Missouri

Rankings
The following shows Missouri's rankings in several categories. All rankings include the 50 states and the District of Columbia and are ranked highest to lowest.
  Rankings
Size of the foreign-born population, 2000: 27 out of 51
Percent foreign born in the total population, 2000: 42 out of 51
Numeric change in the foreign-born population, 1990 to 2000: 28 out of 51
Percent change in the foreign-born population, 1990 to 2000: 26 out of 51

Who are the foreign born?
The term foreign born refers to people residing in the United States on census day who were not United States citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes immigrants, legal nonimmigrants (e.g., refugees and persons on student or work visas), and persons illegally residing in the United States. By comparison, the term native refers to people residing in the United States who were United States citizens in one of three categories: (1) people born in one of the 50 states and 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 parent who was a United States citizen.
The foreign-born population of Missouri grew by 81 percent between 1990 and 2000.
Between 1990 and 2000, the foreign-born population in Missouri increased from 83,633 to 151,196, representing a 80.8 percent change. At the national level, the foreign-born population increased from 19.8 million to 31.1 million, representing a 57.4 percent change.

In 2000, the foreign born represented 3 percent of Missouri's total population.
In 2000, 2.7 percent of Missouri's total population was foreign born compared with 1.6 percent in 1990. At the national level, the foreign-born population represented 11.1 percent of the total population in 2000 compared with 7.9 percent in 1990.

Of the total foreign born in Missouri, 52 percent entered the United States between 1990 and 2000.
According to Census 2000, of the total foreign born in Missouri, 52.4 percent entered the United States between 1990 and 2000. At the national level, 42.4 percent of all foreign born entered between 1990 and 2000.

Most of Missouri's foreign born are from Asia.
Of the total foreign born in Missouri in 2000, 34.9 percent were from Asia, 28.5 percent from Europe, 25.8 percent from Latin America, 5.6 percent from Africa, 4.2 percent from Northern America (Canada, the United States, Bermuda, Greenland, St. Pierre, and Miquelon), and 1.1 percent from Oceania. At the national level, 51.7 percent of the foreign born were from Latin America, 26.4 percent from Asia, 15.8 percent from Europe, 2.8 percent from Africa, 2.7 percent from Northern America, and 0.5 percent from Oceania.

The top three countries of birth for the foreign born in Missouri were Mexico, Germany, and Vietnam.
According to Census 2000, of the total foreign born in Missouri, 16.7 percent were born in Mexico, 6.5 percent in Germany, and 5.8 percent in Vietnam. At the national level, the top three countries of birth were Mexico (29.5 percent), the Philippines (4.4 percent), and India (3.3 percent).

The majority of the foreign born in Missouri reported either white alone or Asian alone as their race.
Of the total foreign born in Missouri in 2000, 46.1 percent reported their race as white alone, 5.7 percent as black or African American alone, 0.3 percent as American Indian and Alaska Native alone, 29.3 percent as Asian alone, 0.5 percent as Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone, 12.3 percent as some other race alone, and 5.8 percent as two or more races. At the national level, 43.0 percent of the foreign born reported their race as white alone, 6.8 percent as black or African American alone, 0.4 percent as American Indian and Alaska Native alone, 22.5 percent as Asian alone, 0.2 percent as Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone, 21.5 percent as some other race alone, and 5.5 percent as two or more races.

Of the total foreign born in Missouri, 24 percent reported a Hispanic origin.
In Missouri in 2000, 23.8 percent of the foreign born reported a Hispanic or Latino origin, while at the national level, 45.5 percent reported a Hispanic or Latino origin.

In Missouri, 77 percent of the foreign born speak a language other than English at home.
In 2000, of the foreign born five years and over in Missouri, 76.8 percent spoke a language other than English at home. This includes 22.2 percent who spoke Spanish, 26.0 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 22.4 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 6.1 percent who spoke other languages. At the national level, 83.0 percent spoke a language other than English at home, including 52.3 percent who spoke Spanish, 21.9 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 21.6 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 4.2 percent who spoke other languages.

Among the foreign born in Missouri who speak a language other than English at home, 47 percent speak English "very well" while 7 percent speak English "not at all."
In Missouri in 2000, of the foreign born five years and over who spoke a language other than English at home, 46.5 percent reported speaking English "very well," 27.2 percent "well," 19.0 percent "not well," and 7.3 percent "not at all." At the national level, 38.5 percent reported speaking English "very well," 26.3 percent "well," 22.9 percent "not well," and 12.2 percent "not at all."

In Missouri, 41 percent of the foreign born are citizens.
Census 2000 reported that 40.9 percent of all foreign born in Missouri were citizens, compared with 40.3 percent at the national level.

According to Census 2000, 19 percent of Missouri's foreign born live in poverty.
In Missouri, among the foreign born for whom poverty status was determined, 18.9 percent had an income in 1999 below poverty level. Among foreign-born citizens, 10.0 percent lived in poverty, compared with 25.1 percent of foreign-born non-citizens. At the national level, 17.9 percent had a 1999 income below poverty level, with 10.6 percent of foreign-born citizens and 22.8 percent of foreign-born non-citizens living in poverty.

Table 1: Characteristics of the Foreign-Born Population for Missouri: 1990 and 2000
Subject
1990
2000
1990 v. 2000
Number Percent Number Percent Numeric
difference
Percent
change
PLACE OF BIRTH  

   Total population of Missouri

5,117,073 100.0 5,595,211 100.0 478,138 9.3
Native1 5,033,440 98.4 5,444,015 97.3 410,575 8.2
Foreign born2 83,633 1.6 151,196 2.7 67,563 80.8
REGION OF BIRTH OF THE FOREIGN BORN  
   Total foreign born3 80,805 100.0 151,195 100.0 NA NA
Europe 32,959 40.8 43,101 28.5 10,142 30.8
Asia 28,249 35.0 52,733 34.9 24,484 86.7
Africa 2,813 3.5 8,453 5.6 5,640 200.5
Oceania 893 1.1 1,580 1.1 687 76.9
Latin America 11,424 14.1 39,048 25.8 27,624 241.8
Northern America4 4,467 5.5 6,280 4.2 1,813 40.6
CITIZENSHIP STATUS OF THE FOREIGN BORN  
   Total foreign born 83,633 100.0 151,196 100.0 NA NA
Naturalized citizen 45,683 54.6 61,786 40.9 NA NA
Not a citizen 37,950 45.4 89,410 59.1 NA NA
YEAR OF ENTRY OF THE FOREIGN BORN  
   Total foreign born 83,633 100.0 151,196 100.0 NA NA
Entered 10 or less years before census5 29,575 35.4 79,223 52.4 NA NA
Entered more than 10 years before census 54,058 64.6 71,973 47.6 NA NA
NA Not Applicable
1 The term native refers to people residing in the United States who were United States citizens in one of three categories: (1) people born in one of the 50 states and the District of Columbia; (2) people born in the United States Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or (3) people who were born abroad to at least one parent who was a United States citizen.
2 The term foreign born refers to people residing in the United States on census day who were not United States citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes immigrants, legal nonimmigrants (e.g., refugees and persons on student or work visas), and persons illegally residing in the United States.
3For both 1990 and 2000, the total for the region of birth of the foreign born is different from the total foreign born. This is because the 1990 total excludes those who did not report a country of birth and those born at sea, while the 2000 total excludes those born at sea. In 2000, in constrast to 1990, individuals who did not report a country of birth were allocated (or assigned) a country (and thus a region) based on various characteristics. Because of allocation in 2000, but not in 1990, the increase for a specific region is overstated by a small (but unknown) amount.
4Northern America includes Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, St. Pierre, and Miquelon.
5For 1990, this includes those who arrived between 1980 and March 1990. For 2000, this includes those who arrived between 1990 and March 2000.

Source: US Census Bureau, 1990 Census of Population and Housing and Census 2000.
For more information, see www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/dp_comptables.html.


Table 2: Characteristics of the Foreign-Born1 Population for Missouri: 2000
Subject Number Percent
RACE2    

   Total foreign born

151,196 100.0
White alone 69,727 46.1
Black or African American alone 8,583 5.7
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 512 0.3
Asian alone 44,237 29.3
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 714 0.5
Some other race alone 18,665 12.3
Two or more races 8,758 5.8
HISPANIC ORIGIN2    
   Total foreign born 151,196 100.0
Hispanic or Latino 35,967 23.8
Not Hispanic or Latino 115,229 76.2
YEAR OF ENTRY    
   Total foreign born 151,196 100.0
1995 to March 2000 53,509 35.4
1990 to 1994 25,714 17.0
1985 to 1989 15,162 10.0
1980 to 1984 12,273 8.1
1975 to 1979 10,337 6.8
1970 to 1974 7,002 4.6
1965 to 1969 6,337 4.2
Before 1965 20,862 13.8
YEAR OF ENTRY BY CITIZENSHIP STATUS    
   Total foreign born 151,196 100.0
Naturalized citizen 61,786 40.9
Not a citizen 89,410 59.1
   Year of entry 1990 to March 2000 79,223 100.0
Naturalized citizen 11,686 14.8
Not a citizen 67,537 85.2
   Year of entry 1980 to 1989 27,435 100.0
Naturalized citizen 14,537 53.0
Not a citizen 12,898 47.0
   Year of entry before 1980 44,538 100.0
Naturalized citizen 35,563 79.8
Not a citizen 8,975 20.2
POVERTY STATUS IN 1999    
   Foreign born for whom poverty status was determined 148,341 100.0
Income in 1999 below poverty level 28,024 18.9
Income in 1999 at or above poverty level 120,317 81.1
CITIZENSHIP BY POVERTY STATUS IN 1999    
   Foreign-born citizens for whom poverty status was determined 60,889 100.0
Income in 1999 below poverty level 6,096 10.0
Income in 1999 at or above poverty level 54,793 90.0
   Foreign-born non-citizens for whom poverty status was determined 87,452 100.0
Income in 1999 below poverty level 21,928 25.1
Income in 1999 at or above poverty level 65,524 74.9
LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME    
   Foreign born five years and over 147,656 100.0
Speak only English 34,309 23.2
Speak language other than English 113,347 76.8
   Speak Spanish 32,726 22.2
   Speak other Indo-European languages 38,418 26.0
   Speak Asian and Pacific Island languages 33,144 22.4
   Speak other languages 9,059 6.1
ABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH    
   Foreign born five years and over who speak language other
   than English at home
113,347 100.0
Speak English "very well" 52,714 46.5
Speak English "well" 30,803 27.2
Speak English "not well" 21,560 19.0
Speak English "not at all" 8,270 7.3
   Foreign born five years and over who speak Spanish at home 32,726 100.0
Speak English "very well" 10,560 32.3
Speak English "well" 7,568 23.1
Speak English "not well" 9,026 27.6
Speak English "not at all" 5,572 17.0
   Foreign born five years and over who speak other Indo-European
   languages at home
38,418 100.0
Speak English "very well" 22,470 58.5
Speak English "well" 9,444 24.6
Speak English "not well" 5,293 13.8
Speak English "not at all" 1,211 3.2
   Foreign born five years and over who speak Asian and Pacific
   Island languages at home
33,144 100.0
Speak English "very well" 14,244 43.0
Speak English "well" 11,370 34.3
Speak English "not well" 6,275 18.9
Speak English "not at all" 1,255 3.8
   Foreign born five years and over who speak other languages at home 9,059 100.0
Speak English "very well" 5,440 60.1
Speak English "well" 2,421 26.7
Speak English "not well" 966 10.7
Speak English "not at all" 232 2.6
COUNTRY OF BIRTH    
   Total foreign born 151,196 100.0
Afghanistan 381 0.3
Argentina 450 0.3
Armenia 61 --
Australia 581 0.4
Austria 670 0.4
Bangladesh 281 0.2
Barbados 113 0.1
Belarus 493 0.3
Bolivia 142 0.1
Bosnia and Herzegovina 7,106 4.7
Brazil 687 0.5
Cambodia 692 0.5
Canada 6,215 4.1
Chile 404 0.3
China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan 6,157 4.1
Colombia 1,069 0.7
Costa Rica 170 0.1
Cuba 1,504 1.0
Czechoslovakia3 782 0.5
Dominican Republic 401 0.3
Ecuador 371 0.2
Egypt 481 0.3
El Salvador 1,390 0.9
Ethiopia 1,027 0.7
France 1,136 0.8
Germany 9,886 6.5
Ghana 327 0.2
Greece 753 0.5
Guatemala 1,354 0.9
Guyana 197 0.1
Haiti 889 0.6
Honduras 1,108 0.7
Hong Kong 857 0.6
Hungary 624 0.4
India 7,578 5.0
Indonesia 437 0.3
Iran 1,267 0.8
Iraq 1,275 0.8
Ireland 783 0.5
Israel 697 0.5
Italy 2,107 1.4
Jamaica 840 0.6
Japan 2,590 1.7
Jordan 448 0.3
Korea 5,506 3.6
Laos 762 0.5
Lebanon 308 0.2
Malaysia 694 0.5
Mexico 25,191 16.7
Netherlands 615 0.4
Nicaragua 252 0.2
Nigeria 1,478 1.0
Pakistan 1,599 1.1
Panama 708 0.5
Peru 639 0.4
Philippines 5,708 3.8
Poland 1,372 0.9
Portugal 133 0.1
Romania 1,145 0.8
Russia 2,719 1.8
Sierra Leone 151 0.1
South Africa 512 0.3
Spain 521 0.3
Sweden 284 0.2
Syria 284 0.2
Taiwan 2,500 1.7
Thailand 1,358 0.9
Trinidad and Tobago 222 0.1
Turkey 531 0.4
Ukraine 1,840 1.2
United Kingdom 5,263 3.5
Venezuela 281 0.2
Vietnam 8,780 5.8
Yugoslavia 1,318 0.9
Other 11,741 7.8
-- Represents zero or rounds to 0.0

1The term foreign born refers to people residing in the United States on census day who were not United States citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes immigrants, legal nonimmigrants (e.g., refugees and persons on student or work visas), and persons illegally residing in the United States.
2The federal government considers race and Hispanic origin to be two separate and distinct concepts.
3Czechoslovakia includes Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Source: US Census Bureau, Census 2000.