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NEW MEXICO
Income & Poverty

Other facts sheets for New Mexico:

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

Rankings
The following shows New Mexico'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: 23 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 1 out of 51
Numeric change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 28 out of 51
Percent change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 39 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 New Mexico in 2011, 44.3 percent of foreign-born workers earned less than $25,000 a year and 17.8 percent earned $50,000 or more.
In New Mexico in 2011, 18.0 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; 48.5 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 15.7 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 17.8 percent earned $50,000 or more. In comparison, 9.0 percent of full-time, year-round, native-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 35.0 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 19.8 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 36.3 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 $30,834 compared to $22,210 for female immigrant workers.
Among full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers in New Mexico in 2011, median earnings over the previous 12 months were $22,210 for women and $30,834 for men. The median earnings of noncitizen women were $17,555 and those of noncitizen men were $28,821. In comparison, naturalized-citizen women had median earnings of $26,614 and naturalized-citizen men $40,291. Among full-time, year-round, native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $34,046 for women and $43,351 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 New Mexico living below the federal poverty threshold changed by 46.3 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the foreign-born population living in poverty went from 42,748 to 62,555, representing a change of 46.3 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population living in poverty changed from 27,603 to 42,748 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 54.9 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, 30.5 percent of the foreign-born population lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 30.5 percent of New Mexico's immigrant population lived below the poverty threshold, compared with 28.9 percent in 2000 and 35.7 percent in 1990. Meanwhile, 20.5 percent of the native-born population in New Mexico 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 New Mexico, 37.0 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 17.2 percent of naturalized citizens.

Of the foreign-born population in New Mexico in 2011, 37.0 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty, compared to 17.2 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 New Mexico, 33.5 percent of all foreign-born families lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 33.5 percent of all families headed by an immigrant had incomes below the poverty threshold. At the same time, 39.9 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 (32.2 versus 60.9 percent).

In comparison, 14.0 percent of all families headed by a native-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold, as did 22.3 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 (9.0 versus 43.1 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 New Mexico, 28.5 percent of persons who spoke Spanish at home lived in poverty, compared to 21.5 percent of persons who spoke Asian or Pacific Island languages, and 10.3 percent of persons who spoke other Indo-European languages.
Of both native and foreign-born persons in New Mexico in 2011, 15.9 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 28.5 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 10.3 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 21.5 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 34.3 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 New Mexico, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Household Population of New Mexico for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 1,478,820 100.0 1,789,085 100.0 2,042,530 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 304,881 20.6 325,204 18.2 439,914 21.5
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 183,255 12.4 211,933 11.8 242,191 11.9
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 990,684 67.0 1,251,948 70.0 1,360,425 66.6
Native Born 1,401,486 100.0 1,641,100 100.0 1,837,130 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 277,278 19.8 282,456 17.2 377,359 20.5
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 169,908 12.1 185,962 11.3 209,666 11.4
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 954,300 68.1 1,172,682 71.5 1,250,105 68.0
Foreign Born 77,334 100.0 147,985 100.0 205,400 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 27,603 35.7 42,748 28.9 62,555 30.5
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 13,347 17.3 25,971 17.5 32,525 15.8
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 36,384 47.0 79,266 53.6 110,320 53.7
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Household Population of New Mexico for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 310,265 21.0 563,710 38.1 253,445 14.2
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 20,323 6.7 135,033 44.3 114,710 35.3
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 28,678 15.6 58,936 32.2 30,258 14.3
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 261,264 26.4 369,741 37.3 108,477 8.7
Native Born 239,614 17.1 435,644 31.1 196,030 11.9
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 5,178 1.9 100,081 36.1 94,903 33.6
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 16,054 9.4 39,758 23.4 23,704 12.7
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 218,382 22.9 295,805 31.0 77,423 6.6
Foreign Born 70,651 91.4 128,066 165.6 57,415 38.8
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 15,145 54.9 34,952 126.6 19,807 46.3
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 12,624 94.6 19,178 143.7 6,554 25.2
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 42,882 117.9 73,936 203.2 31,054 39.2
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 New Mexico, 2011
POVERTY STATUS BY CITIZENSHIP
Household Population of New Mexico for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 2,042,530
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 21.5
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 22.7
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 55.8
Native Born 1,837,130
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 20.5
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 21.9
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 57.6
Foreign Born 205,400
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 30.5
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 29.8
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 39.7
Noncitizen 137,417
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 37.0
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 32.1
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 30.9
Naturalized Citizen 67,983
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 17.2
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 25.2
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 57.6
EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in New Mexico Age 16 And Older with Earnings, 2011 605,484
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3.4
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 6.6
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 18.2
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 18.4
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 19.3
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 18.1
Earned $75,000 or more 15.9
Native Born 532,023
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3.2
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 5.8
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 17.1
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 17.9
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 19.8
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 19.3
Earned $75,000 or more 17
Foreign Born 73,461
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 5.3
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 12.7
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 26.3
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 22.2
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 15.7
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 9.4
Earned $75,000 or more 8.4
Noncitizen 47,184
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 5.8
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 15.1
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 28.8
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 24.4
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 16.1
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 6.3
Earned $75,000 or more 3.5
Naturalized Citizen 26,277
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 4.5
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 8.3
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 21.7
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 18.2
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 15
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 15.1
Earned $75,000 or more 17.2
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in New Mexico, 2011  
Male $41,037
Female $32,316
Native Born  
Male $43,351
Female $34,046
Foreign Born  
Male $30,834
Female $22,210
Noncitizen  
Male $28,821
Female $17,555
Naturalized Citizen  
Male $40,291
Female $26,614
SHARE OF FAMILIES IN POVERTY BY CITIZENSHIP AND FAMILY TYPE
All Families (Among Those for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined) 16.6
With related children under age 18 25.4
With related children under age 5 only 26.7
Married-couple families 9.2
With related children under age 18 13.7
With related children under age 5 only 13.2
Families with female householder, no husband present 36.8
With related children under age 18 45.7
With related children under age 5 only 46.6
Native-Born Families 14.0
With related children under age 18 22.3
With related children under age 5 only 26.1
Married-couple families 6.3
With related children under age 18 9.0
With related children under age 5 only 11.3
Families with female householder, no husband present 34.2
With related children under age 18 43.1
With related children under age 5 only 47.2
Foreign-Born Families 33.5
With related children under age 18 39.9
With related children under age 5 only 30.9
Married-couple families 27.9
With related children under age 18 32.2
With related children under age 5 only 23.8
Families with female householder, no husband present 54.1
With related children under age 18 60.9
With related children under age 5 only 38.0
Noncitizen 41.9
With related children under age 18 47.2
With related children under age 5 only 38.3
Married-couple families 32.8
With related children under age 18 37.0
With related children under age 5 only 30.1
Families with female householder, no husband present 68.6
With related children under age 18 73.5
With related children under age 5 only 42.6
Naturalized Citizen 19.4
With related children under age 18 21.8
With related children under age 5 only N
Married-couple families 20.2
With related children under age 18 20.7
With related children under age 5 only N
Families with female householder, no husband present 22.9
With related children under age 18 29.4
With related children under 5 age only N
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS BY PERIOD OF ENTRY
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round, Foreign-Born Workers in New Mexico, 2011  
Male $30,834
Female $22,210
Entered the United States in 2000 or Later  
Male $27,294
Female $20,677
Entered the United States between 1990 and 1999  
Male $26,917
Female $18,750
Entered the United States before 1990  
Male $36,083
Female $25,199
FOREIGN BORN IN POVERTY BY WORLD REGION OF BIRTH
Born in Africa N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Asia 20,270
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 15.1
Born in Europe 14,867
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 11.1
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 158,593
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 34.2
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 New Mexico by Language Spoken at Home, 2011
 
Number
Percent
Household Population of New Mexico for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined, Age 5 and Older 1,900,089 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 388,976 20.5
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 1,511,113 79.5
Speaks Only English 1,209,030 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 191,863 15.9
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 1,017,167 84.1
Speaks Spanish 548,744 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 156,612 28.5
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 392,132 71.5
Speaks Other Indo-European Languages 26,584 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 2,740 10.3
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 23,844 89.7
Speaks Asian or Pacific Island Languages 14,787 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 3,181 21.5
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 11,606 78.5
Speaks Other Languages 100,944 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 34,580 34.3
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 66,364 65.7
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: