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NORTH DAKOTA
Income & Poverty

Other facts sheets for North Dakota:

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

Rankings
The following shows North Dakota'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: 48 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 2 out of 51
Numeric change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 45 out of 51
Percent change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 8 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 North Dakota in 2011, 29.0 percent of foreign-born workers earned less than $25,000 a year and 34.3 percent earned $50,000 or more.
In North Dakota in 2011, 12.1 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; 38.0 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 15.6 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 34.3 percent earned $50,000 or more. In comparison, 6.6 percent of full-time, year-round, native-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 38.1 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 23.4 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 31.8 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 $41,109 compared to $28,983 for female immigrant workers.
Among full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers in North Dakota in 2011, median earnings over the previous 12 months were $28,983 for women and $41,109 for men. The median earnings of noncitizen women were $27,476 and those of noncitizen men were $44,496. In comparison, naturalized-citizen women had median earnings of $29,808 and naturalized-citizen men $36,633. Among full-time, year-round, native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $31,462 for women and $43,159 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 North Dakota living below the federal poverty threshold changed by 112.8 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the foreign-born population living in poverty went from 2,081 to 4,429, representing a change of 112.8 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population living in poverty changed from 1,915 to 2,081 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 8.7 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, 27.8 percent of the foreign-born population lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 27.8 percent of North Dakota's immigrant population lived below the poverty threshold, compared with 18.1 percent in 2000 and 22.3 percent in 1990. Meanwhile, 11.9 percent of the native-born population in North Dakota 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 North Dakota, 29.4 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 10.9 percent of naturalized citizens.

Of the foreign-born population in North Dakota in 2011, 29.4 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty, compared to 10.9 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 North Dakota, 13.3 percent of all foreign-born families lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 13.3 percent of all families headed by an immigrant had incomes below the poverty threshold. At the same time, 18.8 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 (12.4 versus 55.0 percent).

In comparison, 7.2 percent of all families headed by a native-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold, as did 12.1 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 (3.7 versus 40.5 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 North Dakota, 17.0 percent of persons who spoke Spanish at home lived in poverty, compared to 18.0 percent of persons who spoke Asian or Pacific Island languages, and 17.8 percent of persons who spoke other Indo-European languages.
Of both native and foreign-born persons in North Dakota in 2011, 11.1 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 17.0 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 17.8 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 18.0 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 50.5 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 North Dakota, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Household Population of North Dakota for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 610,945 100.0 621,088 100.0 660,473 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 85,115 13.9 75,367 12.1 80,882 12.2
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 68,105 11.1 53,623 8.6 51,296 7.8
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 457,725 74.9 492,098 79.2 528,295 80.0
Native Born 602,375 100.0 609,578 100.0 644,535 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 83,200 13.8 73,286 12.0 76,453 11.9
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 67,100 11.1 52,442 8.6 47,669 7.4
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 452,075 75.0 483,850 79.4 520,413 80.7
Foreign Born 8,570 100.0 11,510 100.0 15,938 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 1,915 22.3 2,081 18.1 4,429 27.8
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 1,005 11.7 1,181 10.3 3,627 22.8
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 5,650 65.9 8,248 71.7 7,882 49.5
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Household Population of North Dakota for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 10,143 1.7 49,528 8.1 39,385 6.3
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -9,748 -11.5 -4,233 -5.0 5,515 7.3
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level -14,482 -21.3 -16,809 -24.7 -2,327 -4.3
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 34,373 7.5 70,570 15.4 36,197 7.4
Native Born 7,203 1.2 42,160 7.0 34,957 5.7
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -9,914 -11.9 -6,747 -8.1 3,167 4.3
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level -14,658 -21.8 -19,431 -29.0 -4,773 -9.1
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 31,775 7.0 68,338 15.1 36,563 7.6
Foreign Born 2,940 34.3 7,368 86.0 4,428 38.5
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 166 8.7 2,514 131.3 2,348 112.8
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 176 17.5 2,622 260.9 2,446 207.1
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 2,598 46.0 2,232 39.5 -366 -4.4
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 North Dakota, 2011
POVERTY STATUS BY CITIZENSHIP
Household Population of North Dakota for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 643,465
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 12.3
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 16.9
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 70.8
Native Born 627,892
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 12.0
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 16.8
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 71.2
Foreign Born 15,573
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 22.3
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 22.6
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 55.1
Noncitizen 9,557
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 29.4
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 25.3
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 45.3
Naturalized Citizen 6,016
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 10.9
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 18.3
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 70.7
EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in North Dakota Age 16 And Older with Earnings, 2011 245,895
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.5
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4.2
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 16.2
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 21.9
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 23.2
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 18.8
Earned $75,000 or more 13.1
Native Born 240,559
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.5
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4.1
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 16.2
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 21.9
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 23.4
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 18.8
Earned $75,000 or more 13
Foreign Born 5,336
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.6
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 9.5
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 16.9
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 21.1
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 15.6
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 19.4
Earned $75,000 or more 14.9
Noncitizen 2,957
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3.3
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 10.2
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 16.8
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19.4
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 12.3
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 22.4
Earned $75,000 or more 15.5
Naturalized Citizen 2,379
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.6
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 8.6
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 17
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 23.2
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 19.7
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 15.7
Earned $75,000 or more 14.2
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in North Dakota, 2011  
Male $43,120
Female $31,428
Native Born  
Male $43,159
Female $31,462
Foreign Born  
Male $41,109
Female $28,983
Noncitizen  
Male $44,496
Female $27,476
Naturalized Citizen  
Male $36,633
Female $29,808
SHARE OF FAMILIES IN POVERTY BY CITIZENSHIP AND FAMILY TYPE
All Families (Among Those for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined) 7.3
With related children under age 18 12.3
With related children under age 5 only 16.4
Married-couple families 3.2
With related children under age 18 4.0
With related children under age 5 only 3.9
Families with female householder, no husband present 32.2
With related children under age 18 40.8
With related children under age 5 only 55.4
Native-Born Families 7.2
With related children under age 18 12.1
With related children under age 5 only 16.4
Married-couple families 3.1
With related children under age 18 3.7
With related children under age 5 only 3.6
Families with female householder, no husband present 32.0
With related children under age 18 40.5
With related children under age 5 only 55.1
Foreign-Born Families 13.3
With related children under age 18 18.8
With related children under age 5 only 16.3
Married-couple families 9.3
With related children under age 18 12.4
With related children under age 5 only 10.7
Families with female householder, no husband present 39.8
With related children under age 18 55.0
With related children under age 5 only 77.1
Noncitizen 17.9
With related children under age 18 22.1
With related children under age 5 only 11.7
Married-couple families 13.2
With related children under age 18 15.5
With related children under age 5 only 4.8
Families with female householder, no husband present 51.5
With related children under age 18 54.7
With related children under age 5 only 71.1
Naturalized Citizen 7.7
With related children under age 18 12.4
With related children under age 5 only 25.3
Married-couple families 4.5
With related children under age 18 6.9
With related children under age 5 only 20.8
Families with female householder, no husband present 26.0
With related children under age 18 56.0
With related children under 5 age only 100.0
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS BY PERIOD OF ENTRY
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round, Foreign-Born Workers in North Dakota, 2009  
Male $41,109
Female $28,983
Entered the United States in 2000 or Later  
Male $32,208
Female $25,000
Entered the United States between 1990 and 1999  
Male $43,243
Female $26,522
Entered the United States before 1990  
Male $42,083
Female $33,850
FOREIGN BORN IN POVERTY BY WORLD REGION OF BIRTH
Born in Africa N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Asia N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Europe N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
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 North Dakota by Language Spoken at Home, 2011
 
Number
Percent
Household Population of North Dakota for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined, Age 5 and Older 614,978 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 71,913 11.7
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 543,065 88.3
Speaks Only English 583,530 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 64,501 11.1
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 519,029 88.9
Speaks Spanish 9,119 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 1,551 17.0
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 7,568 83.0
Speaks Other Indo-European Languages 12,657 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 2,255 17.8
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 10,402 82.2
Speaks Asian or Pacific Island Languages 3,930 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 707 18.0
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 3,223 82.0
Speaks Other Languages 5,742 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 2,899 50.5
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 2,843 49.5
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: