FACTBOX: Statistical portrait of Hispanics in U.S.

(Reuters) - Hispanics, or Latinos, could play a significant role in the November U.S. presidential election.

Here's a look at their numbers, according to the Pew Hispanic Center's "Statistical Portrait of Hispanics in the United States, 2006."

Population: 44.3 million, 14.8 percent of total

Eligible voters: 17.9 million

Share of eligible voters: 8.7 percent.

Native born: 26.6 million

Foreign born: 17.7 million

Top countries of origin: Mexico 28.4 million, Puerto Rico 4.0 million, Cuba 1.5 million, El Salvador 1.4 million, Dominican Republic 1.2 million.

Top 10 Hispanic states by population (and percent of state population):

California 13.1 million (35.9 percent)

Texas 8.4 million (35.6 percent)

Florida 3.6 million (20.1 percent)

New York 3.1 million (16.3 percent)

Illinois 1.9 million (14.7 percent)

Arizona 1.8 million (29.1 percent)

New Jersey 1.4 million (15.6 percent)