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INDIANA
Income & Poverty

Other facts sheets for Indiana:

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

Rankings
The following shows Indiana'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: 21 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 6 out of 51
Numeric change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 13 out of 51
Percent change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 1 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 Indiana in 2011, 36.8 percent of foreign-born workers earned less than $25,000 a year and 27.7 percent earned $50,000 or more.
In Indiana in 2011, 8.6 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; 47.7 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 16 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 27.7 percent earned $50,000 or more. In comparison, 5.4 percent of full-time, year-round, native-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 34.6 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 23.1 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 36.9 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 $33,053 compared to $27,641 for female immigrant workers.
Among full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers in Indiana in 2011, median earnings over the previous 12 months were $27,641 for women and $33,053 for men. The median earnings of noncitizen women were $21,849 and those of noncitizen men were $27,487. In comparison, naturalized-citizen women had median earnings of $33,002 and naturalized-citizen men $44,551. Among full-time, year-round, native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $34,361 for women and $45,842 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 Indiana living below the federal poverty threshold changed by 161.9 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the foreign-born population living in poverty went from 29,314 to 76,771, representing a change of 161.9 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population living in poverty changed from 11,922 to 29,314 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 145.9 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, 25.7 percent of the foreign-born population lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 25.7 percent of Indiana's immigrant population lived below the poverty threshold, compared with 15.7 percent in 2000 and 13.0 percent in 1990. Meanwhile, 15.5 percent of the native-born population in Indiana 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 Indiana, 33.2 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 12.1 percent of naturalized citizens.

Of the foreign-born population in Indiana in 2011, 33.2 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty, compared to 12.1 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 Indiana, 24.6 percent of all foreign-born families lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 24.6 percent of all families headed by an immigrant had incomes below the poverty threshold. At the same time, 30.9 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 (21.5 versus 59.1 percent).

In comparison, 11.0 percent of all families headed by a native-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold, as did 18.5 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 (6.3 versus 44.1 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 Indiana, 33.1 percent of persons who spoke Spanish at home lived in poverty, compared to 23.8 percent of persons who spoke Asian or Pacific Island languages, and 10.2 percent of persons who spoke other Indo-European languages.
Of both native and foreign-born persons in Indiana in 2011, 14.3 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 33.1 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 10.2 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 23.8 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 37.2 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 Indiana, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Household Population of Indiana for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 5,386,194 100.0 5,919,900 100.0 6,318,942 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 587,080 10.9 572,465 9.7 1,011,017 16.0
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 444,847 8.3 447,532 7.6 606,759 9.6
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 4,354,267 80.8 4,899,903 82.8 4,701,166 74.4
Native Born 5,294,819 100.0 5,733,295 100.0 6,020,123 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 575,158 10.9 543,151 9.5 934,246 15.5
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 437,201 8.3 430,657 7.5 565,543 9.4
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 4,282,460 80.9 4,759,487 83.0 4,520,334 75.1
Foreign Born 91,375 100.0 186,605 100.0 298,819 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 11,922 13.0 29,314 15.7 76,771 25.7
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 7,646 8.4 16,875 9.0 41,216 13.8
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 71,807 78.6 140,416 75.2 180,832 60.5
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Household Population of Indiana for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 533,706 9.9 932,748 17.3 399,042 6.7
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -14,615 -2.5 423,937 72.2 438,552 76.6
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 2,685 0.6 161,912 36.4 159,227 35.6
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 545,636 12.5 346,899 8.0 -198,737 -4.1
Native Born 438,476 8.3 725,304 13.7 286,828 5.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -32,007 -5.6 359,088 62.4 391,095 72.0
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level -6,544 -1.5 128,342 29.4 134,886 31.3
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 477,027 11.1 237,874 5.6 -239,153 -5.0
Foreign Born 95,230 104.2 207,444 227.0 112,214 60.1
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 17,392 145.9 64,849 543.9 47,457 161.9
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 9,229 120.7 33,570 439.1 24,341 144.2
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 68,609 95.5 109,025 151.8 40,416 28.8
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 Indiana, 2011
POVERTY STATUS BY CITIZENSHIP
Household Population of Indiana for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 6,318,942
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 16.0
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 19.5
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 64.5
Native Born 6,020,123
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 15.5
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 19.2
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 65.3
Foreign Born 298,819
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 25.7
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 24.8
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 49.6
Noncitizen 193,091
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 33.2
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 27.4
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 39.4
Naturalized Citizen 105,728
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 12.1
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 19.9
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 68.0
EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Indiana Age 16 And Older with Earnings, 2011 1,998,763
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.9
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 3.7
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 15.2
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 20.1
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 22.7
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 21.9
Earned $75,000 or more 14.5
Native Born 1,886,167
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.9
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 3.5
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 14.5
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 20.1
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 23.1
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 22.4
Earned $75,000 or more 14.5
Foreign Born 112,596
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.6
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 7
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 28.2
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19.5
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 16
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 13.5
Earned $75,000 or more 14.2
Noncitizen 70,502
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.8
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 9.5
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 33.5
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19.6
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 13.9
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 12.2
Earned $75,000 or more 9.4
Naturalized Citizen 42,094
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.3
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 2.8
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 19.2
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19.3
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 19.6
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 15.7
Earned $75,000 or more 22.2
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Indiana, 2011  
Male $45,183
Female $34,023
Native Born  
Male $45,842
Female $34,361
Foreign Born  
Male $33,053
Female $27,641
Noncitizen  
Male $27,487
Female $21,849
Naturalized Citizen  
Male $44,551
Female $33,002
SHARE OF FAMILIES IN POVERTY BY CITIZENSHIP AND FAMILY TYPE
All Families (Among Those for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined) 11.7
With related children under age 18 19.4
With related children under age 5 only 21.1
Married-couple families 5.0
With related children under age 18 7.5
With related children under age 5 only 6.0
Families with female householder, no husband present 35.2
With related children under age 18 44.9
With related children under age 5 only 54.6
Native-Born Families 11.0
With related children under age 18 18.5
With related children under age 5 only 20.5
Married-couple families 4.3
With related children under age 18 6.3
With related children under age 5 only 5.1
Families with female householder, no husband present 34.4
With related children under age 18 44.1
With related children under age 5 only 53.3
Foreign-Born Families 24.6
With related children under age 18 30.9
With related children under age 5 only 27.2
Married-couple families 17.9
With related children under age 18 21.5
With related children under age 5 only 15.4
Families with female householder, no husband present 51.5
With related children under age 18 59.1
With related children under age 5 only 77.1
Noncitizen 33.7
With related children under age 18 38.6
With related children under age 5 only 29.1
Married-couple families 26.0
With related children under age 18 28.1
With related children under age 5 only 20.4
Families with female householder, no husband present 62.5
With related children under age 18 66.3
With related children under age 5 only 79.5
Naturalized Citizen 11.2
With related children under age 18 15.6
With related children under age 5 only 21.5
Married-couple families 8.0
With related children under age 18 11.2
With related children under age 5 only N
Families with female householder, no husband present 27.8
With related children under age 18 34.0
With related children under 5 age only 72.0
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS BY PERIOD OF ENTRY
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round, Foreign-Born Workers in Indiana, 2011  
Male $33,053
Female $27,641
Entered the United States in 2000 or Later  
Male $26,899
Female $22,637
Entered the United States between 1990 and 1999  
Male $34,321
Female $26,532
Entered the United States before 1990  
Male $41,820
Female $35,434
FOREIGN BORN IN POVERTY BY WORLD REGION OF BIRTH
Born in Africa N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Asia 86,195
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 21.7
Born in Europe 43,040
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 10
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 144,971
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 34.1
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 Indiana by Language Spoken at Home, 2011
 
Number
Percent
Household Population of Indiana for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined, Age 5 and Older 5,898,811 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 898,857 15.2
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 4,999,954 84.8
Speaks Only English 5,410,814 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 772,060 14.3
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 4,638,754 85.7
Speaks Spanish 276,517 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 91,578 33.1
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 184,939 66.9
Speaks Other Indo-European Languages 131,682 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 13,374 10.2
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 118,308 89.8
Speaks Asian or Pacific Island Languages 58,276 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 13,842 23.8
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 44,434 76.2
Speaks Other Languages 21,522 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 8,003 37.2
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 13,519 62.8
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: