For data on these topics, click on the link:

Return to the US map
Print Page Print | Email Page Email | Bookmark page Bookmark

FLORIDA
Income & Poverty

Other facts sheets for Florida:

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

Rankings
The following shows Florida'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: 4 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 30 out of 51
Numeric change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 2 out of 51
Percent change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 28 out of 51

Data Highlights
For data on these topics, click on the link:

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 Florida in 2011, 38.6 percent of foreign-born workers earned less than $25,000 a year and 25.7 percent earned $50,000 or more.
In Florida in 2011, 11.8 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; 46.1 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 16.4 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 25.7 percent earned $50,000 or more. In comparison, 6.3 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; 22.2 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 36.1 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 $31,919 compared to $27,899 for female immigrant workers.
Among full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers in Florida in 2011, median earnings over the previous 12 months were $27,899 for women and $31,919 for men. The median earnings of noncitizen women were $21,680 and those of noncitizen men were $25,461. In comparison, naturalized-citizen women had median earnings of $33,077 and naturalized-citizen men $41,454. Among full-time, year-round, native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $35,680 for women and $43,703 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 Florida living below the federal poverty threshold changed by 64.3 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the foreign-born population living in poverty went from 452,334 to 743,139, representing a change of 64.3 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population living in poverty changed from 278,471 to 452,334 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 62.4 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, 20.3 percent of the foreign-born population lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 20.3 percent of Florida's immigrant population lived below the poverty threshold, compared with 17.1 percent in 2000 and 17.1 percent in 1990. Meanwhile, 16.2 percent of the native-born population in Florida 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 Florida, 26.6 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 13.9 percent of naturalized citizens.

Of the foreign-born population in Florida in 2011, 26.6 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty, compared to 13.9 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 Florida, 18.1 percent of all foreign-born families lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 18.1 percent of all families headed by an immigrant had incomes below the poverty threshold. At the same time, 25.6 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 families consisting of a female and children under 18 with no husband present (18.3 versus 42.5 percent).

In comparison, 10.6 percent of all families headed by a native-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold, as did 18.3 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 (7.6 versus 36.5 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 Florida, 21.9 percent of persons who spoke Spanish at home lived in poverty, compared to 13.0 percent of persons who spoke Asian or Pacific Island languages, and 21.2 percent of persons who spoke other Indo-European languages.
Of both native and foreign-born persons in Florida in 2011, 14.4 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 21.9 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 21.2 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 13.0 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 22.8 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 Florida, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Household Population of Florida for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 12,618,337 100.0 15,665,486 100.0 18,652,057 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 1,586,808 12.6 1,970,094 12.6 3,173,456 17.0
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 1,160,749 9.2 1,404,425 9.0 2,085,107 11.2
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 9,870,780 78.2 12,290,967 78.5 13,393,494 71.8
Native Born 10,994,231 100.0 13,020,829 100.0 14,985,411 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 1,308,337 11.9 1,517,760 11.7 2,430,317 16.2
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 958,273 8.7 1,099,024 8.4 1,544,626 10.3
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 8,727,621 79.4 10,404,045 79.9 11,010,468 73.5
Foreign Born 1,624,106 100.0 2,644,657 100.0 3,666,646 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 278,471 17.1 452,334 17.1 743,139 20.3
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 202,476 12.5 305,401 11.5 540,481 14.7
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 1,143,159 70.4 1,886,922 71.3 2,383,026 65.0
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Household Population of Florida for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 3,047,149 24.1 6,033,720 47.8 2,986,571 19.1
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 383,286 24.2 1,586,648 100.0 1,203,362 61.1
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 243,676 21.0 924,358 79.6 680,682 48.5
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 2,420,187 24.5 3,522,714 35.7 1,102,527 9.0
Native Born 2,026,598 18.4 3,991,180 36.3 1,964,582 15.1
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 209,423 16.0 1,121,980 85.8 912,557 60.1
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 140,751 14.7 586,353 61.2 445,602 40.5
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 1,676,424 19.2 2,282,847 26.2 606,423 5.8
Foreign Born 1,020,551 62.8 2,042,540 125.8 1,021,989 38.6
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 173,863 62.4 464,668 166.9 290,805 64.3
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 102,925 50.8 338,005 166.9 235,080 77.0
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 743,763 65.1 1,239,867 108.5 496,104 26.3
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 Florida, 2011
POVERTY STATUS BY CITIZENSHIP
Household Population of Florida for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 18,652,057
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 17.0
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 21.8
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 61.2
Native Born 14,985,411
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 16.2
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 20.5
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 63.3
Foreign Born 3,666,646
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 20.3
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 27.4
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 52.3
Noncitizen 1,840,820
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 26.6
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 31.6
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 41.7
Naturalized Citizen 1,825,826
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 13.9
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 23.1
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 63.0
EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Florida Age 16 And Older with Earnings, 2011 5,660,323
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.3
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 5.4
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 18.7
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19.3
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 20.8
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 18.2
Earned $75,000 or more 15.3
Native Born 4,237,597
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.1
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4.2
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 16
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19.3
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 22.2
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 19.6
Earned $75,000 or more 16.5
Foreign Born 1,422,726
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.8
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 9
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 26.8
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19.3
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 16.4
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 13.9
Earned $75,000 or more 11.8
Noncitizen 661,185
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3.7
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 13
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 35.8
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 12.5
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 8.9
Earned $75,000 or more 7
Naturalized Citizen 761,541
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 5.5
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 19
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19.4
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 19.8
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 18.3
Earned $75,000 or more 16
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Florida, 2011  
Male $40,951
Female $33,823
Native Born  
Male $43,703
Female $35,680
Foreign Born  
Male $31,919
Female $27,899
Noncitizen  
Male $25,461
Female $21,680
Naturalized Citizen  
Male $41,454
Female $33,077
SHARE OF FAMILIES IN POVERTY BY CITIZENSHIP AND FAMILY TYPE
All Families (Among Those for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined) 12.4
With related children under age 18 20.4
With related children under age 5 only 19.9
Married-couple families 6.9
With related children under age 18 10.8
With related children under age 5 only 9.0
Families with female householder, no husband present 28.9
With related children under age 18 37.9
With related children under age 5 only 41.8
Native-Born Families 10.6
With related children under age 18 18.3
With related children under age 5 only 18.0
Married-couple families 5.0
With related children under age 18 7.6
With related children under age 5 only 5.6
Families with female householder, no husband present 28.0
With related children under age 18 36.5
With related children under age 5 only 40.4
Foreign-Born Families 18.1
With related children under age 18 25.6
With related children under age 5 only 25.2
Married-couple families 13.4
With related children under age 18 18.3
With related children under age 5 only 17.5
Families with female householder, no husband present 31.5
With related children under age 18 42.5
With related children under age 5 only 46.5
Noncitizen 27.5
With related children under age 18 35.9
With related children under age 5 only 33.0
Married-couple families 21.1
With related children under age 18 27.6
With related children under age 5 only 25.2
Families with female householder, no husband present 45.5
With related children under age 18 55.2
With related children under age 5 only 54.1
Naturalized Citizen 11.8
With related children under age 18 16.3
With related children under age 5 only 15.3
Married-couple families 8.7
With related children under age 18 10.7
With related children under age 5 only 9.1
Families with female householder, no husband present 20.9
With related children under age 18 29.7
With related children under 5 age only 34.5
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS BY PERIOD OF ENTRY
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round, Foreign-Born Workers in Florida, 2011  
Male $31,919
Female $27,899
Entered the United States in 2000 or Later  
Male $24,919
Female $22,330
Entered the United States between 1990 and 1999  
Male $32,359
Female $26,662
Entered the United States before 1990  
Male $40,296
Female $34,613
FOREIGN BORN IN POVERTY BY WORLD REGION OF BIRTH
Born in Africa N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Asia 365,677
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 12.8
Born in Europe 381,152
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 11.3
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 2,750,496
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 22.8
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 Florida by Language Spoken at Home, 2011
 
Number
Percent
Household Population of Florida for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined, Age 5 and Older 17,589,816 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 2,874,564 16.3
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 14,715,252 83.7
Speaks Only English 12,701,865 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 1,833,423 14.4
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 10,868,442 85.6
Speaks Spanish 3,595,947 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 786,656 21.9
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 2,809,291 78.1
Speaks Other Indo-European Languages 930,745 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 197,749 21.2
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 732,996 78.8
Speaks Asian or Pacific Island Languages 261,024 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 33,875 13.0
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 227,149 87.0
Speaks Other Languages 100,235 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 22,861 22.8
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 77,374 77.2
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: