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MINNESOTA
Income & Poverty

Other facts sheets for Minnesota:

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

Rankings
The following shows Minnesota'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: 20 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 28 out of 51
Numeric change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 22 out of 51
Percent change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 35 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 Minnesota in 2011, 27.0 percent of foreign-born workers earned less than $25,000 a year and 32.6 percent earned $50,000 or more.
In Minnesota in 2011, 6.5 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; 42.8 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 18.2 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 32.6 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; 26.2 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 23.5 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 45.6 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 $36,831 compared to $32,478 for female immigrant workers.
Among full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers in Minnesota in 2011, median earnings over the previous 12 months were $32,478 for women and $36,831 for men. The median earnings of noncitizen women were $30,633 and those of noncitizen men were $32,084. In comparison, naturalized-citizen women had median earnings of $35,397 and naturalized-citizen men $43,416. Among full-time, year-round, native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $40,775 for women and $51,216 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 Minnesota living below the federal poverty threshold changed by 52.9 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the foreign-born population living in poverty went from 51,583 to 78,883, representing a change of 52.9 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population living in poverty changed from 27,746 to 51,583 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 85.9 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, 20.7 percent of the foreign-born population lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 20.7 percent of Minnesota's immigrant population lived below the poverty threshold, compared with 20.4 percent in 2000 and 25.4 percent in 1990. Meanwhile, 11.2 percent of the native-born population in Minnesota 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 Minnesota, 24.3 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 16.6 percent of naturalized citizens.

Of the foreign-born population in Minnesota in 2011, 24.3 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty, compared to 16.6 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 Minnesota, 18.4 percent of all foreign-born families lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 18.4 percent of all families headed by an immigrant had incomes below the poverty threshold. At the same time, 23.7 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 (17.6 versus 41.9 percent).

In comparison, 6.6 percent of all families headed by a native-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold, as did 11.2 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 (3.2 versus 34.5 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 Minnesota, 23.1 percent of persons who spoke Spanish at home lived in poverty, compared to 17.4 percent of persons who spoke Asian or Pacific Island languages, and 14.4 percent of persons who spoke other Indo-European languages.
Of both native and foreign-born persons in Minnesota in 2011, 10.1 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 23.1 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 14.4 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 17.4 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 38.2 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 Minnesota, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Household Population of Minnesota for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 4,248,953 100.0 4,802,805 100.0 5,222,556 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 434,724 10.2 391,870 8.2 621,970 11.9
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 306,815 7.2 301,916 6.3 401,407 7.7
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 3,507,414 82.5 4,109,019 85.6 4,199,179 80.4
Native Born 4,139,741 100.0 4,550,420 100.0 4,841,241 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 406,978 9.8 340,287 7.5 543,087 11.2
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 296,271 7.2 276,186 6.1 350,721 7.2
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 3,436,492 83.0 3,933,947 86.5 3,947,433 81.5
Foreign Born 109,212 100.0 252,385 100.0 381,315 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 27,746 25.4 51,583 20.4 78,883 20.7
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 10,544 9.7 25,730 10.2 50,686 13.3
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 70,922 64.9 175,072 69.4 251,746 66.0
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Household Population of Minnesota for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 553,852 13.0 973,603 22.9 419,751 8.7
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -42,854 -9.9 187,246 43.1 230,100 58.7
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level -4,899 -1.6 94,592 30.8 99,491 33.0
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 601,605 17.2 691,765 19.7 90,160 2.2
Native Born 410,679 9.9 701,500 16.9 290,821 6.4
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -66,691 -16.4 136,109 33.4 202,800 59.6
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level -20,085 -6.8 54,450 18.4 74,535 27.0
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 497,455 14.5 510,941 14.9 13,486 0.3
Foreign Born 143,173 131.1 272,103 249.2 128,930 51.1
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 23,837 85.9 51,137 184.3 27,300 52.9
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 15,186 144.0 40,142 380.7 24,956 97.0
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 104,150 146.9 180,824 255.0 76,674 43.8
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 Minnesota, 2011
POVERTY STATUS BY CITIZENSHIP
Household Population of Minnesota for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 5,222,556
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 11.9
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 15.7
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 72.4
Native Born 4,841,241
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 11.2
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 15.1
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 73.7
Foreign Born 381,315
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 20.7
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 24.0
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 55.3
Noncitizen 204,480
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 24.3
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 28.4
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 47.4
Naturalized Citizen 176,835
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 16.6
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 18.9
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 64.5
EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Minnesota Age 16 And Older with Earnings, 2011 1,799,050
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.8
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 3.1
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 11.2
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 16.5
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 23.0
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 23.7
Earned $75,000 or more 20.7
Native Born 1,648,797
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.8
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 3
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 10.3
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 15.9
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 23.5
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 24.6
Earned $75,000 or more 21
Foreign Born 150,253
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.8
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4.7
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 20.5
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 22.3
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 18.2
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 14.7
Earned $75,000 or more 17.9
Noncitizen 76,028
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.1
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 6.6
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 24.9
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 22.2
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 15.7
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 12
Earned $75,000 or more 16.5
Naturalized Citizen 74,225
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.6
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 2.7
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 15.9
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 22.3
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 20.8
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 17.5
Earned $75,000 or more 19.3
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Minnesota, 2011  
Male $50,580
Female $40,416
Native Born  
Male $51,216
Female $40,775
Foreign Born  
Male $36,831
Female $32,478
Noncitizen  
Male $32,084
Female $30,633
Naturalized Citizen  
Male $43,416
Female $35,397
SHARE OF FAMILIES IN POVERTY BY CITIZENSHIP AND FAMILY TYPE
All Families (Among Those for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined) 7.6
With related children under age 18 12.7
With related children under age 5 only 14.7
Married-couple families 3.2
With related children under age 18 4.9
With related children under age 5 only 3.8
Families with female householder, no husband present 27.8
With related children under age 18 35.4
With related children under age 5 only 49.3
Native-Born Families 6.6
With related children under age 18 11.2
With related children under age 5 only 14.1
Married-couple families 2.4
With related children under age 18 3.2
With related children under age 5 only 2.3
Families with female householder, no husband present 26.9
With related children under age 18 34.5
With related children under age 5 only 52.0
Foreign-Born Families 18.4
With related children under age 18 23.7
With related children under age 5 only 19.1
Married-couple families 13.6
With related children under age 18 17.6
With related children under age 5 only 14.7
Families with female householder, no husband present 35.1
With related children under age 18 41.9
With related children under age 5 only 34.3
Noncitizen 23.1
With related children under age 18 29.7
With related children under age 5 only 25.0
Married-couple families 18.7
With related children under age 18 23.2
With related children under age 5 only 19.9
Families with female householder, no husband present 39.8
With related children under age 18 47.3
With related children under age 5 only 42.4
Naturalized Citizen 13.9
With related children under age 18 17.2
With related children under age 5 only 10.7
Married-couple families 9.3
With related children under age 18 12.2
With related children under age 5 only 8.8
Families with female householder, no husband present 30.1
With related children under age 18 35.2
With related children under 5 age only 18.7
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS BY PERIOD OF ENTRY
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round, Foreign-Born Workers in Minnesota, 2011  
Male $36,831
Female $32,478
Entered the United States in 2000 or Later  
Male $31,803
Female $29,227
Entered the United States between 1990 and 1999  
Male $37,086
Female $32,793
Entered the United States before 1990  
Male $42,102
Female $37,474
FOREIGN BORN IN POVERTY BY WORLD REGION OF BIRTH
Born in Africa N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Asia 136,257
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 15.3
Born in Europe 43,445
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 13.9
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 107,449
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 21.9
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 Minnesota by Language Spoken at Home, 2011
 
Number
Percent
Household Population of Minnesota for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined, Age 5 and Older 4,874,445 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 557,858 11.4
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 4,316,587 88.6
Speaks Only English 4,346,719 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 440,824 10.1
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 3,905,895 89.9
Speaks Spanish 191,214 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 44,143 23.1
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 147,071 76.9
Speaks Other Indo-European Languages 105,963 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 15,228 14.4
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 90,735 85.6
Speaks Asian or Pacific Island Languages 146,183 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 25,428 17.4
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 120,755 82.6
Speaks Other Languages 84,366 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 32,235 38.2
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 52,131 61.8
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: