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MISSOURI
Income & Poverty

Other facts sheets for Missouri:

The data below describe the state rankings and selected characteristics of the immigrant and native-born populations in Missouri in 2011.

Rankings
The following shows Missouri's rankings in several categories. All rankings include the 50 states and the District of Columbia and are ranked highest to lowest.
  Rankings
Number of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 26 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 19 out of 51
Numeric change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 23 out of 51
Percent change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 12 out of 51

Data Highlights
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Who are the foreign born?
The term foreign born refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the census who were not US citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized citizens, lawful permanent immigrants, refugees and asylees, legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization. By comparison, the term native refers to people residing in the United States who were US citizens in one of three categories: 1) people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; 2) people born in United States Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or 3) people who were born abroad to at least one US citizen parent.

We use the terms immigrants and foreign born interchangeably.

Earnings of Full-Time Workers
(This sheet describes earnings of civilian employed workers)

In Missouri in 2011, 33.6 percent of foreign-born workers earned less than $25,000 a year and 29.0 percent earned $50,000 or more.
In Missouri in 2011, 9.1 percent of full-time, year-round, immigrant workers (those working more than 50 weeks a year and more than 35 hours per week) earned less than $15,000 a year; 44.0 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 17.8 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 29.0 percent earned $50,000 or more. In comparison, 7.1 percent of full-time, year-round, native-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 35.3 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 22.6 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 35.1 percent earned $50,000 or more.

At the national level, 9.8 percent of full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 40.9 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 16.6 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 32.6 percent earned $50,000 or more.

Median Earnings by Nativity and Gender

Male immigrant workers had average annual earnings of $35,869 compared to $28,754 for female immigrant workers.
Among full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers in Missouri in 2011, median earnings over the previous 12 months were $28,754 for women and $35,869 for men. The median earnings of noncitizen women were $24,652 and those of noncitizen men were $31,440. In comparison, naturalized-citizen women had median earnings of $32,468 and naturalized-citizen men $40,998. Among full-time, year-round, native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $34,135 for women and $43,776 for men.

At the national level, median earnings of full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers were $31,749 for women and $35,918 for men. The median earnings for noncitizen workers were $24,347 for women and $28,507 for men. Among naturalized-citizen workers, women had median earnings of $38,419 and men of $47,547. Among native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $38,044 for women and $50,056 for men.

What Was the Poverty Threshold in 2011?
Whether any family is considered below the poverty threshold depends on the family's total income before taxes, not including any capital gains or noncash benefits, such as food stamps or housing subsidies.

The Census Bureau's poverty threshold varies depending on the number of adults and children in a family. The threshold is adjusted each month to account for inflation. Because respondents filled out the American Community Survey in different months, the poverty threshold that is applied to each family depends on the month in which the survey was taken.

To give a general idea of poverty levels, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, the average poverty threshold for a family of four in 2011 was $23,021; for a family of three, $17,916; for a family of two, $ 14,657; and for an unrelated individual, $11,484. All members of a family are assigned the same poverty status. Poverty thresholds are the same for the entire United States, despite differences in the cost of living across US communities.
Population in Poverty

The immigrant population in Missouri living below the federal poverty threshold changed by 99.8 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the foreign-born population living in poverty went from 27,056 to 54,067, representing a change of 99.8 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population living in poverty changed from 13,589 to 27,056 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 99.1 percent.

At the national level, the immigrant population below the poverty threshold increased from 3,435,394 to 5,473,300 between 1990 and 2000, representing a change of 59.3 percent, and grew from 5,473,300 to 7,797,199 (42.5 percent) between 2000 and 2011.

In 2011, 22.8 percent of the foreign-born population lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 22.8 percent of Missouri's immigrant population lived below the poverty threshold, compared with 18.0 percent in 2000 and 17.3 percent in 1990. Meanwhile, 15.5 percent of the native-born population in Missouri lived below the poverty threshold in 2011.

At the national level, 19.6 percent of the immigrants population lived below the poverty threshold in 2011, compared to 17.7 percent in 2000 and 17.9 percent in 1990. Nationally, 15.4 percent of the native-born population lived below the poverty threshold in 2011.

In Missouri, 30.8 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 11.9 percent of naturalized citizens.

Of the foreign-born population in Missouri in 2011, 30.8 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty, compared to 11.9 percent of naturalized citizens.

Nationally, 26.3 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 11.5 percent of naturalized citizens.

Families with Children in Poverty

In Missouri, 20.5 percent of all foreign-born families lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 20.5 percent of all families headed by an immigrant had incomes below the poverty threshold. At the same time, 26.5 percent of foreign-born families with children under 18 lived below the poverty threshold. Foreign-born families consisting of a married couple and children under 18 were less likely to live below the poverty threshold than families consisting of a female and children under 18 with no husband present (20.6 versus 53.4 percent).

In comparison, 11.0 percent of all families headed by a native-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold, as did 18.2 percent of native families with children under 18. As with foreign-born families, native families consisting of a married couple with children under 18 were less likely to be living in poverty than families headed by a female and children under 18 with no husband present (6.6 versus 42.2 percent).

At the national level, 18.5 percent of families headed by a foreign-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold in 2011, while 24.6 percent of foreign-born families with children under 18 lived below the poverty threshold. Foreign-born families consisting of a married couple and children under 18 were less likely to live below the poverty threshold than foreign-born families consisting of a female and children under 18 (17.9 versus 45.2 percent).

Language Groupings

Indo-European languages include French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Yiddish, other West Germanic languages, Scandinavian languages, Greek, Russian, Polish, Serbo-Croatian, other Slavic languages, Armenian, Persian, Gujarathi, Hindi, and Urdu.

Asian and Pacific Island languages include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Mon-Khmer/Cambodian, Miao/Hmong, Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

Other languages include Navajo, other Native North American languages, Hungarian, Arabic, Hebrew, and African languages.

Population in Poverty by Language Spoken at Home

In Missouri, 26.7 percent of persons who spoke Spanish at home lived in poverty, compared to 17.9 percent of persons who spoke Asian or Pacific Island languages, and 21.6 percent of persons who spoke other Indo-European languages.
Of both native and foreign-born persons in Missouri in 2011, 14.4 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 26.7 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 21.6 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 17.9 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 29.6 percent who spoke other languages.

Nationally, 13.6 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 25.4 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 13.7 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 14.2 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 26.7 percent who spoke other languages.




Table 1. Population by Poverty Status in Missouri, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Household Population of Missouri for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 4,957,008 100.0 5,453,215 100.0 5,831,530 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 655,195 13.2 642,992 11.8 920,118 15.8
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 462,452 9.3 470,253 8.6 578,964 9.9
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 3,839,361 77.5 4,339,970 79.6 4,332,448 74.3
Native Born 4,878,476 100.0 5,302,813 100.0 5,594,775 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 641,606 13.2 615,936 11.6 866,051 15.5
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 455,954 9.3 456,916 8.6 552,127 9.9
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 3,780,916 77.5 4,229,961 79.8 4,176,597 74.7
Foreign Born 78,532 100.0 150,402 100.0 236,755 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 13,589 17.3 27,056 18.0 54,067 22.8
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 6,498 8.3 13,337 8.9 26,837 11.3
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 58,445 74.4 110,009 73.1 155,851 65.8
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Household Population of Missouri for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 496,207 10.0 874,522 17.6 378,315 6.9
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -12,203 -1.9 264,923 40.4 277,126 43.1
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 7,801 1.7 116,512 25.2 108,711 23.1
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 500,609 13.0 493,087 12.8 -7,522 -0.2
Native Born 424,337 8.7 716,299 14.7 291,962 5.5
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -25,670 -4.0 224,445 35.0 250,115 40.6
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 962 0.2 96,173 21.1 95,211 20.8
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 449,045 11.9 395,681 10.5 -53,364 -1.3
Foreign Born 71,870 91.5 158,223 201.5 86,353 57.4
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 13,467 99.1 40,478 297.9 27,011 99.8
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 6,839 105.2 20,339 313.0 13,500 101.2
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 51,564 88.2 97,406 166.7 45,842 41.7
Notes: Poverty status is not determined for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children) or for persons lacking conventional housing. 2. Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau's pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for North Dakota and Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. Data for the United States and the rest of the states are from 2011 ACS.
Sources: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), various years (see Note 2 above); 2000 Decennial Census; Steven Ruggles, J. Trent Alexander, Katie Genadek, Ronald Goeken, Matthew B. Schroeder, and Matthew Sobek. Integrated Public Use Microdata Series: Version 5.0 [Machine-readable database]. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 2011.

For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

Table 2. Income and Poverty Characteristics of the Population in Missouri, 2011
POVERTY STATUS BY CITIZENSHIP
Household Population of Missouri for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 5,831,530
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 15.8
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 19.9
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 64.4
Native Born 5,594,775
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 15.5
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 19.7
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 64.8
Foreign Born 236,755
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 22.8
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 22.6
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 54.6
Noncitizen 137,053
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 30.8
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 25.1
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 44.0
Naturalized Citizen 99,702
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 11.9
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 19.1
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 69.0
EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Missouri Age 16 And Older with Earnings, 2011 1,908,880
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.5
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4.7
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 16.7
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19.0
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 22.4
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 19.4
Earned $75,000 or more 15.4
Native Born 1,813,505
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.5
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4.6
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 16.3
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 22.6
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 19.8
Earned $75,000 or more 15.3
Foreign Born 95,375
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3.3
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 5.8
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 24.5
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19.5
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 17.8
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 11.9
Earned $75,000 or more 17.1
Noncitizen 50,948
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3.7
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 7.1
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 29.8
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 16.2
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 9.9
Earned $75,000 or more 14.3
Naturalized Citizen 44,427
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.9
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4.4
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 18.5
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 20.1
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 19.6
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 14.2
Earned $75,000 or more 20.3
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Missouri, 2011  
Male $43,146
Female $33,865
Native Born  
Male $43,776
Female $34,135
Foreign Born  
Male $35,869
Female $28,754
Noncitizen  
Male $31,440
Female $24,652
Naturalized Citizen  
Male $40,998
Female $32,468
SHARE OF FAMILIES IN POVERTY BY CITIZENSHIP AND FAMILY TYPE
All Families (Among Those for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined) 11.5
With related children under age 18 18.7
With related children under age 5 only 21.6
Married-couple families 5.1
With related children under age 18 7.6
With related children under age 5 only 7.4
Families with female householder, no husband present 34.0
With related children under age 18 42.5
With related children under age 5 only 54.3
Native-Born Families 11.0
With related children under age 18 18.2
With related children under age 5 only 21.4
Married-couple families 4.6
With related children under age 18 6.6
With related children under age 5 only 6.3
Families with female householder, no husband present 33.6
With related children under age 18 42.2
With related children under age 5 only 54.0
Foreign-Born Families 20.5
With related children under age 18 26.5
With related children under age 5 only 23.4
Married-couple families 14.8
With related children under age 18 20.6
With related children under age 5 only 19.4
Families with female householder, no husband present 45.3
With related children under age 18 53.4
With related children under age 5 only 62.1
Noncitizen 30.3
With related children under age 18 35.3
With related children under age 5 only 29.3
Married-couple families 23.3
With related children under age 18 28.3
With related children under age 5 only 24.0
Families with female householder, no husband present 56.5
With related children under age 18 60.1
With related children under age 5 only 64.6
Naturalized Citizen 10.4
With related children under age 18 14.7
With related children under age 5 only N
Married-couple families 7.3
With related children under age 18 11.8
With related children under age 5 only N
Families with female householder, no husband present 28.7
With related children under age 18 37.7
With related children under 5 age only N
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS BY PERIOD OF ENTRY
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round, Foreign-Born Workers in Missouri, 2011  
Male $35,869
Female $28,754
Entered the United States in 2000 or Later  
Male $31,798
Female $23,385
Entered the United States between 1990 and 1999  
Male $36,582
Female $31,023
Entered the United States before 1990  
Male $38,284
Female $33,868
FOREIGN BORN IN POVERTY BY WORLD REGION OF BIRTH
Born in Africa N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Asia 84,780
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 19.3
Born in Europe 49,549
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 12.2
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 73,667
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 32
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Oceania N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Note: 1. Poverty status is not determined for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children) or for persons lacking conventional housing.

2. Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau's pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for North Dakota and Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. Data for the United States and the rest of the states are from 2011 ACS.

The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), different years.

For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

Table 3. Poverty Status of Residents in Missouri by Language Spoken at Home, 2011
 
Number
Percent
Household Population of Missouri for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined, Age 5 and Older 5,455,573 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 820,551 15.0
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 4,635,022 85.0
Speaks Only English 5,105,274 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 737,419 14.4
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 4,367,855 85.6
Speaks Spanish 147,807 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 39,490 26.7
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 108,317 73.3
Speaks Other Indo-European Languages 109,648 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 23,728 21.6
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 85,920 78.4
Speaks Asian or Pacific Island Languages 64,359 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 11,491 17.9
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 52,868 82.1
Speaks Other Languages 28,485 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 8,423 29.6
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 20,062 70.4
Note: Poverty status is not determined for unrelated individuals under the age of 15 (such as foster children) or for persons lacking conventional housing.

The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey.
For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

For data on these topics, click on the link: