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NEW YORK
Income & Poverty

Other facts sheets for New York:

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

Rankings
The following shows New York'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: 3 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 35 out of 51
Numeric change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 5 out of 51
Percent change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 48 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 York in 2011, 29.2 percent of foreign-born workers earned less than $25,000 a year and 36.3 percent earned $50,000 or more.
In New York in 2011, 9.5 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; 35.7 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 18.5 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 36.3 percent earned $50,000 or more. In comparison, 4.5 percent of full-time, year-round, native-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 24.8 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 19.9 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 50.7 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 $38,846 compared to $36,853 for female immigrant workers.
Among full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers in New York in 2011, median earnings over the previous 12 months were $36,853 for women and $38,846 for men. The median earnings of noncitizen women were $27,350 and those of noncitizen men were $30,153. In comparison, naturalized-citizen women had median earnings of $41,949 and naturalized-citizen men $49,305. Among full-time, year-round, native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $44,659 for women and $54,290 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 York living below the federal poverty threshold changed by 14.8 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the foreign-born population living in poverty went from 690,445 to 792,714, representing a change of 14.8 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population living in poverty changed from 433,894 to 690,445 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 59.1 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, 18.6 percent of the foreign-born population lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 18.6 percent of New York's immigrant population lived below the poverty threshold, compared with 18.0 percent in 2000 and 15.7 percent in 1990. Meanwhile, 15.2 percent of the native-born population in New York 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 York, 24.3 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 13.3 percent of naturalized citizens.

Of the foreign-born population in New York in 2011, 24.3 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty, compared to 13.3 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 York, 17.3 percent of all foreign-born families lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 17.3 percent of all families headed by an immigrant had incomes below the poverty threshold. At the same time, 22.8 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 (14.6 versus 40.5 percent).

In comparison, 10.3 percent of all families headed by a native-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold, as did 17.1 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 (6.1 versus 37.9 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 York, 26.6 percent of persons who spoke Spanish at home lived in poverty, compared to 18.6 percent of persons who spoke Asian or Pacific Island languages, and 16.7 percent of persons who spoke other Indo-European languages.
Of both native and foreign-born persons in New York in 2011, 12.4 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 26.6 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 16.7 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 18.6 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 26.4 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 York, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Household Population of New York for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 17,377,131 100.0 18,518,045 100.0 18,954,044 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 2,205,113 12.7 2,705,699 14.6 3,027,342 16.0
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 1,223,616 7.0 1,466,898 7.9 1,710,445 9.0
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 13,948,402 80.3 14,345,448 77.5 14,216,257 75.0
Native Born 14,607,965 100.0 14,690,876 100.0 14,693,949 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 1,771,219 12.1 2,015,254 13.7 2,234,628 15.2
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 957,331 6.6 1,055,201 7.2 1,201,385 8.2
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 11,879,415 81.3 11,620,421 79.1 11,257,936 76.6
Foreign Born 2,769,166 100.0 3,827,169 100.0 4,260,095 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 433,894 15.7 690,445 18.0 792,714 18.6
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 266,285 9.6 411,697 10.8 509,060 11.9
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 2,068,987 74.7 2,725,027 71.2 2,958,321 69.4
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Household Population of New York for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 1,140,914 6.6 1,576,913 9.1 435,999 2.4
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 500,586 22.7 822,229 37.3 321,643 11.9
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 243,282 19.9 486,829 39.8 243,547 16.6
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 397,046 2.8 267,855 1.9 -129,191 -0.9
Native Born 82,911 0.6 85,984 0.6 3,073 0.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 244,035 13.8 463,409 26.2 219,374 10.9
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 97,870 10.2 244,054 25.5 146,184 13.9
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level -258,994 -2.2 -621,479 -5.2 -362,485 -3.1
Foreign Born 1,058,003 38.2 1,490,929 53.8 432,926 11.3
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 256,551 59.1 358,820 82.7 102,269 14.8
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 145,412 54.6 242,775 91.2 97,363 23.6
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 656,040 31.7 889,334 43.0 233,294 8.6
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 York, 2011
POVERTY STATUS BY CITIZENSHIP
Household Population of New York for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 18,954,044
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 16.0
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 17.2
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 66.9
Native Born 14,693,949
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 15.2
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 15.7
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 69.1
Foreign Born 4,260,095
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 18.6
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 22.3
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 59.1
Noncitizen 2,045,066
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 24.3
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 26.0
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 49.7
Naturalized Citizen 2,215,029
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 13.3
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 18.8
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 67.8
EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in New York Age 16 And Older with Earnings, 2011 6,311,311
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 13.2
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 14.7
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 19.5
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 21.6
Earned $75,000 or more 25.0
Native Born 4,510,021
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.7
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 2.8
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 10.6
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 14.2
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 19.9
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 23.2
Earned $75,000 or more 27.5
Foreign Born 1,801,290
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.5
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 7
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 19.7
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 16
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 18.5
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 17.5
Earned $75,000 or more 18.8
Noncitizen 813,119
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3.3
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 10.6
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 27.5
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 17.6
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 16.1
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 11.8
Earned $75,000 or more 13.2
Naturalized Citizen 988,171
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1.8
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4.1
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 13.3
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 14.8
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 20.4
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 22.2
Earned $75,000 or more 23.4
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in New York, 2011  
Male $50,388
Female $42,113
Native Born  
Male $54,290
Female $44,659
Foreign Born  
Male $38,846
Female $36,853
Noncitizen  
Male $30,153
Female $27,350
Naturalized Citizen  
Male $49,305
Female $41,949
SHARE OF FAMILIES IN POVERTY BY CITIZENSHIP AND FAMILY TYPE
All Families (Among Those for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined) 12.3
With related children under age 18 18.9
With related children under age 5 only 17.7
Married-couple families 6.2
With related children under age 18 8.8
With related children under age 5 only 7.6
Families with female householder, no husband present 28.8
With related children under age 18 38.7
With related children under age 5 only 40.6
Native-Born Families 10.3
With related children under age 18 17.1
With related children under age 5 only 17.3
Married-couple families 3.9
With related children under age 18 6.1
With related children under age 5 only 6.1
Families with female householder, no husband present 27.9
With related children under age 18 37.9
With related children under age 5 only 41.3
Foreign-Born Families 17.3
With related children under age 18 22.8
With related children under age 5 only 18.9
Married-couple families 12.2
With related children under age 18 14.6
With related children under age 5 only 11.2
Families with female householder, no husband present 30.8
With related children under age 18 40.5
With related children under age 5 only 38.8
Noncitizen 25.8
With related children under age 18 31.4
With related children under age 5 only 26.6
Married-couple families 18.3
With related children under age 18 20.6
With related children under age 5 only 16.6
Families with female householder, no husband present 43.7
With related children under age 18 53.6
With related children under age 5 only 55.0
Naturalized Citizen 12.3
With related children under age 18 15.8
With related children under age 5 only 10.4
Married-couple families 9.1
With related children under age 18 10.3
With related children under age 5 only 5.9
Families with female householder, no husband present 22.3
With related children under age 18 29.4
With related children under 5 age only 22.6
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS BY PERIOD OF ENTRY
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round, Foreign-Born Workers in New York, 2011  
Male $38,846
Female $36,853
Entered the United States in 2000 or Later  
Male $28,436
Female $29,556
Entered the United States between 1990 and 1999  
Male $36,755
Female $34,965
Entered the United States before 1990  
Male $50,186
Female $42,269
FOREIGN BORN IN POVERTY BY WORLD REGION OF BIRTH
Born in Africa 155,335
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 19.5
Born in Asia 1,156,643
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 18.9
Born in Europe 765,511
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 11.5
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 2,104,204
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 20.7
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 54,676
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 11.6
Born in Oceania 10,147
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 8.6
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 York by Language Spoken at Home, 2011
 
Number
Percent
Household Population of New York for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined, Age 5 and Older 17,817,522 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 2,745,009 15.4
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 15,072,513 84.6
Speaks Only English 12,415,429 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 1,536,988 12.4
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 10,878,441 87.6
Speaks Spanish 2,648,121 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 704,843 26.6
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 1,943,278 73.4
Speaks Other Indo-European Languages 1,637,876 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 273,972 16.7
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 1,363,904 83.3
Speaks Asian or Pacific Island Languages 836,329 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 155,391 18.6
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 680,938 81.4
Speaks Other Languages 279,767 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 73,815 26.4
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 205,952 73.6
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: