EMBARGOED UNTIL: 10 A.M. EDT, APRIL 8, 1997 (TUESDAY) Public Information Office CB97-55 301-457-3030/301-457-3670 (fax) 301-457-4067 (TDD) e-mail: pio@census.gov Kristin A. Hansen 301-457-2454 Economic Challenges Wane With Time Among The Nation's Foreign-Born Population In March 1996, almost one out of every 10 people (24.6 million) in the nation was foreign-born, according to the report, "The Foreign-Born Population: 1996" (P20-494), released today by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau. These people were not born in the United States, Puerto Rico, or an outlying area of the United States and their parents were not U.S. citizens. Recent arrivals (those who came to this country during the 1990s) were more likely to be in poverty, to have lower incomes, and to have higher unemployment rates than the native born. However, economic circumstances improve with length of residence. Poverty and unemployment rates decline and median incomes generally rise. In fact, those who arrived during the 1970s are doing as well as natives in terms of income. "There are great differences in economic well-being among the foreign born, based on citizenship status and year of entry into the United States," Kristin A. Hansen, the author of the report, said. "For example, foreign-born people who came here during the 1970s had median personal incomes in 1995 no different than natives, about $17,000. Also, foreign-born people who arrived before 1970 were less likely than natives to be in poverty in 1995--10 percent compared with 13 percent." Illustrated below are comparisons of the total foreign-born and native-born populations: Foreign-Born Native-Born 1. The poverty rate for the 1. The poverty rate for foreign-born was 22.2 percent. natives was 12.9 percent. 2. 4.9 percent of the foreign- 2. 3.8 percent of natives born were unemployed. were unemployed. 3. The median personal income 3. The median personal income of the foreign-born was $14,772. of natives was $17,835. 4. 5.8 percent of the foreign- 4. 4.5 percent of natives born received cash income from received cash income from public assistance programs. public assistance programs. Other highlights from the report include: - More than one-quarter of all foreign-born people were born in Mexico (27 percent); another 27 percent were born in Asia; 17 percent were born in Europe; and 12 percent were born in Central or South America. - The attached chart shows the states with 10 percent or more foreign-born persons. Of all the states, California had the largest number and percentage of foreign-born people in 1996--8 million people or one-quarter of California's total population. - Of the nation's total foreign-born population, 68 percent were White, 24 percent Asian and Pacific Islander, and 8 percent Black. Over 40 percent of the nation's total foreign-born were Hispanic (who may be of any race). The data presented here were collected in a sample survey, and are therefore subject to sampling variability as well as reporting and coverage errors. A faxed copy of the report may be obtained by calling the Public Information Office's Fax-on-Demand service at 1-888-206-6463 and requesting document number 1216 or on the Internet at: http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/foreign.html-X-The Census Bureau--pre-eminent collector and provider of timely, relevant, and quality data about the people and economy of the United States. In over 100 surveys annually and 20 censuses a decade, evolving from the first census in 1790, the Census Bureau provides official information about America's people, businesses, industries, and institutions.
