Income, Poverty, and
Health Insurance Coverage in
the United States: 2009 Issued September 2010
P60-238 63,594
1.1
By
1.4 13.2
Curre n t Population Reports Carmen DeNavas-26,160 64,575
Wa l t
1.6 17.1 1.9 * Bernadette D. Proctor
12.6 o0.7 * mer
C n su Income 41,530 26,691
0.6 Jessica C . S m it h
59,149 41,259 26,891
1.1 9.2 1.2 0.9
1.0 7.5 1.1 1.0 14.3 59,925 40,898 27,013
7.6 1.3 * 1.1 11.8 1.2
18,979 57,555 40,207 27,612
16.7 1.9 * 1.5 9.2 0.7 9.0
34,421 19,890 57,783 38,789 27,779
11.9 0.9 0.7 10.0 1.0 10.1 1.2
35,316 20,538 58,155 39,792
1.5 1.2 12.7 1.2 11.4 1.3 13.1
37,335 21,977 58,865 39,843
1.4 1.2 9.0 1.0 9.2 1.1 9.6
37,773 22,425 59,369 39,143
1.6 * 1.2 13.2 1.3 12.7 1.4 13.8
0.9 0.7 15.2 0.8 15.4 0.9 15.2 37,913 22,561 59,506
0.9 8.0 1.0 6.7 1.0 9.1
39,923 23,100 57,861
0.9 9.8 1.1 9.8 1.2 9.9
41,195 23,330 56,633
1.1 8.0 1.0 8.1 1.1 8.1
39,750 23,355 58,754
1.2 10.4 1.1 10.2 1.2 10.8
39,479 23,221
15.6 1.3 15.2 1.4 15.6
8.6 0.9 8.9 1.1 8.6
38,789 27,779 71,616 1.2 1.0 18.8 1.7
39,792 27,798 69,858 1.7 1.3 14.1 0.7 14.0
1.9 * 1.4 12.9 1.0 13.1
39,843 28,203 70,785
0.7 * 0.6 12.4 1.2 11.7
39,143 27,995 71,520
1.2 0.9 10.8 0.8 11.0
59,506 38,900 27,995 71,968
1.1 1.0 14.3 1.3 13.9 1.4
57,861 38,768 27,691 71,428 1.3 * 1.1 11.8 1.2 11.7 1.3
56,633 38,531 28,421 73,762 1.9 * 1.5 9.2 0.7 9.0 0.7
0.9 0.7 10.0 1.0 10.1 1.2
58,754 39,521 29,309 74,161
1.5 1.2 12.7 1.2 11.4 1.3 13.1
23,221 58,818 40,906 29,931 73,170
1.2 9.0 1.0 9.2 1.1 9.6
23,702 60,193 41,249 29,829
13.2 1.3 12.7 1.4 13.8
23,708 58,922 40,861
0.8 15.4 0.9 15.2 1.0
24,661 59,441 40,843 6.7 1.0 9.1 1.3
41,021 24,474 59,663 1.2 9.9 1.3
8.1 1.2
40,412 24,312
1.4
40,213 23,820
1.6
39,498
USCENSUSBUREAU
U.S. Department of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Administration
U .S. CENSUS BUREAU
Helping You Make Informed Decisions
Acknowledgments
Carmen DeNavas-Walt, with the assistance of Margaret E.
Richardson and Melissa A. Stringfellow, prepared the income
section of this report under the direction of Edward J. Welniak, Jr.,
Chief of the Income Statistics Branch. Bernadette D. Proctor pre-
pared the poverty section under the direction of Trudi J. Renwick,
Chief of the Poverty Statistics Branch. Jessica C. Smith prepared
the health insurance coverage section under the direction of Brett
O Hara, Chief of the Health and Disability Statistics Branch.
Charles T. Nelson, Assistant Division Chief for Economic
Characteristics, and Jennifer Cheeseman Day, Assistant Division
Chief for Employment Characteristics, both of the Housing and
Household Economic Statistics Division, provided overall direction.
Adelle D. Berlinger, George M. Mitcham, Tim J. Marshall, and
Gregory D. Weyland, Demographic Surveys Division, processed
the Current Population Survey 2010 Annual Social and Economic
Supplement file. Donna K. Benton, Kirk E. Davis, Thy K. Le, and
Chandararith R. Phe, all of the Survey Processing Branch, pro-
grammed and produced the detailed and publication tables.
Danielle N. Castelo, Rebecca A. Hoop, and Matthew R.
Herbstritt, under the supervision of David V. Hornick and
Kimball T. Jonas, all of the Demographic Statistical Methods
Division, conducted sample review. Thomas F. Moore, Chief of the
Health Surveys and Supplements Branch, provided overall direction.
Lisa Clement, Tim J. Marshall, Michelle Wiland, and Lisa
Paska, Demographic Surveys Division, and Roberto Picha and
Agatha Jung,Technologies Management Office, prepared and pro-
grammed the computer-assisted interviewing instrument used to
conduct the Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
Additional people within the U.S. Census Bureau also made signifi-
cant contributions to the preparation of this report. Barton Baker,
Ashley Edwards, Suzanne Macartney, Laryssa Mykyta, Ashley
Provencher, Jessica L. Semega, Bruce H. Webster, Jr., John
Hisnanick, Len Norry, and Judith Waldrop reviewed the contents.
Census Bureau field representatives and telephone interviewers
collected the data. Without their dedication, the preparation of this
report or any report from the Current Population Survey would be
impossible.
Linda Chen, Jamie A. Stark, and Donald J. Meyd, of the
Administrative and Customer Services Division, Francis Grailand
Hall, Chief, provided publications and printing management, graph-
ics design and composition, and editorial review for print and elec-
tronic media. General direction and production management were
provided by Claudette E. Bennett, Assistant Division Chief.
Income, Poverty, and Health
Insurance Coverage in the
United States: 2009 Issued September 2010
P60-238
U.S. Department of Commerce
Gary Locke,
Secretary
Vacant,
Deputy Secretary
Economics and Statistics Administration
Rebecca M. Blank,
Under Secretary for Economic Affairs
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
Robert M. Groves,
Director
Suggested Citation
DeNavas-Walt, Carmen, Bernadette D.
Proctor, and Jessica C. Smith,
U.S. Census Bureau,
Current Population Reports, P60-238,
Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance
Coverage in the United States: 2009,
U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, DC,
2010. ECONOMICS
AND STATISTICS
ADMINISTRATION
Economics and Statistics
Administration
Rebecca M. Blank,
Under Secretary for Economic Affairs
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
Robert M. Groves,
Director
Thomas L. Mesenbourg,
Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer
Howard Hogan,
Associate Director for Demographic Programs
David S. Johnson,
Chief, Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division
Contents
TEXT
Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage
in the United States: 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Source of Estimates and Statistical Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Supplemental Poverty Measure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
State and Local Estimates of Income, Poverty, and
Health Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Dynamics of Economic Well-Being . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Income in the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Household Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Race and Hispanic Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Age of Householder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Nativity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Residence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Income Inequality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Equivalence-Adjusted Income Inequality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Work Experience and Earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Per Capita Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Poverty in the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Impact of the 2007 Economic Downturn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Race and Hispanic Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Nativity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Residence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Work Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Depth of Poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Ratio of Income to Poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Income Deficit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Alternative/Experimental Poverty Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
National Academy of Sciences (NAS)-Based Measures and
Estimates of the Effect of Benefits and Taxes . . . . . . . . . 20
CPS Table Creator II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Health Insurance Coverage in the United States . . . . . . . . 22
Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
What Is Health Insurance Coverage?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Type of Coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Race and Hispanic Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Nativity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Economic Status. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Work Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Children s Health Insurance Coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Residence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Additional Data and Contacts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009 iii
U.S. Census Bureau
TEXT TABLES
1. Income and Earnings Summary Measures by Selected Characteristics:
2008 and 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
2. Change in Real Median Income and Earnings, Number of Workers, and Percentage of
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers During Income Years Surrounding Recessions by Sex:
1969 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3. Income Distribution Measures Using Money Income and Equivalence-Adjusted Income:
2008 and 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
4. People and Families in Poverty by Selected Characteristics: 2008 and 2009 . . . . . . . . . . .15
5. Change in Poverty During Income Years Surrounding Recessions: 1969 to 2009 . . . . . . . .16
6. People With Income Below Specified Ratios of Their Poverty Thresholds by
Selected Characteristics: 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
7. Income Deficit or Surplus of Families and Unrelated Individuals by Poverty Status:
2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
8. People Without Health Insurance Coverage by Selected Characteristics:
2008 and 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
9. People Without Health Insurance Coverage by Selected Characteristics:
2007 and 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
FIGURES
1. Real Median Household Income by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1967 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . .6
2. Female-to-Male Earnings Ratio and Median Earnings of Full-Time, Year-Round
Workers 15 Years and Older by Sex: 1960 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
3. Total and Full-Time, Year-Round Workers With Earnings by Sex: 1967 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . .13
4. Number in Poverty and Poverty Rate: 1959 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
5. Poverty Rates by Age: 1959 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
6. Demographic Makeup of the Population at Varying Degrees of Poverty: 2009 . . . . . . . . . .19
7. Number Uninsured and Uninsured Rate: 1987 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
8. Coverage by Type of Health Insurance: 2008 and 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
9. Uninsured Children by Poverty Status, Household Income, Age, Race and Hispanic
Origin, and Nativity: 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
iv Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009 U.S. Census Bureau
APPENDIXES
Appendix A. Estimates of Income 31
How Income Is Measured . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Recessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Annual Average Consumer Price Index Research Series (CPI-U-RS) Using Current Methods
All Items: 1947 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Cost-of-Living Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Appendix B. Estimates of Poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
How Poverty Is Calculated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Poverty Thresholds for 2009 by Size of Family and Number of Related Children
Under 18 Years. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Weighted Average Poverty Thresholds in 2009 by Size of Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Appendix C. Estimates of Health Insurance Coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Quality of Health Insurance Coverage Estimates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
National surveys and health insurance coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Reporting of coverage through major federal health insurance programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
APPENDIX TABLES
A-1. Households by Total Money Income, Race, and Hispanic Origin of
Householder: 1967 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
A-2. Selected Measures of Household Income Dispersion: 1967 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
A-3. Selected Measures of Equivalence-Adjusted Income Dispersion: 1967 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . .45
A-4. Number and Real Median Earnings of Total Workers and Full-Time, Year-Round Workers
by Sex and Female-to-Male Earnings Ratio: 1960 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
A-5. Number of Workers With Earnings and Median Earnings by Work Experience, Sex, and
Selected Characteristics: 2002 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
B-1. Poverty Status of People by Family Relationship, Race, and Hispanic Origin:
1959 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
B-2. Poverty Status of People by Age, Race, and Hispanic Origin: 1959 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
B-3. Poverty Status of Families, by Type of Family: 1959 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
C-1. Health Insurance Coverage: 1987 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
C-2. Health Insurance Coverage by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1999 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
C-3. Health Insurance Coverage by Age: 1999 to 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009 v
U.S. Census Bureau
Income, Poverty, and
Health Insurance Coverage in
the United States: 2009
Introduction
Source of Estimates and Statistical Accuracy
This report presents data on income,
The data in this report are from the 2010 Current Population Survey
poverty, and health insurance cover-
Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC) and were collected in
age in the United States based on
the 50 states and the District of Columbia and do not represent residents
information collected in the 2010
of Puerto Rico and U.S. island areas.* It is based on a sample of about
and earlier Current Population
100,000 addresses. The estimates in this report are controlled to inde-
Survey Annual Social and Economic
pendent national population estimates by age, sex, race, and Hispanic
Supplements (CPS ASEC) conducted by
origin for March 2010. The population controls used to prepare estimates
the U.S. Census Bureau.
for 1999 to 2009 were based on the results from Census 2000 and are
Summary of findings: updated annually using administrative records for such things as births,
deaths, emigration, and immigration.
The median household income in
2009 was not statistically differ- The CPS is a household survey primarily used to collect employment data.
ent from the 2008 median in real The sample universe for the basic CPS consists of the resident civilian
terms.1 noninstitutionalized population of the United States. People in institu-
tions, such as prisons, long-term care hospitals, and nursing homes, are
The poverty rate increased between
not eligible to be interviewed in the CPS. Students living in dormitories are
2008 and 2009.
only included in the estimates if information about them is reported in an
The uninsured rate and number of interview at their parents home. The sample universe for the CPS ASEC is
people without health insurance slightly larger than that of the basic CPS since it includes military person-
increased between 2008 and 2009. nel who live in a household with at least one other civilian adult, regard-
less of whether they live off post or on post. All other Armed Forces are
These results were not uniform across
excluded. For further documentation about the CPS ASEC, see
groups. For example, between 2008
.
and 2009, real median household
income declined for non-Hispanic Most of the data from the CPS ASEC were collected in March (with some
Whites and Blacks, while the changes data collected in February and April). The estimates in this report (which
for Asians and Hispanics were not may be shown in text, figures, and tables) are based on responses from
a sample of the population and may differ from actual values because
of sampling variability or other factors. As a result, apparent differences
All income values are adjusted to reflect
1
2009 dollars. Real refers to income after adjust-
between the estimates for two or more groups may not be statistically
ing for inflation. The adjustment is based on
significant. All comparative statements have undergone statistical testing
percentage changes in prices between 2009 and
earlier years and is computed by dividing the
and are significant at the 90 percent confidence level unless otherwise
annual average Consumer Price Index Research
noted. Further information about the source and accuracy of the estimates
Series (CPI-U-RS) for 2009 by the annual average
for earlier years. The CPI-U-RS values for
is available at .
1947 to 2009 are available in Appendix A and
on the Internet at . Consumer prices between Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands of the United States.
2008 and 2009 fell by 0.4 percent.
Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009 1
U.S. Census Bureau
statistically significant.2 The pov- Asians were not statistically signifi- including full-time, year-round work-
erty rate increased for non-Hispanic cant. These results are discussed in ers; families in poverty; and health
Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics, while more detail in the three main sec- insurance coverage of children.
the change for Asians was not sta- tions of this report income, poverty,
The income and poverty estimates
tistically significant. Additionally, for and health insurance coverage. Each
shown in this report are based solely
health insurance, the uninsured rate section presents estimates by charac-
on money income before taxes and do
and number of uninsured increased teristics such as race, Hispanic origin,
not include the value of noncash ben-
for non-Hispanic Whites, Blacks, and nativity, and region. Other topics
efits, such as nutritional assistance,
Hispanics, while the changes for covered are earnings of workers,
Federal surveys now give respondents the
2
Supplemental Poverty Measure
option of reporting more than one race. There-
fore, two basic ways of defining a race group are
possible. A group such as Asian may be defined On March 2, 2010, the Interagency Technical Working Group (which
as those who reported Asian and no other race
included representatives from the Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS], U.S.
(the race-alone or single-race concept) or as
those who reported Asian regardless of whether Census Bureau, Economics and Statistics Administration, Council of
they also reported another race (the race-alone-
Economic Advisers, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and
or-in-combination concept). The body of this
report (text, figures, and tables) shows data Office of Management and Budget [OMB]) issued a series of suggestions to
using the first approach (race alone). The appen-
the Census Bureau and BLS on how to develop the Supplemental Poverty
dix tables show data using both approaches.
Use of the single-race population does not imply Measure. Their suggestions drew on the recommendations of a 1995
that it is the preferred method of presenting or
National Academy of Sciences report and the extensive research on pov-
analyzing data. The Census Bureau uses a variety
of approaches. erty measurement conducted over the past 15 years.
In this report, the term non-Hispanic White
refers to people who are not Hispanic and who
The new thresholds are not intended to assess eligibility for government
reported White and no other race. The Census
programs and will not replace the official poverty thresholds. Instead, the
Bureau uses non-Hispanic Whites as the compari-
son group for other race groups and Hispanics.
new measure will serve as an additional indicator of economic well-being
Because Hispanics may be any race, data
and will provide a deeper understanding of economic conditions and policy
in this report for Hispanics overlap with data
for race groups. Being Hispanic was reported
effects. The official poverty measure, which has been in use since the
by 12.9 percent of White householders who
1960s, estimates poverty rates by looking at a family s or an individual s
reported only one race, 2.9 percent of Black
householders who reported only one race, and
cash income. The new measure will be a more complex statistic incorporat-
2.0 percent of Asian householders who reported
ing additional items, such as tax payments and work expenses, in its family
only one race.
The small sample size of the Asian popula-
resource estimates. Thresholds used in the new measure will be derived
tion and the fact that the CPS does not use sepa-
from Consumer Expenditure Survey expenditure data on basic necessities
rate population controls for weighting the Asian
sample to national totals contribute to the large
(food, shelter, clothing, and utilities) and will be adjusted for geographic
variances surrounding estimates of this group.
differences in the cost of housing. Additional details can be found at
This means that for some estimates for the Asian
population, we are unable to detect statistically
.
significant changes from the previous year. The
American Community Survey (ACS), based on
The Census Bureau s statistical experts, with assistance from BLS and in
a much larger sample size of the population, is
a better source for estimating and identifying
consultation with other appropriate agencies and outside experts, will be
changes for small groups of the population, such
responsible for the measure s technical design. Over 75 comments were
as the Asian population.
The householder is the person (or one of the
received in response to a May 2010 federal register notice regarding the
people) in whose name the home is owned or
measure. The Census Bureau has embarked on an ambitious research
rented and the person to whom the relationship
of other household members is recorded. If a
agenda, which includes an assessment of alternative definitions of the
married couple owns the home jointly, either the
poverty unit, an investigation of alternative data sources for geographic
husband or the wife may be listed as the house-
holder. Since only one person in each household
cost-of-living adjustments, and an evaluation of the reliability of the data
is designated as the householder, the number of
from questions added to the Annual Social and Economic Supplement to
householders is equal to the number of house-
holds. This report uses the characteristics of the
the Current Population Survey (CPS ASEC) in 2010. The Census Bureau
householder to describe the household.
plans to publish documentation on these and other technical aspects of
Data users should exercise caution when
interpreting aggregate results for the Hispanic
the new measure before the end of this year.
population or for race groups because these
populations consist of many distinct groups that
If the President s budget initiative is approved, the Census Bureau will pub-
differ in socioeconomic characteristics, culture,
and recency of immigration. In addition, the CPS
lish the first set of poverty estimates using the new approach in September
does not use separate population controls for
2011. Both the Census Bureau and the Interagency Technical Working
weighting the Asian sample to national totals.
Data were first collected for Hispanics in 1972
Group consider the Supplemental Poverty Measure a work in progress and
and for Asians and Pacific Islanders in 1987. For
expect that there will be improvements to the statistic over time.
further information, see .
2 Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009 U.S. Census Bureau
broad, comprehensive information on and local estimates, see the text box
Medicare, Medicaid, public hous-
social, economic, and housing topics State and Local Estimates of Income,
ing, and employer-provided fringe
and provides this information at many Poverty, and Health Insurance.
benefits.
levels of geography, particularly for
The CPS ASEC provides reliable esti-
Since the publication of the first offi-
local communities.
mates of the net change, from one
cial U.S. poverty estimates in 1964,
Since the CPS ASEC produces more year to the next, in the overall distri-
there has been continuing debate
complete and thorough estimates bution of economic characteristics of
about the best approach to measur-
of income and poverty, the Census the population, such as income and
ing income and poverty in the United
Bureau recommends that people use earnings, but it does not show how
States.
it as the data source for national esti- those characteristics change for the
Recognizing that supplemental esti-
mates. Estimates for income, poverty, same person, family, or household.
mates of income and poverty can pro-
health insurance coverage, and other Longitudinal measures of income,
vide useful information to the public
economic characteristics at the state poverty, and health insurance cover-
as well as to the federal government, level can be found in forthcoming age that are based on following the
in 2009, the Office of Management briefs based on data from the 2009 same people over time are avail-
and Budget s (OMB) Chief Statistician ACS. For more information on state able from the Survey of Income and
formed the Interagency Technical
Working Group on Developing the
State and Local Estimates of Income, Poverty, and
Supplemental Poverty Measure. This
Health Insurance
group asked the Census Bureau, in
cooperation with the Bureau of Labor The U.S. Census Bureau presents annual estimates of median household
Statistics (BLS), to develop the new income, poverty, and health insurance coverage by state and other smaller
statistic. The measure is designed to geographic units based on data collected in the American Community
obtain an improved understanding of Survey (ACS). Single-year estimates are available for geographic units
the economic well-being of American with populations of 65,000 or more. The ACS also produces estimates of
families and how federal policies income and poverty for counties and places with populations of 20,000 or
affect those living in poverty. The text more by pooling 3 years of data. Before the end of this year, 5-year income
box Supplemental Poverty Measure and poverty estimates will be available for all geographic units, includ-
ing census tracts and block groups. (Since questions on health insurance
provides more information.
coverage were added to the ACS in 2008, 3-year estimates for health
The CPS is the longest-running survey
insurance coverage will not be available until next year. Five-year health
conducted by the Census Bureau.
insurance coverage estimates for the smallest geographic units will be
The CPS ASEC asks detailed ques- available in 2013.)
tions categorizing income into over
The Census Bureau s Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE)
50 sources. The key purpose of the
program also produces single-year estimates of median household income
CPS ASEC is to provide timely and
and poverty for states and all counties, as well as population and poverty
detailed estimates of income, poverty,
estimates for school districts. These estimates are based on models using
and health insurance coverage and to
data from a variety of sources, including current surveys, administra-
measure change in those estimates at
tive records, intercensal population estimates, and personal income data
the national level. The CPS ASEC is the
published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In general, SAIPE estimates
official source of the national poverty
have lower variances than ACS estimates but are released later because
estimates calculated in accordance
they incorporate ACS data in the models. Estimates for 2008 are available
with OMB s Statistical Policy Directive
at . Estimates for 2009 will
No. 14 (Appendix B).
be available later this year.
The Census Bureau also reports
The Census Bureau s Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE) pro-
income, poverty, and health insur-
gram produces model-based estimates of health insurance coverage rates
ance coverage estimates based on
for states and counties. The SAHIE program released 2007 estimates of
data from the American Community
health insurance coverage by age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, and income
Survey (ACS). The ACS is part of
categories at the state level and by age, sex, and income categories at the
the 2010 Census program and has
county level in 2010. These estimates are available at .
census questionnaire. The ACS offers
Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009 3
U.S. Census Bureau
INCOME IN THE UNITED
Program Participation (SIPP). Estimates Real median income declined for
STATES
derived from SIPP data answer ques- Black households and non-Hispanic
tions such as: White households between 2008
Highlights and 2009, while the changes for
What percentage of households
Asian and Hispanic-origin house-
The real median household income
move up or down the income dis-
holds were not statistically different
in 2009 was $49,777, not statis-
tribution over time?
(Table 1 and Figure 1).
tically different from the 2008
How many people remain in pov-
median (Table 1 and Figure 1).
erty over time? Native-born households and house-
holds maintained by a noncitizen
How long do people without Real median income declined by
had declines in real median income
health insurance tend to remain 1.8 percent for family households
between 2008 and 2009.3 The
uninsured? and increased 1.6 percent for non-
changes in the median income of
family households between 2008
The text box Dynamics of Economic
all foreign-born households and
and 2009 (Table 1).
Well-Being provides more information.
households maintained by a natu-
ralized citizen were not statistically
significant (Table 1).
Dynamics of Economic Well-Being
The Midwest and West experienced
declines in real median household
The Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) provides monthly
income between 2008 and 2009
data about labor force participation, income sources and amounts, and
(2.1 percent and 1.9 percent,
health insurance coverage of individuals, families, and households during
respectively).4 The changes in
the time span covered by each of its panels. The data yield insights into
median household incomes in the
the dynamic nature of these experiences and the economic mobility of U.S.
Northeast and South were not sta-
residents.* For example, the data demonstrate that using a longer time
tistically significant (Table 1).
frame to measure poverty (e.g., 4 years) yields, on average, a lower pov-
erty rate than the annual measures presented in this report, while using
The change in income inequality
a shorter time frame (e.g., 2 months) yields higher poverty rates. Some
between 2008 and 2009 was not
specific findings from the 2004 panel include:
statistically significant, as mea-
sured by the shares of aggregate
The proportion of households in the bottom income quintile in 2004
household income by quintiles and
that moved up to a higher quintile in 2007 (30.9 percent) was not sta-
the Gini index (Tables 3 and A-2).5
tistically different from the proportion of households in the top quintile
in 2004 that moved to a lower quintile in 2007 (32.2 percent).
Households with householders who had lower levels of education were Native-born households are those in which
3
the householder was born in the United States,
more likely to remain in or move into a lower income quintile than
Puerto Rico, or the U.S. island areas of Guam,
households whose householders had higher levels of education. the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, American Samoa, or the Virgin Islands
of the United States or was born in a foreign
Approximately 31.6 percent of the population had at least one spell of
country but had at least one parent who was a
poverty lasting 2 or more months during the 4-year period from 2004 U.S. citizen. All other households are considered
foreign born regardless of the date of entry into
to 2007.
the United States or citizenship status. The CPS
does not interview households in Puerto Rico.
Chronic poverty was relatively uncommon, with 2.2 percent of the Of all householders, 86.8 percent were native
born; 6.7 percent were foreign born, naturalized
population living in poverty all 48 months of the period.
citizens; and 6.5 percent were noncitizens (the
difference in the percentage of householders
More information based on these data is available in a series of reports who were naturalized citizens and those who
titled the Dynamics of Economic Well-Being, as well as in table packages were noncitizens is not statistically significant).
The difference in the declines in median
4
and working papers. household income between the Midwest and
West was not statistically significant.
The U.S. Census Bureau is in the process of reengineering the SIPP The rede-
. For a di