own distinct culture and traditions that differ from other Hispanic cultures.

Who is considered Mexican?

There are a few qualifiers for who is considered Mexican:

Citizens of Mexico – Anyone holding Mexican citizenship, regardless of ethnicity or race.

Mexican nationals – People born in Mexico who identify with Mexican culture and nationality.
Mexican Americans – Americans of Mexican descent. Their families must have roots in Mexico.
Mestizos – People mixed with European and indigenous Mexican ancestry. Mestizos make up most of Mexico’s population.

So in summary, Mexican refers to people closely tied to Mexico through citizenship, nationality, ethnicity or family ancestry. Someone can be considered Mexican without currently living in Mexico.

Who is considered Hispanic/Latino?

Hispanics or Latinos are people descended from Spanish-speaking populations of Latin America. This includes:

Mexico

Central America – Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama
Caribbean – Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico
South America – Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay

The U.S. Census Bureau defines Hispanic/Latino as anyone with “Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin, descent, or cultural heritage.” Hispanics can be of any race and from any country mentioned above.

How many Hispanics are Mexican?

While Mexicans make up a significant portion of the Hispanic population in the U.S., they do not represent all Hispanics. Here is a breakdown:

There are 62.1 million Hispanics in the U.S. as of 2019.

36.6 million of those identify as Mexican (59% of U.S. Hispanics).
The remainder identify as Puerto Rican, Cuban, Salvadoran and other Hispanic nationalities.

So while most Hispanics have Mexican roots, over 40% come from other Latin American countries and cultures.

Why are Mexican and Hispanic confused?

There are several reasons Mexican and Hispanic identity often get blended together:

Mexico shares a border with the U.S. so Mexican immigration is more visible.
Mexicans make up the largest Hispanic subgroup, so people tend to associate Hispanic with Mexican.

Hispanic or Latino are broad terms not clearly defined by appearance. Mexicans have more distinct visual identity.
Spoken Spanish has commonalities across Latin America. Accents and dialectical differences between groups are subtle.
Many Hispanics of mixed heritage have Mexican ancestry. Their other origins fade over generations.

Key differences between Mexico and other Hispanic countries

While Mexico has linguistic, ancestral and cultural ties with other Hispanic groups, there are still some sharp contrasts between Mexican culture compared to the culture found in other Latin American countries:

Aspect	Mexican	Other Hispanic
Indigenous influence	Very strong influence still seen today from Aztecs and other indigenous peoples.	Varies – influence strongest in parts of Central America.
Cuisine	Corn tortillas, tamales, moles, chili peppers, antojitos.	More rice/beans/root vegetables. Empanadas popular in Southern Cone.
Music	Mariachi, ranchera, corridos, traditional folk genres.	Salsa, bachata, tango, samba, rumba, reggaeton, Latin pop.
Dance	Folklorico, Aztec/indigenous inspired.	Salsa, merengue, tango, samba, rumba.
Architecture	Haciendas, palacio municipal buildings with Spanish influence.	More varied European influences like art deco in Miami or colonial styles.
Indigenous languages	Nahuatl is still spoken by over 1 million Mexicans today.	Mayan languages in Guatemala and southern Mexico. Quechua in Andes.
Catholic vs Indigenous religion	Strong syncretism between Catholic and native beliefs like Día de Muertos festival.	Varies by region – Brazil has strong African influence.

This comparison shows that despite similarities, Mexican history and culture is distinct from that of other Latin American countries. Their shared language and ancestry create overlap between these cultures, but they have followed unique evolutionary paths.

Is Mexican the same as Mexican American?

No, while Mexican Americans have Mexican heritage, the terms have some key differences:

Mexican refers to people born or living in Mexico. Mexican American refers to Mexicans now living in the United States.
Mexican Americans combine Mexican cultural identity with American cultural identity into a blended experience.
First generation Mexican immigrants may speak Spanish as a first language while Mexican Americans often speak English as a first language.

Mexican Americans are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Mexicans have Mexican citizenship.
There are cultural differences between Mexicans in Mexico and Mexican Americans in the US.

However, Mexican American identity falls under the broader Mexican ethnicity. Mexican Americans have pride for their Mexican roots and relate closely to Mexican culture.

Is Chicano the same as Mexican American?

Chicano and Mexican American are closely related terms but have some distinctions:

Chicano identity first emerged during the Chicano Movement in the 1960s amongst activists of Mexican descent.
Chicano emphasizes ethnic pride, cultural empowerment, and shared struggle.

Mexican American is a more mainstream term describing ethnic heritage.
Chicano implies interest in political activism while Mexican American does not.
Not all Mexican Americans identify as Chicano.

So in summary, Chicano culture is deeply rooted in Mexican American experience but carries a more specific political and cultural meaning.

Do Hispanics and Latinos mean the same thing?

The terms Hispanic and Latino are often used interchangeably to refer to people from Latin American countries and cultures. However, there are some minor differences:

Hispanic emphasizes Spanish influence and shared language.

Latino emphasizes geography and shared Latin American origin.
Some people have preference for one term or the other.
Latino is sometimes perceived as more inclusive and politically correct.

U.S. government agencies and surveys use both terms to refer to the same population groups.

In most contexts, Hispanic and Latino can be used synonymously without much difference in meaning. Both refer broadly to people of Latin American cultural heritage.

Conclusion

In summary:

Mexican refers specifically to people from Mexico while Hispanic is an overarching term for people from all Spanish speaking Latin American countries.
Not all Hispanics are Mexican. Mexicans make up around 60% of the U.S. Hispanic population.
Mexico has its own distinct culture, history, food and traditions despite connections with wider Hispanic world.

Mexican American identity blends Mexican cultural roots with American cultural experience.
Hispanic and Latino are generally interchangeable terms with minor differences in connotation.

So while Mexican culture falls under the broader Hispanic umbrella, it retains a very distinct national and ethnic identity. Hispanics across Latin America share cultural bonds through ancestral ties, language and heritage. But each region, country and community also has unique roots, influences, struggles and achievements that shape their culture and identity.