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ILLINOIS
Income & Poverty

Other facts sheets for Illinois:

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

Rankings
The following shows Illinois' 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: 5 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 40 out of 51
Numeric change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 6 out of 51
Percent change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 38 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 Illinois in 2011, 30.8 percent of foreign-born workers earned less than $25,000 a year and 31.4 percent earned $50,000 or more.
In Illinois in 2011, 7.3 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; 43.7 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 17.6 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 31.4 percent earned $50,000 or more. In comparison, 4.8 percent of full-time, year-round, native-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 26.9 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 20.7 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 47.6 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 $36,455 compared to $31,009 for female immigrant workers.
Among full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers in Illinois in 2011, median earnings over the previous 12 months were $31,009 for women and $36,455 for men. The median earnings of noncitizen women were $23,609 and those of noncitizen men were $28,837. In comparison, naturalized-citizen women had median earnings of $36,462 and naturalized-citizen men $48,057. Among full-time, year-round, native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $40,747 for women and $53,271 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 Illinois living below the federal poverty threshold changed by 50.0 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the foreign-born population living in poverty went from 197,431 to 296,212, representing a change of 50.0 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population living in poverty changed from 124,530 to 197,431 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 58.5 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, 16.7 percent of the foreign-born population lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 16.7 percent of Illinois' immigrant population lived below the poverty threshold, compared with 13.0 percent in 2000 and 13.4 percent in 1990. Meanwhile, 14.7 percent of the native-born population in Illinois 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 Illinois, 23.5 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 8.9 percent of naturalized citizens.

Of the foreign-born population in Illinois in 2011, 23.5 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty, compared to 8.9 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 Illinois, 14.7 percent of all foreign-born families lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 14.7 percent of all families headed by an immigrant had incomes below the poverty threshold. At the same time, 19.6 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 (15.3 versus 40.9 percent).

In comparison, 10.1 percent of all families headed by a native-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold, as did 16.9 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 (5.5 versus 41.2 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 Illinois, 21.8 percent of persons who spoke Spanish at home lived in poverty, compared to 12.9 percent of persons who spoke Asian or Pacific Island languages, and 9.8 percent of persons who spoke other Indo-European languages.
Of both native and foreign-born persons in Illinois in 2011, 13.2 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 21.8 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 9.8 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 12.9 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 22.5 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 Illinois, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Household Population of Illinois for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 11,110,104 100.0 12,137,927 100.0 12,566,914 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 1,320,039 11.9 1,322,838 10.9 1,879,965 15.0
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 766,791 6.9 846,941 7.0 1,160,270 9.2
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 9,023,274 81.2 9,968,148 82.1 9,526,679 75.8
Native Born 10,183,200 100.0 10,617,035 100.0 10,791,145 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 1,195,509 11.7 1,125,407 10.6 1,583,753 14.7
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 670,389 6.6 699,678 6.6 930,825 8.6
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 8,317,302 81.7 8,791,950 82.8 8,276,567 76.7
Foreign Born 926,904 100.0 1,520,892 100.0 1,775,769 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 124,530 13.4 197,431 13.0 296,212 16.7
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 96,402 10.4 147,263 9.7 229,445 12.9
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 705,972 76.2 1,176,198 77.3 1,250,112 70.4
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Household Population of Illinois for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 1,027,823 9.3 1,456,810 13.1 428,987 3.5
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 2,799 0.2 559,926 42.4 557,127 42.1
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 80,150 10.5 393,479 51.3 313,329 37.0
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 944,874 10.5 503,405 5.6 -441,469 -4.4
Native Born 433,835 4.3 607,945 6.0 174,110 1.6
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -70,102 -5.9 388,244 32.5 458,346 40.7
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 29,289 4.4 260,436 38.8 231,147 33.0
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 474,648 5.7 -40,735 -0.5 -515,383 -5.9
Foreign Born 593,988 64.1 848,865 91.6 254,877 16.8
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 72,901 58.5 171,682 137.9 98,781 50.0
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 50,861 52.8 133,043 138.0 82,182 55.8
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 470,226 66.6 544,140 77.1 73,914 6.3
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 Illinois, 2011
POVERTY STATUS BY CITIZENSHIP
Household Population of Illinois for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 12,566,914
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 15.0
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 17.9
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 67.2
Native Born 10,791,145
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 14.7
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 16.7
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 68.6
Foreign Born 1,775,769
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 16.7
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 25.0
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 58.3
Noncitizen 947,223
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 23.5
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 30.7
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 45.8
Naturalized Citizen 828,546
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 8.9
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 18.5
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 72.6
EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Illinois Age 16 And Older with Earnings, 2011 4,083,418
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.7
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 3.6
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 14.1
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 15.9
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 20.2
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 22.4
Earned $75,000 or more 22.2
Native Born 3,327,899
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.6
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 3.2
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 12
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 14.9
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 20.7
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 23.9
Earned $75,000 or more 23.7
Foreign Born 755,519
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.1
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 5.2
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 23.5
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 20.2
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 17.6
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 15.8
Earned $75,000 or more 15.6
Noncitizen 370,236
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.5
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 8.1
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 33.8
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 21.2
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 14.4
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 10.2
Earned $75,000 or more 9.9
Naturalized Citizen 385,283
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.7
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 2.5
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 13.6
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19.2
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 20.7
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 21.1
Earned $75,000 or more 21
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Illinois, 2011  
Male $50,746
Female $39,150
Native Born  
Male $53,271
Female $40,747
Foreign Born  
Male $36,455
Female $31,009
Noncitizen  
Male $28,837
Female $23,609
Naturalized Citizen  
Male $48,057
Female $36,462
SHARE OF FAMILIES IN POVERTY BY CITIZENSHIP AND FAMILY TYPE
All Families (Among Those for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined) 11.0
With related children under age 18 17.5
With related children under age 5 only 17.3
Married-couple families 5.1
With related children under age 18 8.0
With related children under age 5 only 5.4
Families with female householder, no husband present 31.0
With related children under age 18 41.2
With related children under age 5 only 47.3
Native-Born Families 10.1
With related children under age 18 16.9
With related children under age 5 only 17.2
Married-couple families 3.6
With related children under age 18 5.5
With related children under age 5 only 3.3
Families with female householder, no husband present 31.2
With related children under age 18 41.2
With related children under age 5 only 47.7
Foreign-Born Families 14.7
With related children under age 18 19.6
With related children under age 5 only 17.4
Married-couple families 11.8
With related children under age 18 15.3
With related children under age 5 only 12.7
Families with female householder, no husband present 30.0
With related children under age 18 40.9
With related children under age 5 only 43.9
Noncitizen 23.9
With related children under age 18 29.0
With related children under age 5 only 22.6
Married-couple families 20.2
With related children under age 18 24.3
With related children under age 5 only 16.9
Families with female householder, no husband present 46.1
With related children under age 18 52.9
With related children under age 5 only 59.7
Naturalized Citizen 7.4
With related children under age 18 9.2
With related children under age 5 only 11.0
Married-couple families 5.8
With related children under age 18 6.4
With related children under age 5 only 8.2
Families with female householder, no husband present 15.7
With related children under age 18 24.7
With related children under 5 age only 28.6
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS BY PERIOD OF ENTRY
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round, Foreign-Born Workers in Illinois, 2011  
Male $36,455
Female $31,009
Entered the United States in 2000 or Later  
Male $29,718
Female $26,355
Entered the United States between 1990 and 1999  
Male $34,126
Female $30,905
Entered the United States before 1990  
Male $44,115
Female $33,926
FOREIGN BORN IN POVERTY BY WORLD REGION OF BIRTH
Born in Africa N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Asia 485,222
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 14.7
Born in Europe 367,911
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 9.3
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 850,214
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 21.2
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 Illinois by Language Spoken at Home, 2011
 
Number
Percent
Household Population of Illinois for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined, Age 5 and Older 11,752,009 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 1,679,718 14.3
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 10,072,291 85.7
Speaks Only English 9,064,094 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 1,199,288 13.2
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 7,864,806 86.8
Speaks Spanish 1,593,885 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 347,794 21.8
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 1,246,091 78.2
Speaks Other Indo-European Languages 652,501 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 63,877 9.8
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 588,624 90.2
Speaks Asian or Pacific Island Languages 318,072 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 41,019 12.9
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 277,053 87.1
Speaks Other Languages 123,457 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 27,740 22.5
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 95,717 77.5
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: