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SOUTH CAROLINA
Income & Poverty

Other facts sheets for South Carolina:

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

Rankings
The following shows South Carolina'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: 29 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 27 out of 51
Numeric change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 26 out of 51
Percent change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 10 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 South Carolina in 2011, 42.7 percent of foreign-born workers earned less than $25,000 a year and 26.1 percent earned $50,000 or more.
In South Carolina in 2011, 9.7 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; 51.1 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 13.1 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 26.1 percent earned $50,000 or more. In comparison, 7.2 percent of full-time, year-round, native-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 38.8 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 22.3 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 31.7 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 $30,291 compared to $26,749 for female immigrant workers.
Among full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers in South Carolina in 2011, median earnings over the previous 12 months were $26,749 for women and $30,291 for men. The median earnings of noncitizen women were $20,386 and those of noncitizen men were $25,078. In comparison, naturalized-citizen women had median earnings of $32,409 and naturalized-citizen men $46,323. Among full-time, year-round, native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $31,507 for women and $41,895 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 South Carolina living below the federal poverty threshold changed by 104.5 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the foreign-born population living in poverty went from 22,210 to 45,410, representing a change of 104.5 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population living in poverty changed from 5,250 to 22,210 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 323.0 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, 21.0 percent of the foreign-born population lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 21.0 percent of South Carolina's immigrant population lived below the poverty threshold, compared with 19.2 percent in 2000 and 11.4 percent in 1990. Meanwhile, 18.8 percent of the native-born population in South Carolina 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 South Carolina, 26.3 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 10.6 percent of naturalized citizens.

Of the foreign-born population in South Carolina in 2011, 26.3 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty, compared to 10.6 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 South Carolina, 22.6 percent of all foreign-born families lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 22.6 percent of all families headed by an immigrant had incomes below the poverty threshold. At the same time, 34.5 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 (27.5 versus 62.3 percent).

In comparison, 13.8 percent of all families headed by a native-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold, as did 22.3 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 (8.0 versus 46.8 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 South Carolina, 31.9 percent of persons who spoke Spanish at home lived in poverty, compared to 11.1 percent of persons who spoke Asian or Pacific Island languages, and 12.6 percent of persons who spoke other Indo-European languages.
Of both native and foreign-born persons in South Carolina in 2011, 17.4 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 31.9 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 12.6 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 11.1 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 12.6 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 South Carolina, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Household Population of South Carolina for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 3,364,914 100.0 3,895,682 100.0 4,538,298 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 524,199 15.6 549,839 14.1 856,938 18.9
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 353,283 10.5 360,852 9.3 508,158 11.2
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 2,487,432 73.9 2,984,991 76.6 3,173,202 69.9
Native Born 3,319,047 100.0 3,779,843 100.0 4,321,818 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 518,949 15.6 527,629 14.0 811,528 18.8
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 349,899 10.5 348,531 9.2 476,341 11.0
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 2,450,199 73.8 2,903,683 76.8 3,033,949 70.2
Foreign Born 45,867 100.0 115,839 100.0 216,480 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 5,250 11.4 22,210 19.2 45,410 21.0
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 3,384 7.4 12,321 10.6 31,817 14.7
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 37,233 81.2 81,308 70.2 139,253 64.3
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Household Population of South Carolina for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 530,768 15.8 1,173,384 34.9 642,616 16.5
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 25,640 4.9 332,739 63.5 307,099 55.9
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 7,569 2.1 154,875 43.8 147,306 40.8
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 497,559 20.0 685,770 27.6 188,211 6.3
Native Born 460,796 13.9 1,002,771 30.2 541,975 14.3
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 8,680 1.7 292,579 56.4 283,899 53.8
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level -1,368 -0.4 126,442 36.1 127,810 36.7
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 453,484 18.5 583,750 23.8 130,266 4.5
Foreign Born 69,972 152.6 170,613 372.0 100,641 86.9
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 16,960 323.0 40,160 765.0 23,200 104.5
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 8,937 264.1 28,433 840.2 19,496 158.2
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 44,075 118.4 102,020 274.0 57,945 71.3
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 South Carolina, 2011
POVERTY STATUS BY CITIZENSHIP
Household Population of South Carolina for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 4,538,298
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 18.9
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 21.9
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 59.2
Native Born 4,321,818
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 18.8
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 21.7
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 59.6
Foreign Born 216,480
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 21.0
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 27.6
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 51.4
Noncitizen 142,808
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 26.3
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 34.6
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 39.1
Naturalized Citizen 73,672
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 10.6
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 14.2
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 75.1
EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in South Carolina Age 16 And Older with Earnings, 2011 1,395,210
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.3
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 5
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 19.2
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 20.3
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 21.7
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 18.4
Earned $75,000 or more 12.9
Native Born 1,308,579
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.2
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 5
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 18.3
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 20.5
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 22.3
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 18.9
Earned $75,000 or more 12.8
Foreign Born 86,631
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3.6
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 6.1
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 33
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 18.1
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 13.1
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 11.6
Earned $75,000 or more 14.5
Noncitizen 52,301
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 4.7
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 6.6
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 42.8
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 17.2
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 10.1
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 7.6
Earned $75,000 or more 11
Naturalized Citizen 34,330
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 5.3
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 18.1
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19.3
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 17.7
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 17.8
Earned $75,000 or more 19.8
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in South Carolina, 2011  
Male $41,464
Female $31,330
Native Born  
Male $41,895
Female $31,507
Foreign Born  
Male $30,291
Female $26,749
Noncitizen  
Male $25,078
Female $20,386
Naturalized Citizen  
Male $46,323
Female $32,409
SHARE OF FAMILIES IN POVERTY BY CITIZENSHIP AND FAMILY TYPE
All Families (Among Those for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined) 14.3
With related children under age 18 23.1
With related children under age 5 only 24.4
Married-couple families 6.1
With related children under age 18 9.7
With related children under age 5 only 8.3
Families with female householder, no husband present 38.5
With related children under age 18 47.4
With related children under age 5 only 54.8
Native-Born Families 13.8
With related children under age 18 22.3
With related children under age 5 only 24.3
Married-couple families 5.4
With related children under age 18 8.0
With related children under age 5 only 7.2
Families with female householder, no husband present 38.0
With related children under age 18 46.8
With related children under age 5 only 55.4
Foreign-Born Families 22.6
With related children under age 18 34.5
With related children under age 5 only 26.1
Married-couple families 17.4
With related children under age 18 27.5
With related children under age 5 only 20.4
Families with female householder, no husband present 52.4
With related children under age 18 62.3
With related children under age 5 only 40.8
Noncitizen 31.0
With related children under age 18 40.7
With related children under age 5 only 32.8
Married-couple families 24.8
With related children under age 18 32.4
With related children under age 5 only 27.7
Families with female householder, no husband present 67.6
With related children under age 18 72.2
With related children under age 5 only 44.9
Naturalized Citizen 11.6
With related children under age 18 21.3
With related children under age 5 only N
Married-couple families 9.7
With related children under age 18 19.5
With related children under age 5 only N
Families with female householder, no husband present 22.5
With related children under age 18 22.6
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 South Carolina, 2011  
Male $30,291
Female $26,749
Entered the United States in 2000 or Later  
Male $23,758
Female $24,157
Entered the United States between 1990 and 1999  
Male $31,443
Female $24,909
Entered the United States before 1990  
Male $42,003
Female $31,198
FOREIGN BORN IN POVERTY BY WORLD REGION OF BIRTH
Born in Africa N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Asia 46,123
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 9.6
Born in Europe 36,328
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 10.4
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 116,491
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 31.3
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 South Carolina by Language Spoken at Home, 2011
 
Number
Percent
Household Population of South Carolina for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined, Age 5 and Older 4,238,932 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 758,620 17.9
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 3,480,312 82.1
Speaks Only English 3,959,327 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 688,848 17.4
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 3,270,479 82.6
Speaks Spanish 182,071 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 57,999 31.9
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 124,072 68.1
Speaks Other Indo-European Languages 54,815 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 6,926 12.6
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 47,889 87.4
Speaks Asian or Pacific Island Languages 36,848 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 4,105 11.1
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 32,743 88.9
Speaks Other Languages 5,871 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 742 12.6
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 5,129 87.4
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: