Summary of Key Findings
The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that in
2010, median household income declined, the poverty rate increased and the
percentage without health insurance coverage was not statistically different
from the previous year.
Real median household income in the United
States in 2010 was $49,445, a 2.3 percent decline from the 2009 median.
The nation's official poverty rate in 2010 was
15.1 percent, up from 14.3 percent in 2009 „Ÿ the third consecutive annual
increase in the poverty rate. There were 46.2 million people in poverty in 2010,
up from 43.6 million in 2009 „Ÿ the fourth consecutive annual increase and the
largest number in the 52 years for which poverty estimates have been
published.
The number of people without health insurance
coverage rose from 49.0 million in 2009 to 49.9 million in 2010, while the
percentage without coverage −16.3 percent - was not statistically different from
the rate in 2009.
This information covers the first full calendar
year after the December 2007-June 2009 recession. See section on the historical
impact of recessions.
These findings are contained in the report Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage
in the United States: 2010. The following results for the nation were
compiled from information collected in the 2011 Current Population Survey (CPS)
Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC):
Income
- Since 2007, the year before the most recent recession, real median
household income has declined 6.4 percent and is 7.1 percent below the median
household income peak that occurred prior to the 2001 recession in 1999. The
percentages are not statistically different from each another.
Race and Hispanic Origin (Race data refer to people reporting a
single race only. Hispanics can be of any race.)
- Among race groups, real median income declined for white and black
households between 2009 and 2010, while changes for Asian and Hispanic-origin
households were not statistically different. Real median income for each race
and Hispanic-origin group has not yet recovered to the pre-2001 recession
all-time highs. (See Table A.)
Regions
- Households in the Midwest, South and West experienced declines in real
median income between 2009 and 2010. The apparent change in median household
income for the Northeast was not statistically significant. (See Table A.)
Nativity
- Median income for households maintained by native-born householders
declined between 2009 and 2010 in real terms. The change in the median income
of all foreign-born households was not statistically significant. (See Table A.)
Earnings
- In 2010, the earnings of women who worked full time, year-round were 77
percent of that for men working full time, year-round, not statistically
different from the 2009 ratio. The 2010 real median earnings of these men and
women were not different from the 2009 earnings.
- Since 2007, the number of men working full time, year-round with earnings
decreased by 6.6 million and the number of corresponding women declined by 2.8
million.
Income Inequality
- Based on the Gini Index, the change in income inequality between 2009 and
2010 was not statistically significant, while the changes in shares of
aggregate household income by quintiles showed a slight shift to more
inequality. The Gini index was 0.469 in 2010. (The Gini index is a measure of
household income inequality; zero represents perfect income equality and 1
perfect inequality.)
Poverty
- The poverty rate in 2010 was the highest since 1993 but was 7.3 percentage
points lower than the poverty rate in 1959, the first year for which poverty
estimates are available. Since 2007, the poverty rate has increased by 2.6
percentage points.
- In 2010, the family poverty rate and the number of families in poverty
were 11.7 percent and 9.2 million, respectively, up from 11.1 percent and 8.8
million in 2009.
- The poverty rate and the number in poverty increased for both
married-couple families (6.2 percent and 3.6 million in 2010 from 5.8 percent
and 3.4 million in 2009) and female-householder-with-no-husband-present
families (31.6 percent and 4.7 million in 2010 from 29.9 percent and 4.4
million in 2009). For families with a male householder no wife present, the
poverty rate and the number in poverty were not statistically different from
2009 (15.8 percent and 880,000 in 2010).
Thresholds
- As defined by the Office of Management and Budget and updated for
inflation using the Consumer Price Index, the weighted average poverty
threshold for a family of four in 2010 was $22,314.
(See <http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/threshld/index.html>
for the complete set of dollar value thresholds that vary by family size and
composition.)
Race and Hispanic Origin (Race data refer to people reporting a
single race only. Hispanics can be of any race.)
- The poverty rate for non-Hispanic whites was lower in 2010 than it was for
other racial groups. Table B details 2010 poverty rates and numbers in
poverty, as well as changes since 2009 in these measures, for race groups and
Hispanics.
Doubled-Up Households
- Doubled-up households are defined as households that include at least one
"additional" adult: a person 18 or older who is not enrolled in school and is
not the householder, spouse or cohabiting partner of the householder. In
spring 2007, prior to the recession, doubled-up households totaled 19.7
million. By spring 2011, the number of doubled-up households had increased by
2.0 million to 21.8 million and the percent rose by 1.3 percentage points from
17.0 percent to 18.3 percent.
- In spring 2011, 5.9 million young adults age 25-34 (14.2 percent) resided
in their parents' household, compared with 4.7 million (11.8 percent) before
the recession, an increase of 2.4 percentage points.
- It is difficult to precisely assess the impact of doubling up on overall
poverty rates. Young adults age 25-34, living with their parents, had an
official poverty rate of 8.4 percent, but if their poverty status were
determined using their own income, 45.3 percent had an income below the
poverty threshold for a single person under age 65.
Age
- The poverty rate increased for children younger than 18 (from 20.7 percent
in 2009 to 22.0 percent in 2010) and people 18 to 64 (from 12.9 percent in
2009 to 13.7 percent in 2010), while it was not statistically different for
people 65 and older (9.0 percent).
- Similar to the patterns observed for the poverty rate in 2010, the number
of people in poverty increased for children younger than 18 (15.5 million in
2009 to 16.4 million in 2010) and people 18 to 64 (24.7 million in 2009 to
26.3 million in 2010) and was not statistically different for people 65 and
older (3.5 million).
Nativity
- The 2010 poverty rate for naturalized citizens was not statistically
different from 2009, while the poverty rates of native-born and noncitizens
increased. Table B details 2010 poverty rates and the numbers in poverty, as
well as changes since 2009 in these measures, by nativity.
Regions
- The South was the only region to show statistically significant increases
in both the poverty rate and the number in poverty -- 16.9 percent and 19.1
million in 2010 -- up from 15.7 percent and 17.6 million in 2009. In 2010, the
poverty rates and the number in poverty for the Northeast, Midwest and the
West were not statistically different from 2009. (See Table
B.)
Health Insurance Coverage
- The number of people with health insurance increased to 256.2 million in
2010 from 255.3 million in 2009. The percentage of people with health
insurance was not statistically different from 2009.
- Between 2009 and 2010, the percentage of people covered by private health
insurance declined from 64.5 percent to 64.0 percent, while the percentage
covered by government health insurance increased from 30.6 percent to 31.0
percent. The percentage covered by employment-based health insurance declined
from 56.1 percent to 55.3 percent.
- The percentage covered by Medicaid (15.9 percent) was not statistically
different from 2009.
- In 2010, 9.8 percent of children under 18 (7.3 million) were without
health insurance. Neither estimate is significantly different from the
corresponding 2009 estimate.
- The uninsured rate for children in poverty (15.4 percent) was greater than
the rate for all children (9.8 percent).
- In 2010, the uninsured rates decreased as household income increased from
26.9 percent for those in households with annual incomes less than $25,000 to
8.0 percent in households with incomes of $75,000 or more.
Race and Hispanic Origin (Race data refer to those reporting a single
race only. Hispanics can be of any race.)
- The uninsured rate and number of uninsured in 2010 were not statistically
different from 2009 for non-Hispanic whites and blacks, while increasing for
Asians. The number of uninsured Hispanics was not statistically different from
2009, while the uninsured rate decreased to 30.7 percent. (See Table C.)
Nativity
- The proportion of the foreign-born population without health insurance in
2010 was about two-and-a-half times that of the native-born population. The
2010 uninsured rate was not statistically different from the 2009 rate for
native-born, the foreign-born overall and noncitizens but rose for naturalized
citizens. Table C details the 2010 uninsured rate and the number of uninsured,
as well as changes since 2009 in these measures, by nativity.
Regions
- The Northeast and the Midwest had the lowest uninsured rates in 2010.
Between 2009 and 2010, there were no statistical differences in uninsured
rates for any of the regions. The number of uninsured increased in the
Northeast, while there were no statistically significant changes for the other
three regions. (See Table C.)
Historical Impact of Recessions
Since 2010 represents the first full calendar year after the recession that
ended in June 2009, one can compare changes in income, poverty and health
insurance coverage between 2009 and 2010 with changes during the first year
after the end of other recessions:
- Median household income declined the first full year following the
December 2007 to June 2009 recession, as well as in the first full year
following three other recessions (March 2001 to November 2001, January 1980 to
July 1980 and December 1969 to November 1970). However, household income
increased the first full year following the November 1973 to March 1975
recession, and the changes following the July 1990 to March 1991 and July 1981
to November 1982 recessions were not statistically significant.
- The poverty rate and the number of people in poverty increased in the
first calendar year following the end of the last three recessions. For the
recessions that ended in 1961 and 1975, the poverty rate decreased in the next
full calendar year.
- After the most recent recession, there was
no significant difference in the uninsured rate during the first full year
after the recession. However, in the year following the recessions that ended
in 1991 and 2001, the uninsured rate increased.
Supplemental Poverty Measure
The Census Bureau's statistical experts, with
assistance from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and in consultation with the
Office of Management and Budget, the Economics and Statistics Administration and
other appropriate agencies and outside experts, are now developing a
Supplemental Poverty Measure. The Supplemental Poverty Measure, for which the
Census Bureau expects to publish preliminary estimates in October 2011, will
provide an additional measure of economic well-being. It will not replace the
official poverty measure and will not be used to determine eligibility for
government programs. See Income,
Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010 for
more information.
The Current Population Survey Annual
Social and Economic Supplement is subject to sampling and nonsampling errors.
All comparisons made in the report have been tested and found to be
statistically significant at the 90 percent confidence level, unless otherwise
noted.
For additional information on the
source of the data and accuracy of the estimates for the CPS, visit <http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/p60_239sa.pdf>.
Table A. Median Household
Income |
|
2009 |
2010 |
Percent change in real
median income |
|
(in 2010 dollars) |
|
|
Region |
|
|
|
U.S. |
$50,599 |
$49,445 |
*-2.3 |
Northeast |
$53,949 |
$53,283 |
-1.2 |
Midwest. |
$49,684 |
$48,445 |
*-2.5 |
South |
$46,368 |
$45,492 |
*-1.9 |
West |
$54,722 |
$53,142 |
*-2.9 |
|
Race and Hispanic Origin of
Householder |
White |
$52,717 |
$51,846 |
*-1.7 |
White, not Hispanic |
$55,360 |
$54,620 |
-1.3 |
Black |
$33,122 |
$32,068 |
*-3.2 |
Asian |
$66,550 |
$64,308 |
-3.4 |
Hispanic origin |
$38,667 |
$37,759 |
-2.3 |
|
Nativity of Householder |
Native-born |
$51,337 |
$50,288 |
*-2.0 |
Foreign-born |
$44,648 |
$43,750 |
-2.0 |
Naturalized citizen |
$52,833 |
$52,642 |
-0.4 |
Not a citizen |
$36,685 |
$36,401 |
-0.8 |
*Change statistically significant at the 90 percent
confidence level. |
Table B. People in Poverty |
|
2009 |
2010 |
Change in
poverty |
|
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Perecnt |
Region |
U.S. |
43,569 |
14.3 |
46,180 |
15.1 |
*2,611 |
*0.8 |
Northeast |
6,650 |
12.2 |
6,987 |
12.8 |
336 |
0.6 |
Midwest. |
8,768 |
13.3 |
9,148 |
13.9 |
380 |
0.6 |
South |
17,609 |
15.7 |
19,072 |
16.9 |
*1,463 |
*1.2 |
West |
10,542 |
14.8 |
10,973 |
15.3 |
431 |
0.5 |
|
Race and Hispanic Origin |
White |
29,830 |
12.3 |
31,650 |
13.0 |
*1,819 |
*0.7 |
White, not Hispanic |
18,530 |
9.4 |
19,599 |
9.9 |
*1,070 |
*05 |
Black |
9,944 |
25.8 |
10,675 |
27.4 |
*732 |
*1.6 |
Asian |
1,746 |
12.5 |
1,729 |
12.1 |
-17 |
-0.4 |
Hispanic origin |
12,350 |
25.3 |
13,243 |
26.6 |
*893 |
*1.3 |
|
Nativity |
Native-born |
36,407 |
13.7 |
38,568 |
14.4 |
*2,161 |
*0.7 |
Foreign-born |
7,162 |
19.0 |
7,611 |
19.9 |
*450 |
0.9 |
Naturalized citizen |
1,736 |
10.8 |
1,906 |
11.3 |
*169 |
0.5 |
Not a citizen |
5,425 |
25.1 |
5,706 |
26.7 |
281 |
*1.5 |
*Statistically different from zero at the 90 percent
confidence level. |
Table C. People Without Health Insurance
Coverage |
|
2009 |
2010 |
Change |
|
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Perecnt |
Region |
U.S. |
48,985 |
16.1 |
49,904 |
16.3 |
*919 |
0.2 |
Northeast |
6,434 |
11.8 |
6,779 |
12.4 |
*345 |
0.6 |
Midwest. |
8,368 |
12.7 |
8,605 |
13.0 |
237 |
0.4 |
South |
21,576 |
19.2 |
21,665 |
19.1 |
88 |
-0.1 |
West |
12,606 |
17.7 |
12,855 |
17.9 |
249 |
0.2 |
|
Race and Hispanic Origin |
White |
37,124 |
15.3 |
37,385 |
15.4 |
261 |
-- |
White, not Hispanic |
22,715 |
11.5 |
23,093 |
11.7 |
378 |
0.2 |
Black |
7,838 |
20.3 |
8,132 |
20.8 |
294 |
0.5 |
Asian |
2,317 |
16.5 |
2,600 |
18.1 |
*284 |
*1.6 |
Hispanic origin |
15,450 |
31.6 |
15,340 |
30.7 |
-110 |
*-0.9 |
|
Nativity |
Native-born |
36,305 |
13.6 |
36,881 |
13.8 |
576 |
0.2 |
Foreign-born |
12,680 |
33.7 |
13,023 |
34.1 |
343 |
0.4 |
Naturalized citizen |
2,951 |
18.4 |
3,356 |
20.0 |
*405 |
*1.6 |
Not a citizen |
9,729 |
45.1 |
9,667 |
45.1 |
-62 |
-- |
*Change statistically significant from zero at the 90
percent confidence level. |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau | Public Information Office |
PIO@census.gov | Last Revised: September 13,
2011