For data on these topics, click on the link:

Return to the US map
Print Page Print | Email Page Email | Bookmark page Bookmark

SOUTH DAKOTA
Income & Poverty

Other facts sheets for South Dakota:

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

Rankings
The following shows South 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: 46 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 15 out of 51
Numeric change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 44 out of 51
Percent change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 3 out of 51

Data Highlights
For data on these topics, click on the link:

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 South Dakota in 2011, 39.1 percent of foreign-born workers earned less than $25,000 a year and 14.8 percent earned $50,000 or more.
In South Dakota in 2011, 7.4 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; 60.9 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 16.9 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 14.8 percent earned $50,000 or more. In comparison, 6.8 percent of full-time, year-round, native-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 41.7 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 24.5 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 27.0 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 $30,361 compared to $27,061 for female immigrant workers.
Among full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers in South Dakota in 2011, median earnings over the previous 12 months were $27,061 for women and $30,361 for men. The median earnings of noncitizen women were $25,339 and those of noncitizen men were $26,955. In comparison, naturalized-citizen women had median earnings of $28,507 and naturalized-citizen men $35,700. Among full-time, year-round, native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $31,112 for women and $39,752 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 South Dakota living below the federal poverty threshold changed by 145.3 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the foreign-born population living in poverty went from 2,055 to 5,041, representing a change of 145.3 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population living in poverty changed from 1,643 to 2,055 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 25.1 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, 23.8 percent of the foreign-born population lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 23.8 percent of South Dakota's immigrant population lived below the poverty threshold, compared with 14.7 percent in 2000 and 25.3 percent in 1990. Meanwhile, 13.7 percent of the native-born population in South 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 South Dakota, 25.1 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 10.7 percent of naturalized citizens.

Of the foreign-born population in South Dakota in 2011, 25.1 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty, compared to 10.7 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 South Dakota, 19.9 percent of all foreign-born families lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 19.9 percent of all families headed by an immigrant had incomes below the poverty threshold. At the same time, 25.5 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 (13.4 versus 55.5 percent).

In comparison, 8.7 percent of all families headed by a native-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold, as did 14.4 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 (5.5 versus 37.2 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 South Dakota, 20.5 percent of persons who spoke Spanish at home lived in poverty, compared to 16.8 percent of persons who spoke Asian or Pacific Island languages, and 18.4 percent of persons who spoke other Indo-European languages.
Of both native and foreign-born persons in South Dakota in 2011, 12.1 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 20.5 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 18.4 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 16.8 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 50.9 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 South Dakota, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Household Population of South Dakota for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 667,731 100.0 729,296 100.0 794,872 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 106,885 16.0 93,557 12.8 110,681 13.9
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 80,226 12.0 66,625 9.1 73,435 9.2
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 480,620 72.0 569,114 78.0 610,756 76.8
Native Born 661,244 100.0 715,325 100.0 773,704 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 105,242 15.9 91,502 12.8 105,640 13.7
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 79,536 12.0 65,424 9.1 70,284 9.1
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 476,466 72.1 558,399 78.1 597,780 77.3
Foreign Born 6,487 100.0 13,971 100.0 21,168 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 1,643 25.3 2,055 14.7 5,041 23.8
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 690 10.6 1,201 8.6 3,151 14.9
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 4,154 64.0 10,715 76.7 12,976 61.3
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Household Population of South Dakota for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 61,565 9.2 127,141 19.0 65,576 9.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -13,328 -12.5 3,796 3.6 17,124 18.3
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level -13,601 -17.0 -6,791 -8.5 6,810 10.2
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 88,494 18.4 130,136 27.1 41,642 7.3
Native Born 54,081 8.2 112,460 17.0 58,379 8.2
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -13,740 -13.1 398 0.4 14,138 15.5
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level -14,112 -17.7 -9,252 -11.6 4,860 7.4
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 81,933 17.2 121,314 25.5 39,381 7.1
Foreign Born 7,484 115.4 14,681 226.3 7,197 51.5
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 412 25.1 3,398 206.8 2,986 145.3
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 511 74.1 2,461 356.7 1,950 162.4
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 6,561 157.9 8,822 212.4 2,261 21.1
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 South Dakota, 2011
POVERTY STATUS BY CITIZENSHIP
Household Population of South Dakota for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 786,792
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 14.0
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 19.3
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 66.7
Native Born 765,122
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 13.9
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 19.0
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 67.1
Foreign Born 21,670
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 19.9
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 28.7
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 51.4
Noncitizen 13,843
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 25.1
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 35.1
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 39.9
Naturalized Citizen 7,827
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 10.7
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 17.5
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 71.9
EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in South Dakota Age 16 And Older with Earnings, 2011 298,339
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.6
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4.2
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 18.8
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 23.5
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 24.3
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 16.1
Earned $75,000 or more 10.4
Native Born 288,948
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.6
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4.2
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 18.4
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 23.3
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 24.5
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 16.4
Earned $75,000 or more 10.6
Foreign Born 9,391
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.6
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4.8
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 31.7
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 29.2
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 16.9
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 9
Earned $75,000 or more 5.8
Noncitizen 5,825
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3.6
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 35.7
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 29.8
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 13.9
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 8.1
Earned $75,000 or more 5
Naturalized Citizen 3,566
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 1
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 6.1
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 25.3
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 28.2
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 21.9
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 10.4
Earned $75,000 or more 7
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in South Dakota, 2011  
Male $39,317
Female $30,983
Native Born  
Male $39,752
Female $31,112
Foreign Born  
Male $30,361
Female $27,061
Noncitizen  
Male $26,955
Female $25,339
Naturalized Citizen  
Male $35,700
Female $28,507
SHARE OF FAMILIES IN POVERTY BY CITIZENSHIP AND FAMILY TYPE
All Families (Among Those for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined) 9.0
With related children under age 18 14.8
With related children under age 5 only 18.8
Married-couple families 4.1
With related children under age 18 5.8
With related children under age 5 only 5.8
Families with female householder, no husband present 32.1
With related children under age 18 38.2
With related children under age 5 only 46.6
Native-Born Families 8.7
With related children under age 18 14.4
With related children under age 5 only 18.6
Married-couple families 3.9
With related children under age 18 5.5
With related children under age 5 only 5.6
Families with female householder, no husband present 31.2
With related children under age 18 37.2
With related children under age 5 only 45.7
Foreign-Born Families 19.9
With related children under age 18 25.5
With related children under age 5 only 25.0
Married-couple families 10.9
With related children under age 18 13.4
With related children under age 5 only 9.9
Families with female householder, no husband present 53.0
With related children under age 18 55.5
With related children under age 5 only 82.0
Noncitizen 26.2
With related children under age 18 32.5
With related children under age 5 only 21.8
Married-couple families 15.7
With related children under age 18 18.9
With related children under age 5 only N
Families with female householder, no husband present 66.3
With related children under age 18 65.5
With related children under age 5 only 69.9
Naturalized Citizen 12.4
With related children under age 18 15.6
With related children under age 5 only 29.6
Married-couple families 5.9
With related children under age 18 5.7
With related children under age 5 only N
Families with female householder, no husband present 33.5
With related children under age 18 38.8
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 South Dakota, 2009  
Male $30,361
Female $27,061
Entered the United States in 2000 or Later  
Male $24,739
Female $22,380
Entered the United States between 1990 and 1999  
Male $30,513
Female $26,430
Entered the United States before 1990  
Male $38,636
Female $32,320
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 South Dakota by Language Spoken at Home, 2011
 
Number
Percent
Household Population of South Dakota for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined, Age 5 and Older 737,564 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 97,224 13.2
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 640,340 86.8
Speaks Only English 689,904 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 83,806 12.1
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 606,098 87.9
Speaks Spanish 16,741 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 3,425 20.5
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 13,316 79.5
Speaks Other Indo-European Languages 11,985 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 2,204 18.4
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 9,781 81.6
Speaks Asian or Pacific Island Languages 5,407 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 909 16.8
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 4,498 83.2
Speaks Other Languages 13,527 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 6,880 50.9
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 6,647 49.1
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: