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OREGON
Income & Poverty

Other facts sheets for Oregon:

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

Rankings
The following shows Oregon'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: 18 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 10 out of 51
Numeric change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 21 out of 51
Percent change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 29 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 Oregon in 2011, 36.7 percent of foreign-born workers earned less than $25,000 a year and 27.2 percent earned $50,000 or more.
In Oregon in 2011, 12.2 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; 42.9 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 17.8 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 27.2 percent earned $50,000 or more. In comparison, 5.9 percent of full-time, year-round, native-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 30.8 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 22.7 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 40.5 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 $34,037 compared to $28,894 for female immigrant workers.
Among full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers in Oregon in 2011, median earnings over the previous 12 months were $28,894 for women and $34,037 for men. The median earnings of noncitizen women were $21,809 and those of noncitizen men were $28,157. In comparison, naturalized-citizen women had median earnings of $33,594 and naturalized-citizen men $45,826. Among full-time, year-round, native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $36,815 for women and $47,914 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 Oregon living below the federal poverty threshold changed by 61.0 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the foreign-born population living in poverty went from 57,414 to 92,456, representing a change of 61.0 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population living in poverty changed from 28,922 to 57,414 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 98.5 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, 24.8 percent of the foreign-born population lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 24.8 percent of Oregon's immigrant population lived below the poverty threshold, compared with 20.0 percent in 2000 and 22.1 percent in 1990. Meanwhile, 16.7 percent of the native-born population in Oregon 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 Oregon, 31.2 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 14.6 percent of naturalized citizens.

Of the foreign-born population in Oregon in 2011, 31.2 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty, compared to 14.6 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 Oregon, 24.2 percent of all foreign-born families lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 24.2 percent of all families headed by an immigrant had incomes below the poverty threshold. At the same time, 29.5 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 (24.6 versus 54.1 percent).

In comparison, 10.3 percent of all families headed by a native-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold, as did 18.0 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 (7.3 versus 43.2 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 Oregon, 30.4 percent of persons who spoke Spanish at home lived in poverty, compared to 21.4 percent of persons who spoke Asian or Pacific Island languages, and 18.8 percent of persons who spoke other Indo-European languages.
Of both native and foreign-born persons in Oregon in 2011, 15.1 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 30.4 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 18.8 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 21.4 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 32.3 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 Oregon, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Household Population of Oregon for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 2,768,199 100.0 3,366,685 100.0 3,794,213 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 340,249 12.3 393,757 11.7 662,283 17.5
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 254,203 9.2 282,650 8.4 377,767 10.0
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 2,173,747 78.5 2,690,278 79.9 2,754,163 72.6
Native Born 2,637,343 100.0 3,079,090 100.0 3,421,909 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 311,327 11.8 336,343 10.9 569,827 16.7
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 238,869 9.1 244,658 7.9 327,018 9.6
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 2,087,147 79.1 2,498,089 81.1 2,525,064 73.8
Foreign Born 130,856 100.0 287,595 100.0 372,304 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 28,922 22.1 57,414 20.0 92,456 24.8
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 15,334 11.7 37,992 13.2 50,749 13.6
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 86,600 66.2 192,189 66.8 229,099 61.5
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Household Population of Oregon for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 598,486 21.6 1,026,014 37.1 427,528 12.7
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 53,508 15.7 322,034 94.6 268,526 68.2
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 28,447 11.2 123,564 48.6 95,117 33.7
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 516,531 23.8 580,416 26.7 63,885 2.4
Native Born 441,747 16.7 784,566 29.7 342,819 11.1
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 25,016 8.0 258,500 83.0 233,484 69.4
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 5,789 2.4 88,149 36.9 82,360 33.7
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 410,942 19.7 437,917 21.0 26,975 1.1
Foreign Born 156,739 119.8 241,448 184.5 84,709 29.5
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 28,492 98.5 63,534 219.7 35,042 61.0
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 22,658 147.8 35,415 231.0 12,757 33.6
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 105,589 121.9 142,499 164.5 36,910 19.2
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 Oregon, 2011
POVERTY STATUS BY CITIZENSHIP
Household Population of Oregon for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 3,794,213
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 17.5
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 20.3
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 62.3
Native Born 3,421,909
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 16.7
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 19.6
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 63.7
Foreign Born 372,304
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 24.8
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 26.2
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 49.0
Noncitizen 229,729
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 31.2
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 30.0
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 38.8
Naturalized Citizen 142,575
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 14.6
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 20.0
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 65.4
EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Oregon Age 16 And Older with Earnings, 2011 1,070,246
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.4
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4.4
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 15.0
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 17.4
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 22.1
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 21.2
Earned $75,000 or more 17.5
Native Born 931,048
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.2
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 3.7
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 13.6
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 17.2
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 22.7
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 22.5
Earned $75,000 or more 18
Foreign Born 139,198
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3.5
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 8.7
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 24.5
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 18.4
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 17.8
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 13.2
Earned $75,000 or more 14
Noncitizen 80,223
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3.2
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 11.6
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 32
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 18.1
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 17.1
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 8.4
Earned $75,000 or more 9.5
Naturalized Citizen 58,975
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3.8
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4.7
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 14.3
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 18.7
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 18.8
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 19.6
Earned $75,000 or more 20
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Oregon, 2011  
Male $45,976
Female $36,027
Native Born  
Male $47,914
Female $36,815
Foreign Born  
Male $34,037
Female $28,894
Noncitizen  
Male $28,157
Female $21,809
Naturalized Citizen  
Male $45,826
Female $33,594
SHARE OF FAMILIES IN POVERTY BY CITIZENSHIP AND FAMILY TYPE
All Families (Among Those for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined) 11.9
With related children under age 18 20.0
With related children under age 5 only 21.2
Married-couple families 6.4
With related children under age 18 10.7
With related children under age 5 only 10.3
Families with female householder, no husband present 34.3
With related children under age 18 44.7
With related children under age 5 only 51.3
Native-Born Families 10.3
With related children under age 18 18.0
With related children under age 5 only 21.0
Married-couple families 4.7
With related children under age 18 7.3
With related children under age 5 only 8.2
Families with female householder, no husband present 32.9
With related children under age 18 43.2
With related children under age 5 only 53.1
Foreign-Born Families 24.2
With related children under age 18 29.5
With related children under age 5 only 22.6
Married-couple families 20.1
With related children under age 18 24.6
With related children under age 5 only 21.7
Families with female householder, no husband present 44.2
With related children under age 18 54.1
With related children under age 5 only 30.7
Noncitizen 32.0
With related children under age 18 37.2
With related children under age 5 only 26.1
Married-couple families 27.2
With related children under age 18 31.1
With related children under age 5 only 24.3
Families with female householder, no husband present 56.3
With related children under age 18 64.1
With related children under age 5 only 45.2
Naturalized Citizen 15.0
With related children under age 18 16.9
With related children under age 5 only 15.4
Married-couple families 12.4
With related children under age 18 14.6
With related children under age 5 only 16.7
Families with female householder, no husband present 28.0
With related children under age 18 34.7
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 Oregon, 2011  
Male $34,037
Female $28,894
Entered the United States in 2000 or Later  
Male $27,373
Female $22,936
Entered the United States between 1990 and 1999  
Male $33,975
Female $25,884
Entered the United States before 1990  
Male $38,851
Female $32,447
FOREIGN BORN IN POVERTY BY WORLD REGION OF BIRTH
Born in Africa N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Asia 109,062
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 18.1
Born in Europe 57,491
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 14.2
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 178,188
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 27.5
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 Oregon by Language Spoken at Home, 2011
 
Number
Percent
Household Population of Oregon for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined, Age 5 and Older 3,562,225 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 601,397 16.9
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 2,960,828 83.1
Speaks Only English 3,030,363 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 458,768 15.1
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 2,571,595 84.9
Speaks Spanish 318,719 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 96,776 30.4
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 221,943 69.6
Speaks Other Indo-European Languages 89,463 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 16,784 18.8
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 72,679 81.2
Speaks Asian or Pacific Island Languages 100,123 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 21,459 21.4
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 78,664 78.6
Speaks Other Languages 23,557 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 7,610 32.3
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 15,947 67.7
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: