CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE

CBO

A Description

of the

Immigrant

Population: 

An Update

JUNE 2011

Share of Foreign-Born Population in the 

United States, by Country of Origin, 2009 Largest Share Smallest Share
Pub. No. 4157
The Congress of the United States O Congressional Budget Office

CBO

A Description of the Immigrant Population: 

An Update

June 2011
CBO

Notes and Definitions

Unless otherwise noted, all years referred to are calendar years. Numbers in the text and exhibits may not add utotals because of rounding.Foreign born: Born outside the United States (or one of its territories) to parents who are not U.S. citizens.Immigrant: In this report, a synonym for foreign born.Legal permanent resident: A noncitizen of the United States authorized to live, work, and study in the United permanently. Such status is granted to immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, including spouses, minor children, aparents. It can also be granted for family-sponsored preferences (for example, to extended family members such or cousins), employment-based preferences, and diversity preferences, although there is an annual cap on the nu

people who can receive such grants. In addition, legal permanent resident status can be granted to people who a

classified as refugees or asylum seekers. After becoming a legal permanent resident, a noncitizen immigrant recepermanent resident card, commonly called a “green card,” which serves as proof of permission to live and work country. Legal temporary resident or visitor: A noncitizen of the United States who is admitted to the country with a temvisa or who is allowed to enter without a visa. People in those categories include visitors who are in the United Sshort periods and temporary residents who are in the United States for longer, although time-limited, stays. Native born: Born in the United States or one of its territories or, if born abroad, to at least one parent who is a 

U.S. citizen.Naturalized citizen: A foreign-born individual who has become a U.S. citizen by fulfilling requirements set fortImmigration and Nationality Act, including, in most cases, having resided in the United States for at least five yUnauthorized resident: A noncitizen of the United States who is in the United States without legal authorizatiogroup includes people who enter the country illegally and people who enter the country with valid visas but ovtheir authorized time in the country.
NOTES AND DEFINITIONS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Source data: Much of the information on immigration in this document comes from the Current Population S

(CPS), a monthly survey of U.S. households conducted by the Census Bureau. The survey of people living in hholds excludes the roughly 3 percent of the resident U.S. population living in barracks, prisons, nursing homes

other group quarters. Among other questions, respondents are asked where they and their parents were born. Twho were born in another country are asked when they came to the United States to stay and whether they have 

citizens by naturalization. All information is reported by respondents and is not validated against other sources. is asked about legal immigration status. To increase the statistical accuracy of the estimates in this document, thCongressional Budget Office (CBO) combined unduplicated samples from all 12 months of the 2009 CPS (knas the Outgoing Rotation Group files). CBO used the American Community Survey (ACS) for estimates of thpopulation, decade of arrival, and rates of fertility and the March 2009 CPS (also known as the Annual Social aEconomic Supplement) for information on annual earnings, income, and poverty status. CBO did not attempt adjust the estimates from the CPS or the ACS to account for the possibility that some foreign-born people shoubeen counted in those surveys but were not. For estimating the size of the unauthorized population, the Depart

Homeland Security has assumed that the ACS’s undercount rates range from 2.5 percent for noncitizens who apermanent residents, refugees, or have been granted asylum to 10 percent for noncitizens without authorization the United States. Those estimates suggest that the ACS and CPS undercount the overall foreign-born populat

about 5 percent.

Categories of regions: The foreign-born population from Mexico and Central America differs significantly from 

remaining foreign-born population with respect to educational attainment and the likelihood of becoming natu

citizens; consequently, that group is identified separately in this report. The foreign-born population from other the world is divided into four regions, generally corresponding to continents. Oceania includes Australia, New Z

and the Pacific Islands. Russia, which lies both in Europe and in Asia, is grouped with European countries, as is 
Preface

CBO

Foreign-born people represent a large and growing share of the U.S. population. The native- and foreign-born populations differ in a variety of characteristics, such as age, fertility, educational attainment, occupation, earniand income. Among the foreign born, naturalized citizens differ from noncitizens, and people from some parts world differ from people from other parts on most of those characteristics.In November 2004, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) published A Description of the Immigrant Populatiwhich included data through 2003. This update contains information through 2009. It relies on a set of data sothat differ slightly from those used for the original paper. Nabeel Alsalam and Jonathan Schwabish of CBO’s Health and Human Resources Division wrote the documenwith guidance from Greg Acs, Joyce Manchester, and Bruce Vavrichek (formerly of CBO). CBO staff member Sarah Axeen provided research assistance, and the work benefited from the comments of Molly Dahl, Robert D(formerly of CBO), Peter Fontaine, Patrice Gordon, Priscila Hammett, Jimmy Jin, Melissa Merrell, Jonathan MPaige Piper/Bach, Brian Prest, David Rafferty, and Robert Shackleton Jr. Helpful comments also came from William Kandel of the Congressional Research Service, Rakesh Kochhar of the Pew Hispanic Center, and Jennifer Van Hook of Pennsylvania State University. (The assistance of external reviewers implies no responsibifor the final product, which rests solely with CBO.) In keeping with CBO’s mandate to provide objective analythis document makes no recommendations.Kate Kelly and Sherry Snyder edited the document. Maureen Costantino and Jeanine Rees prepared the documfor publication, Monte Ruffin produced the printed copies, and Linda Schimmel handled the print distributionelectronic version is available from CBO’s Web site (www.cbo.gov).

Douglas W. Elmendorf

Director

June 2011
CBO

Exhibit 

List of Exhibits

1. Foreign-Born Population in the United States, 1860 to 2009 2. Naturalized Citizens, by Period of Arrival in the United States and Birthplace, 2009 3. Noncitizens, by Period of Arrival in the United States and Birthplace, 2009 

Grants of Legal Permanent Resident Status

4. Grants of Legal Permanent Resident Status During the Decade as a Percentage of the U.S. Population in the 

First Year of the Decade, 1860 to 2009 

5. Percentage of Grants of Legal Permanent Resident Status, by Birthplace and Decade, 1860 to 2009 6. Grants of Legal Permanent Resident Status, by Time and Major Category of Admission, Fiscal Years 2004 and 2009 

Demographic Characteristics of the Foreign-Born and Native-Born Populations

7. Foreign-Born Population, by State of Residence, 1999 to 2009 8. Twenty States with the Highest Shares of Foreign-Born People, by Region, 2009 9. U.S. Population, by Age and Birthplace, 2009 

10. Fertility Rates and Marital Status for Native-Born and Foreign-Born Women Ages 15 to 49, 2009 11. Educational Attainment of People Ages 25 to 64, by Birthplace, 2009 12. Unauthorized Foreign-Born Population, by Birthplace and Age, 2000 and 2009 13. Unauthorized Foreign-Born Population, by State of Residence, 2000 and 2009 
CBO

Exhibit 

LIST OF EXHIBITS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

Labor Market Characteristics of the Foreign-Born and Native-Born Populations

14. Labor Force Status of Men and Women Ages 16 to 64, by Age and Birthplace, 2009 15. Percentage of Workers Ages 25 to 64 in Various Occupational Groups, by Birthplace, 2009 16. Percentage of Workers Ages 25 to 64 in Various Industries, by Birthplace, 2009 17. Unemployment Rate of People Ages 25 to 64, by Birthplace, 1994 to 2009 18. Annual Earnings of Workers Ages 25 to 64, by Sex, Citizenship, Birthplace, and Earnings Percentile, 2009 19. Median Family Income and Other Selected Characteristics, by Type of Family, Citizenship, and Birthplace, 2009 20. Percentage of the Population Living in Families with Income Below the Poverty Threshold, by Age, Sex, and Citizen
CBO

A Description of the Immigrant Population: 

An Update

In 2009, about 39 million foreign-born people lived in the United States, making up more than 12 percent of the U.S. population—the largest share since 1920. Naturalized citizens (foreignborn people who have fulfilled the requirements of U.S. citizenship) accounted for about 17 million of the total. Noncitizens (foreign-born people authorized to live and work in the United States either temporarily or permanently and people who are not authorized to live or work in the United States) accounted for about 22 million of the total. About half of the noncitizens were people without authorization to live or work in the United States, either temporarily or permanently. In 2009, about 38 percent of foreign-born people in the United States were from Mexico or Central America; the next-largest group came from Asia and accounted for 27 percent of the total foreignborn population. In that year, about one-fifth of naturalized U.S. citizens were from Mexico or Central America; more than one-third were from Asia. About half of the noncitizens living in the United States in 2009 were from Mexico or Central America, and about one-fifth were from Asia. An estimated 62 percent of noncitizens unauthorized to live in the United States were from Mexico and another 12 percent were from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

Legal Permanent ResidentsFrom 2000 to 2009, more than 10 million people were granted legal permanent resident (LPR) status in the United States. Legal permanent residents are permitted to live, work, and study in the United States, and receiving LPR status is an important milestone on the path to U.S. citizenship. As a percentage of the U.S. population, grants of LPR status were down somewhat from the 1990s, but otherwise they were higher than at any time since the 1920s. Over the past two centuries, the main nations of origin of legal permanent residents in the United States have changed. Until the past few decades, most people who came to the United States arrived from Europe and Canada; in the early part of the 20th century, 90 percent or more arrived here from those areas. By the early part of the 21st century, however, only about 15 percent of legal permanent residents were European or Canadian by birth; more than 30 percent were from Asia and another 22 percent were born in Mexico or Central America. The origins of people granted legal permanent residence in the United States largely translate into the origins of naturalized citizens some years later as those noncitizens become citizens. (One criterion for naturalized citizenship is a five-year period of residence on a permanent visa.) In 2009, 

37 percent of naturali21 percent were from America, and 18 percand South America; oEurope and Canada. 

Demographic Foreign-Born PopulationsForeign-born people lStates, and in some sttial fraction of the pop1 in 4 people in Califpeople in New York ain another country. Cthan 1 person in 20 wborn share of the popthree states between 12.4 percentage points New Jersey experienceincrease: The share of was foreign-born incr1999 to more than 21 states with the highesized residents in 2009 Texas, and Arizona. Aresidents of the Unitestates.
CBO

INTRODUCTION A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

Foreign-born people as a group differ in several important ways from their native-born counterparts. In particular, compared with the native-born population, relatively few foreign-born people are under the age of 25. In 2009, only 15 percent of the foreign-born population was under that age, compared with 37 percent of the native-born population. In contrast, nearly three-quarters of the 

foreign-born population was of working age 

(between 25 and 64 years old), compared with about half of the native-born population. Marriage and fertility rates are generally higher among young foreign-born women than among their native-born counterparts. In 2009, 20 percent of foreign-born women ages 15 to 24 were (or had been) married, compared with 9 percent of native-born women; 68 percent of foreign-born women ages 25 to 34 were (or had been) married, compared with 57 percent of native-born women. The fertility rate (the expected number of births) among foreign-born women between the ages of 15 and 49 was 2.6, compared with a fertility rate of 2.0 for native-born women in the same age range. Educational attainment also differs considerably among foreign-born people, who overall have somewhat less education than do native-born people. In 2009, 29 percent of the foreign-born population between the ages of 25 and 64 had not completed high school, compared with 8 percent of the native-born population. Some groups of foreign-born people, however, had more education than did their native-born counterparts. About 

55 percent of people from Asia had at least a bachelor’s degree, as did 47 percent of people from Europe and Canada; just 32 percent of the native-born population had earned at least a bachelor’s degree. More than half of the people from Mexico and Central America, 56 percent, had not finished high school, but only about 10 percent of people from Asia and 6 percent of people from Europe and Canada had less than a high school education. 

Labor Market Characteristics of the Foreign-Born and NativeBorn PopulationsForeign-born men are more likely to be working or looking for work (that is, to be in the labor force) than are native-born men. Foreign-born women, however, are less likely than native-born women to be in the labor force. In 2009, 93 percent of men ages 25 to 64 from Mexico and Central America were in the labor force, compared with 88 percent of men from Asia and 85 percent of native-born men. Conversely, 57 percent of women in that age group from Mexico and Central America were in the labor force in 2009, as were 67 percent of Asian women, both significantly below the 74 percent of native-born women in the labor force in that year.Workers from Mexico and Central America are concentrated in a different set of occupations than are people from other regions of the world. In 2009, 21 percent of workers from that region

were in construction, related occupations, cnative-born workers. 

educational attainmenfrom Asia were in the occupations, compareborn workers in those The differences in eduforce participation, anoccupational groups wences in the annual eaworkers, which also wcitizenship status. Thannual earnings were native-born citizens, bmuch lower among nannual earnings amonvaried greatly by coun2009 the median annfrom Mexico and CenAmong male workers $48,000; among male Canada, it was $53,00male workers, it was $Noncitizens tended to lower family income tized citizens and, as a likely to have family ithreshold (about $22,2009). In 2009, 25 pepoverty, compared wicitizens and 14 percen
INTRODUCTION A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 1.

Foreign-Born Population in the United States, 1860 to 2009

(Millions) (Percent)Sources: Congressional Budget Office based on data from Campbell J. Gibson and Emily Lennon, Historical Census 

Statistics on the Foreign-Born Population of the United States: 1950–1990, Working Paper 29 (Census Bureau, 

Population Division, February 1999); Nolan Malone and others, The Foreign-Born Population: 2000, Census 

2000 Brief (Census Bureau, December 2003); and Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2009.

1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2009

05

1015202530354045

0246810121416

Number

(Left scale)

Share of the

U.S. Population

(Right scale)

From 1860 to 191015 percent of peopborn somewhere elthe population begto less than 5 percereversed. Between born population in31.5 million. In thwas about 0.4 milli1980s, the rate was per year; and in the 1.1 million people increase slowed sligwhen about 0.8 miwere added to the Uyear. By 2009, 38.5 eign born. That gro12.5 percent of the the same percentag20th century. INTRODUCTION A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 2.

Naturalized Citizens, by Period of Arrival in the United States and 

Birthplace, 2009Sources: Congressional Budget Office based on data from Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2009; and 

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook (2009).

Note: The resident U.S. population in 2009 was about 307 million. The countries shown, including the group consisting 

of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, accounted for the largest shares of the total foreign-born U.S. population in 2009.

a. The foreign-born population is the sum of the naturalized and noncitizen populations (see Exhibit 3 for the 

noncitizen population).

b. The birthplace population is the naturalized population as a share of the population of the region or country in which 

they were born.

c. Includes Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

BirthplaceMexico and Central America 74 19 7 100 3.5 21 24 2.3

Mexico 75 18 7 100 2.6 15 23 2.3

El Salvador 74 20 6 100 0.3 2 28 4.5

Asia 61 30 9 100 6.2 37 58 0.2

China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan 60 30 10 100 1.2 7 60 0.1Philippines 64 27 9 100 1.1 7 66 1.2India 51 39 10 100 0.8 4 45 0.1Vietnam 54 38 8 100 0.9 5 75 1.0Korea 74 20 6 100 0.6 3 56 0.8

Caribbean and South America 67 24 9 100 3.0 18 50 0.7

Cuba 78 16 6 100 0.6 3 58 5.0Dominican Republic 60 31 9 100 0.4 2 48 3.9

Europe and Canada 70 24 6 100 3.4 21 59 0.4

Canada 81 15 4 100 0.4 2 45 1.1

Africa and Oceaniac 44 38 18 100 0.7 4 42 0.1

All Areas 66 26 8 100 16.8 100 44 0.3

from the 

Population

Birthplacea Birthplaceb 1990 1999 2009 Total United States (Millions)

As a Percentage of:

United States

Population

Foreign-Born

Before 1990- 2000-

Percentage of Naturalized

Period of Arrival

Citizens from the Birthplace, by in the

Number Citizens in the of the

Naturalized

In 2009, nearly 17 United States were is, they were foreigcitizens by meeting citizenship). That ghalf of the total U.Naturalized citizen60 percent of the fofrom Asia and from less than a quarter Mexico and Centrathirds of all naturalStates had arrived bcent of naturalized Canada, but only 4Africa and OceaniaIn 2009, one-fifth were from Mexico much larger share (were from those coAnother 37 percencame from Asia, a pthan the 20 percenwere from that regiOverall, in 2009, ntuted only 0.3 perctheir countries of bcitizens from CubaDominican Repub4.5 percent, and 3.the populations of 
INTRODUCTION A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 3.

Noncitizens, by Period of Arrival in the United States and 

Birthplace, 2009Sources: Congressional Budget Office based on data from Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2009; and 

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook (2009).

Note: The resident U.S. population in 2009 was about 307 million. The countries shown, including the group consisting 

of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, accounted for the largest shares of the total foreign-born U.S. population in 2009.

a. The foreign-born population is the sum of the naturalized and noncitizen populations (see Exhibit 2 for the 

naturalized population).

b. The birthplace population is the noncitizen population as a share of the population of the region or country in which 

they were born.

c. Includes Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

BirthplaceMexico and Central America 24 35 41 100 10.9 50 76 7.1

Mexico 25 35 40 100 8.9 41 77 8.0El Salvador 25 33 42 100 0.8 4 72 11.6

Asia 12 22 66 100 4.4 20 42 0.1

China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan 8 27 65 100 0.8 4 40 0.1

Philippines 15 20 65 100 0.6 3 34 0.6India 5 19 76 100 0.9 4 55 0.1

Vietnam 16 29 56 100 0.3 1 25 0.3Korea 15 24 61 100 0.4 2 44 0.6

Caribbean and South America 19 28 53 100 3.0 14 50 0.7

Cuba 20 25 55 100 0.4 2 42 3.6Dominican Republic 23 33 44 100 0.4 2 52 4.3

Europe and Canada 29 25 46 100 2.4 11 41 0.3

Canada 35 26 39 100 0.4 2 55 1.3

Africa and Oceaniac 10 21 68 100 0.9 4 58 0.1

All Areas 21 29 50 100 21.6 100 56 0.3

1990 1999 2009 Birthplaceb (Millions) Birthplacea United States

Citizens in the

Total

Before 1990- 2000- of the

As a Percentage of:

Percentage of Noncitizens

Foreign-Born

Population

from the Birthplace, by in the

Period of Arrival United States Naturalized Population

Number from the 

In 2009, 22 million States were noncitiries: legal permanenU.S. citizenship, legfor a limited time, authorization. (Auttourists, are not copopulation.) In 2009, about half in the United StateAbout 40 percent oCanada, Mexico, aarrived after 1999, noncitizens from AOceania have arriveOverall, in 2009, nUnited States constof the population oHowever, noncitizeCentral America co7.0 percent of the ptries, including 8.0 population and 11.of El Salvador. The in the United StateDominican Repuband 4.3 percent, retions of those coun
CBO

Grants of Legal Permanent Resident Status
GRANTS OF LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 4.

Grants of Legal Permanent Resident Status During the Decade as a 

Percentage of the U.S. Population in the First Year of the Decade, 

1860 to 2009(Percent)Source: Congressional Budget Office based on data from Department of Homeland Security, Office of Immigration 

Statistics, 2009 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (August 2010).

1860s 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s

02468

1012

Between 2000 and or 3.7 percent of thlegal permanent reseither as new arrivament in their statudents are noncitizelive, work, and studmanently.) That peas it was during the ment of a series of and quotas on the ivarious countries. In the 1930s, the pLPR status declined the total U.S. poputhe Great Depressiowhich LPR status wto rise, and it conti1990s, before fallinThe most recent deincreased scrutiny ofrom concerns abou
GRANTS OF LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 5.

Percentage of Grants of Legal Permanent Resident Status, by 

Birthplace and Decade, 1860 to 2009(Percent)Source: Congressional Budget Office based on data from Department of Homeland Security, Office of Immigration 

Statistics, 2009 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (August 2010).

Note: Data represent the sum over each decade.

a. Includes Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

2000–20091990–1999

1980–19891970–19791960–19691950–19591940–19491930–19391920–19291910–19191900–19091890–18991880–18891870–18791860–1869

0 20 40 60 80 100

Total

100100100100100100100100100100100100100100100

Europe and 

Canada

Mexico and 

Central America

Caribbean and

South America Asia

Africa and

Oceaniaa

0 20 40 0 20 40 0 20 40 0 10

For much of the napeople who emigracame from Europe the 1920s, however1960s, various quoin place, so that by tury, the nation’s grresident status wencross section of the proportion of peopCanada declined be1980s, grants of LPAsia, Mexico, and Cincreased. Since the tion of new legal pecome from Asia. In and the 1980s, the LPR status from AIn the 1990s, the pMexico and Centragranted LPR status sions enacted in thControl Act of 198LPR status to some unauthorized residhad been in the couleast 1982. The most notable cthe 21st century wthird (from 35 percshare of people from America granted LPrecent decade, one-LPR status were fro
GRANTS OF LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 6.

Grants of Legal Permanent Resident Status, by Time and 

Major Category of Admission, Fiscal Years 2004 and 2009Source: Congressional Budget Office based on data from Department of Homeland Security, Office of Immigration 

Statistics, 2009 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (August 2010).

a. Primarily consists of grants to refugees and asylum seekers. b. The program grants legal permanent resident status to up to 50,000 people annually who are randomly selected 

from all applicants from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States and who meet strict eligibility requirements. See Congressional Budget Office, Immigration Policy in the United States: An Update (December 

2010).

First-Time Admission to the U.S. 374 39 463 41 24Admitted Previously, Status Changed toLegal Permanent Resident 584 61 668 59 14

____ ____ ______ ____

Total 958 100 1,131 100 18

Uncapped

Immediate relatives of U.S citizens 418 44 536 47 28Humanitariana 120 13 191 17 59

Capped

Family-sponsored preferences 214 22 212 19 -1Employment-based preferences 155 16 144 13 -7Diversity Programb 50 5 48 4 -4

____ ____ ______ ____

Total 958 100 1,131 100 18

Time of Admission

Category of Admission

Number

(Thousands)

Percentage

of Total of Total

Percentage

2004 to 2009

Change,

2004 2009 Percentage

(Thousands)

Number

In fiscal year 2009, ple, about 60 percethe country, were ggrants to immediat(including spouses, dren) and humanitseekers and refugeelaw, although the Pthe number of refuUnited States each grants to people in employment-based Diversity Program half of all grants of went to immediate About 19 percent wfamily-sponsored pincludes other close and immediate and manent residents), on humanitarian gasylum seekers), 13 on the basis of emp4 percent were awaProgram.Between 2004 and categories grew signstatus to immediate increased by 28 perand asylum seekers Despite that latter 2009 more grants wfamily-sponsored pthan to refugees or people). CBO

Demographic Characteristics of the 

Foreign-Born and Native-Born Populations
DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOREIGN-BORN AND NATIVE-BORN POPULATIONS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 7.

Foreign-Born Population, by State of Residence, 1999 to 2009

Source: Congressional Budget Office based on monthly data from Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Outgoing 

Rotation Groups, 1999 and 2009.

StateCalifornia 26.6New York 21.5New Jersey 21.3

All 24.4

Hawaii 18.5Florida 18.1Nevada 17.4Texas 15.8Maryland 14.6District of Columbia 13.7Arizona 13.3

All 16.2

Illinois 13.1Massachusetts 12.7Connecticut 12.3Rhode Island 12.1Washington 11.5New Mexico 10.1Virginia 9.9Colorado 9.9Georgia 9.3Oregon 8.1

All 11.1

All 31 States 4.7All States 12.4

(Percentage)

State Population, 2009 

Foreign Born as a 

(Percentage points)

State Population, 1999 to 2009 

Foreign Born in the 

Total U.S. Population

Percentage of the

Change in the Percentage of 

Top Three States with About One-Fifth of U.S. Population

Next Seven States with About One-Fifth of U.S. Population

Next Ten States with About One-Fifth of U.S. Population

Remaining 31 States with About Two-Fifths of U.S. Population

2.2

1.9

6.3

2.7

1.2

1.3

2.2

3.5

4.9

3.0

-1.0

2.4

3.6

1.7

3.7

2.4

2.7

4.2

3.5

2.5

5.2

-0.3

3.1

1.6

2.4

In 2009, three stateand New Jersey—wthan one-fifth of thforeign-born populcent of the state’s to17 states, accountinU.S. population, fobetween 8 percent total. In the remaincenter of the countple was foreign boramong the Midwespopulation made u(about 1 in 8 peopin 2009. Among thproportion of foreiportion was 17.5 p2.6 percentage pointhe combined 20 stexhibit.) DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOREIGN-BORN AND NATIVE-BORN POPULATIONS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 8.

Twenty States with the Highest Shares of Foreign-Born People, by 

Region, 2009(Change in the percentage of foreign-born residents in the state population, 1999 to 2009)Source: Congressional Budget Office based on monthly data from Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Outgoing 

Rotation Groups, 1999 and 2009.

Note: The larger the circle, the greater the state’s population in 2009. The higher the circle is on the scale, the more 

its foreign-born population increased (or the less it decreased) as a percentage of the state’s total population from 1999 to 2009. The darker the circle, the greater the state’s foreign-born population as a share of its total 

population in 2009.

>18 Percent13–18 Percent11–13 Percent8–11 Percent

Foreign Born as a

Percentage of the

State Population

Size of Foreign-Born

Population in Each State

(Millions)

10

421

876543210

-1-2

West Midwest South Northeast

New

Mexico

Washington

Colorado

Nevada

Hawaii

Oregon

Arizona

Illinois

California

Florida

Virginia

District of

Columbia

Maryland

Georgia

Texas

New

Jersey

Connecticut

Rhode

Island

New York

Massachusetts

Between 1999 and dramatic increases population that washowed modest groin some states. For the foreign-born shtion increased by 6 the number of forehad reached more t21 percent of the stthe national averagand Maryland also growth in the foreipopulation, which 5 percentage points foreign-born peoplalmost 900,000, anpopulation had riseMaryland, foreign-about 800,000, almstate’s population. During the decadetion of all western sgrowth than the foNew Jersey, Marylastates, Arizona and foreign-born peoplof the total populat900,000 foreign-bostate in 2009, accouof the state’s populcentage point from born population in 
DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOREIGN-BORN AND NATIVE-BORN POPULATIONS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 9.

U.S. Population, by Age and Birthplace, 2009

(Percent)Source: Congressional Budget Office based on monthly data from Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Outgoing 

Rotation Groups, 2009.

a. Includes Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

Africa and 

Oceaniaa

Europe and Canada

Asia

Mexico and

Central America

Native born to

native-born parents

37

56

34

15

18

13

14

11

21

25

19

26

43

52

41

36

29

44

26

12

28

30

24

33

36

33

28

131313

12

6

13

14

27

7

Under 25 25 to 44 45 to 64 65 or Older

100100100100100100100100100

Total

Native born to at least

one foreign-born parent

Caribbean and

South America

Foreign Born

Native Born

Foreign-born peopthe age of 25 and mage than native-borcent of foreign-bor25, compared with people. In that yearthe foreign-born poing-age category (bpared with slightly native-born populaborn, those with at ent are likely to be ythat group was undthan a third was in The percentage of tage 65 or older varof origin. For examresidents born in E65 or older, but jusMexico and Centraage group. Because people tenStates when they arregions that have brecent immigration those from regions sources of immigra(see Exhibit 3). In 2born residents from America, 41 percenfrom the Caribbean were between ages with 29 percent of Canada. DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOREIGN-BORN AND NATIVE-BORN POPULATIONS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 10.

Fertility Rates and Marital Status for Native-Born and Foreign-Born 

Women Ages 15 to 49, 2009Source: Congressional Budget Office based on data from Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2009.a. Includes Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.b. The expected number of births to a woman in a particular age range if, at each age within the range, the likelihood 

that she gave birth was equal to the share of women at that age who bore a child during the survey year. 

c. Consists of all women who are married, divorced, separated, or widowed.

Age15 to 24 0.6 0.7 1.3 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.425 to 34 1.0 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.835 to 49 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.8 ___ ___ ___

___

___

___ ___

Total, 15 to 49 2.0 2.6 3.3 2.1 2.2 2.0 3.0

15 to 24 11 16 27 7 10 7 8

25 to 34 52 55 66 46 50 44 49

35 to 49 66 74 70 73 71 69 72

15 to 24 9 20 28 15 14 12 1025 to 34 57 68 67 72 62 69 6535 to 49 83 87 84 91 83 91 86 8

Native Foreign

All Women Birthplace of Foreign-Born Women

Mexico and Caribbean and Europe and Africa and 

Fertility Rateb

Percentage Ever Marriedc

Percentage with One or More Children in the Household

Born Central America Asia South America Canada Oceania Born a

Fertility rates (the ewere higher among among native-born 2.0 births, respectivand 49 in 2009. Thably, however, depebirth, with a high oico and Central Amwomen from EuropAmong the youngewomen from Mexihad the highest fertwoman) and the lawith at least one chalso had the highes28 percent were, or ity rates among natper woman) were sgroup than among women from Europper woman). WomOceania had a relatin the youngest groof 25 and 34, their tively high, at 1.8 bForeign-born wommore likely than nabefore age 25 or be34. Between the aghad narrowed, and about as likely as wCentral America or America to have m
DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOREIGN-BORN AND NATIVE-BORN POPULATIONS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 11.

Educational Attainment of People Ages 25 to 64, by Birthplace, 2009

(Percent)Source: Congressional Budget Office based on monthly data from Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Outgoing 

Rotation Groups, 2009.

a. Includes Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

Africa and 

Oceaniaa

Europe and Canada

Asia

Mexico and

Central America

Native born to

native-born parents

375634

100100100100100100100100100

Total

Native born to at least

one foreign-born parent

Caribbean and

South America

888

29

56

10

16

6

9

31

24

31

25

26

19

32

2424

30

29

30

16

11

16

25

23

24

21

25

21

18

5

33

18

27

25

11

13

10

11

2

22

9

20

17

Less Than 

High School 

Diploma or GED

High School

Diploma or GED

Some 

College or

Associate’s 

Degree

Bachelor’s

Degree

Master’s

Degree or

More

Foreign Born

Native Born

Overall, the foreignhave completed lesborn population, alor exceed native-bo2009, 29 percent otion between the agcompleted high schcompared with aboborn population. Hpeople who had coor more were similthe foreign-born poof the native-born bachelor’s degree. The educational atpeople in the Uniteby region of birth. ico and Central Ampleted less educatiopeople or people frity, about 56 percenand Central Amerischool diploma or had a bachelor’s deabout 10 percent oless than a high sch55 percent had comor more; 6 percent Canada had less thor GED, and 47 pebachelor’s degree o
DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOREIGN-BORN AND NATIVE-BORN POPULATIONS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 12.

Unauthorized Foreign-Born Population, by Birthplace and Age, 

2000 and 2009Source: Congressional Budget Office based on data from Michael Hoefer, Nancy Rytina, and Bryan C. Baker, “Estimates 

of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Residing in the United States: January 2009,” Population 

Estimates (Department of Homeland Security, January 2010).

Notes: To estimate the number and characteristics of the unauthorized foreign-born population, the Department of 

Homeland Security begins with a count of the total foreign-born population and then subtracts the legal foreignborn population (legal permanent residents, asylum seekers, refugees, and nonimmigrants). The department then adjusts the estimates for mortality and emigration and for undercounts in the number of legal permanent residents and other groups of foreign-born people. It follows a similar process for estimating the distribution of the unauthorized foreign-born population in various subcategories. 

n.a. = not available.

All 8.5 100 10.8 100 3Birthplace

Mexico 4.7 55 6.7 62 4El Salvador 0.4 5 0.5 5 2Guatemala 0.3 3 0.5 4 6Honduras 0.2 2 0.3 3 8Other countries 2.9 34 2.8 26 -1

Age (Years)

Under 18 n.a. n.a. 1.3 12 n.a.18 to 24 n.a. n.a. 1.4 13 n.a.25 to 34 n.a. n.a. 3.7 34 n.a.35 to 44 n.a. n.a. 2.9 27 n.a.45 to 54 n.a. n.a. 1.0 10 n.a.55 or older n.a. n.a. 0.4 4 n.a.

2000 to 2009

Population

Total (Millions) Total

2000 2009

Percentage Change, 

Average Annual 

Percentage of Percentage of

(Millions)

Population

The Department o(DHS) has estimat10.8 million U.S. rcountry without le2.3 million more that its estimate by cabetween the total fothe authorized forenumbers that form came from a variety involved various asbecause they do nocounts, the resultinconsiderable uncerCenter has issued a of the unauthorized about 11.1 million According to DHSof the unauthorized in the United Statepopulation from Maverage of 4 percenand 2009. The unapopulation is predoIn 2009, DHS estibetween the ages of 54 percent of naturcent of native-born age group. (Data foborn citizens by agthis exhibit.) DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOREIGN-BORN AND NATIVE-BORN POPULATIONS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 13.

Unauthorized Foreign-Born Population, by State of Residence, 

2000 and 2009Sources: Congressional Budget Office based on data from Michael Hoefer, Nancy Rytina, and Bryan C. Baker, “Estimates 

of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Residing in the United States: January 2009,” Population 

Estimates (Department of Homeland Security, January 2010); and monthly data from Census Bureau, Current 

Population Survey, Outgoing Rotation Groups, 2000 and 2009.

Note: To estimate the number and characteristics of the unauthorized foreign-born population, the Department of 

Homeland Security begins with a count of the total foreign-born population and then subtracts the legal foreignborn population (legal permanent residents, asylum seekers, refugees, and nonimmigrants). It then adjusts the estimates for mortality and emigration and for undercounts in the number of legal permanent residents and other groups of foreign-born people. It follows a similar process for estimating the distribution of the 

unauthorized foreign-born population in various subcategories.

State of ResidenceCalifornia 2.5 7 2.6 7 0Texas 1.1 5 1.7 7 5Florida 0.8 5 0.7 4 -1New York 0.5 3 0.6 3 0Illinois 0.4 4 0.5 4 2Georgia 0.2 3 0.5 5 9Arizona 0.3 7 0.5 7 4North Carolina 0.3 4 0.4 4 4New Jersey 0.4 4 0.4 4 0Nevada 0.2 9 0.3 10 5All Other States 1.8 1 2.7 2 5

___

____

United States 8.5 3 10.8 4 3

State Population

Population Population Percentage of Percentage of

(Millions) (Millions)

Average Annual 

Percentage Change, 

State Population 2000 to 2009

2000 2009

According to estimDepartment of Hoabout 4 percent of 307 million people residents, and aboulived in 10 states. Idents made up abotion of Nevada and population of CalifAlmost half of all uin those four statestion in the other 4exhibit came to abopopulation of those 
CBO

Labor Market Characteristics of the 

Foreign-Born and Native-Born Populations
LABOR MARKET CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOREIGN-BORN AND NATIVE-BORN POPULATIONS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 14.

Labor Force Status of Men and Women Ages 16 to 64, by 

Age and Birthplace, 2009Source: Congressional Budget Office based on monthly data from Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Outgoing 

Rotation Groups, 2009.

Note: The labor force includes people with jobs and those looking for work. The unemployment rate is the percentage 

of the labor force looking for work.

a. Includes Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

BirthplaceNative Born 85 77 8.7 74 69 6.7Foreign Born 90 82 9.4 65 60 8.5

Mexico and Central America 93 82 11.0 57 51 11.3Asia 88 82 7.3 67 63 5.7Caribbean and South America 89 80 9.8 74 67 9.1Europe and Canada 87 81 6.3 69 65 6.8Africa and Oceaniaa 90 80 10.9 73 66 9.8

All 86 78 8.9 72 67 7.0

Native Born 82 64 21.7 74 62 16.2Foreign Born 88 75 14.8 57 48 16.3

Mexico and Central America 92 80 13.3 51 42 18.4Asia 82 75 9.1 54 46 15.0Caribbean and South America 81 57 30.2 72 61 14.8Europe and Canada 73 64 12.4 82 74 9.8Africa and Oceaniaa 82 67 18.8 46 37 19.5

All 82 65 20.8 72 61 16.2

in the

Percentage

Percentage Unemployment

Men Women

in the

Percentage

Percentage Unemployment

Ages 25 to 64

Ages 16 to 24 and Not in School

Labor Force Employed Rate Labor Force Employed Rate

Foreign-born men born women are leborn counterparts t2009, 90 percent oto 64 were in the la85 percent of nativsponding proportio74 percent for forewomen. Foreign-bo25 to 64 appear to than native-born pwork, as shown by The rate for workinwas 9.4 percent, cofor native-born mewomen was 8.5 per6.7 percent for natSimilarly, among yforeign-born men aborn women are leborn counterparts t(ages 16 to 24) from America who were more likely to be emnative-born counteother parts of the wof the 16- to 24-yeaMexico and Centracompared with 64 counterparts and 7from Asia. In contr24-year-old unenroand Central Americwere employed, comtheir native-born cof the same group oCanada. LABOR MARKET CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOREIGN-BORN AND NATIVE-BORN POPULATIONS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 15.

Percentage of Workers Ages 25 to 64 in Various 

Occupational Groups, by Birthplace, 2009(Percent)Source: Congressional Budget Office based on monthly data from Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Outgoing 

Rotation Groups, 2009.

Note: Occupational groups—as defined in the 2002 census and derived from the 2000 Standard Occupational 

Classification System—are ordered by the percentage of foreign-born workers employed in them.

a. Includes Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.b. Includes food preparation and service, personal care and service, health care support, and protective service.c. Includes business and financial operations; community and social service; law; education, training, and libraries; 

arts, design, entertainment, and sports; and health care practice and technical occupations.

d. Includes working with computers and mathematical science; architecture and engineering; and life, physical, and 

social sciences.

Occupational GroupPersonal Servicesb 11 16 16 14 19 12 21

Professionalc 24 15 5 23 16 23 24Construction and Extraction (Mining);

 Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 5 10 21 2 7 6 2

Production 5 9 13 7 6 5 7Building and Grounds

Cleaning and Maintenance 3 9 15 2 9 4 3

Sales and Related 11 8 6 11 8 9 8Management 13 8 4 11 8 16 7Office and Administrative Support 14 8 6 9 11 9 7Transportation and Materials Moving 5 8 11 3 9 4 11Technicald 6 7 1 16 4 10 8

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 4 3 4 2 4 3 2

___ ___

___

___

___

___ ___

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

All Workers

and

Africa 

Foreign-Born Workers (By birthplace)

Europe and 

Mexico and Caribbean

Native Foreign Central and South

Oceaniaa Born Born America Asia America Canada

To some extent, copational groups coibirth among foreigfor example, 21 perMexico and Centrain construction, mioccupations, compnative-born workerworkers from Asia. of workers from Mwere employed in pgrounds cleaning atransportation and proportion among Asia was 12 percen5 percent of workerAmerica were emplprofessional categofinancial operationservices, law, and mrequire more educaemployment in somthan one-fifth of ncent) and workers fEurope and Canadand Oceania (24 pfied as professionalfrom Asia were the in technical occupaworking with compscience; architecturphysical, and social 
LABOR MARKET CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOREIGN-BORN AND NATIVE-BORN POPULATIONS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 16.

Percentage of Workers Ages 25 to 64 in Various Industries, by 

Birthplace, 2009(Percent)Source: Congressional Budget Office based on monthly data from Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Outgoing 

Rotation Groups, 2009.

Notes: Major industry groups—as defined in the 2002 census and derived from the 2000 North American Industry 

Classification System—are ordered by the percentage of foreign-born workers employed in them.* = between zero and 0.5 percent.

a. Includes Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.b. Includes repair and maintenance, personal and laundry services, membership associations and organizations, and 

private households.

IndustryEducation and Health Services 25 18 9 23 25 23 32Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 19 17 15 19 19 15 20Manufacturing 11 13 15 13 8 12 10Professional and Business Services 11 12 12 13 11 14 9Leisure and Hospitality 6 12 15 11 9 8 8Construction 7 10 17 2 8 8 3Personal and Other Servicesb 47 8 68 5 6

Financial Activities 8 5 2 6 6 8 6Public Administration 6 2 1 3 3 3 5Information 3 2 1 2 2 3 2Agriculture, Mining, and Logging 2 2 5 * 1 1 1

___ ___

___

___

___

___ ___

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

Africa 

Foreign-Born Workers (By birthplace)

Native and

Mexico and Caribbean

Foreign Central and South Europe and 

Born Born America Asia

All Workers

America Canada Oceaniaa

The distribution of varies by country ofraction of foreign-workers was emplohospitality industrynative-born workerand 64 worked in sabout 15 percent oCentral America anworkers from Asia. Central America weas native-born workand hospitality; conmining, and logginMexico and Centrahalf as likely to be health services, finaadministration than Workers from Asiaand from the Caribby contrast, showed that were generally born workers. For eof workers from AsSouth America, or employed in the edindustries, and at leemployed in the trautilities industries—same as native-born ers from Asia were min construction thaers, and workers froSouth America werpersonal and other born workers. LABOR MARKET CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOREIGN-BORN AND NATIVE-BORN POPULATIONS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 17.

Unemployment Rate of People Ages 25 to 64, by Birthplace, 

1994 to 2009(Percent)Source: Congressional Budget Office based on monthly data from Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Outgoing 

Rotation Groups, 1994 to 2009.

Note: Shaded bars indicate periods of recession, which extend from the peak of a business cycle to its trough. On the 

basis of monthly data, the National Bureau of Economic Research has determined that the most recent recession ended in June 2009. The estimated unemployment rates, calculated annually, identify the proportion of the workforce that is jobless but available for and actively seeking work.

a. Includes Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

1210

86420

Born in Mexico or Central America

Born in Asia

Native Born

Native Born 4.6 3.6 2.9 4.6 3.6 7.8 -2 2 -1 4Foreign Born 7.6 5.3 3.7 6.2 3.5 9.1 -4 3 -3 6

Mexico and Central America 10.2 6.2 4.7 6.7 4.0 11.1 -6 2 -3 7Asia 5.8 3.5 2.8 5.7 2.8 6.6 -3 3 -3 4Caribbean and South America 8.1 7.2 4.0 6.6 3.9 9.5 -4 3 -3 6Canada and Europe 4.8 3.7 2.6 5.0 3.0 6.5 -2 2 -2 4Africa and Oceaniaa 7.0 7.2 3.8 6.4 4.3 10.5 -3 3 -2 6

All 4.9 3.8 3.0 4.9 3.6 8.0 -2 2 -1 4

Change (Percentage points)

2006-

2006 2009

2003-

2003

2000-

1994 1997

1990s

2000 2003 2006 2009

2000s 1994-

2000

Unemployment ratof the economy anHowever, economilarger changes in thamong foreign-borpeople. Unemploymamong the foreign born between 1994 2003 and 2006, whing quickly. Converate rose more amonative-born workerand between 2006 omy was shrinking Between 1994 and among people from America, the Cariband Africa and Ocethan they were amothose from Asia, renomic growth. For Central America, thattributable to loweattainment and to tration in constructhat tend to add joomy is growing rapwhen economic groExhibits 11, 15, anThe unemploymenAsia and from Canwere closer to the unative-born workerment rate among pCentral America. Arates among people Canada and Europnative-born people
LABOR MARKET CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOREIGN-BORN AND NATIVE-BORN POPULATIONS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 18.

Annual Earnings of Workers Ages 25 to 64, by Sex, Citizenship, 

Birthplace, and Earnings Percentile, 2009Source: Congressional Budget Office based on data from Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 

Supplement, 2010.

Notes: For each group by citizenship and birthplace, the percentiles were calculated by arranging workers’ earnings in 

2009 from the lowest amounts and proceeding upward. The bottom 10 percent of workers earns less than the amount that delineates the 10th percentile; at the 50th percentile (also called the median), half of all workers earn more and half earn less; and at the 90th percentile, 90 percent of the workers earn less.n.a. = not applicable.

a. Includes Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

Citizenship and BirthplaceNative Born 13 45 105 n.a. n.a. n.a.Foreign Born 10 30 90 -23 -33 -14

Citizenship

Naturalized 14 40 105 9 -10 0Noncitizen 9 25 73 -31 -44 -30

Birthplace

Mexico and Central America 8 22 50 -38 -51 -52Asia 14 48 120 8 7 14Caribbean and South America 12 32 85 -8 -29 -19Europe and Canada 17 53 130 31 17 24

Africa and Pacific Islandsa 10 32 90 -20 -29 -14

Native Born 8 30 71 n.a. n.a. n.a.Foreign Born 7 25 71 -13 -17 0

Citizenship

Naturalized 10 30 80 19 0 13Noncitizen 5 19 60 -33 -37 -15

Birthplace

Mexico and Central America 5 16 38 -36 -46 -46Asia 9 33 90 6 10 27Caribbean and South America 9 25 60 13 -17 -15Europe and Canada 8 35 82 5 17 15

Africa and Oceaniaa 6 25 80 -25 -17 13

Men

Women

Percentile Percentile 

Percentage Difference in 

Percentile 

(Thousands of 2009 dollars)

Percentile Percentile 

Workers' Annual Earnings

Percentile 

10th 50th 90th 10th 50th 90th

Earnings from Native-Born Workers

In 2009, native-bowho were naturalizably more than nonpoints in the earninannual earnings (th50th percentile, or of a group earns mnative-born men wabove the median fized citizens and $2for those who were median earnings fowere $30,000, the were naturalized cimore than the $19those who were nocitizens in the low (90th percentile) eawere about equal to those of native-bornaturalized citizens 10th percentile, for in 2009, as comparby their native-borWorkers born in Mtypically earned lesfrom other regions Europe and Canadthan men from Asifrom both areas gentheir counterparts fworld. LABOR MARKET CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOREIGN-BORN AND NATIVE-BORN POPULATIONS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 19.

Median Family Income and Other Selected Characteristics, by 

Type of Family, Citizenship, and Birthplace, 2009Source: Congressional Budget Office based on data from Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 

Supplement, 2010.

Note: Median family income is the 50th percentile of family income for all members of a group such as native-born 

members of married-couple families. In the calculation of that median, a particular family’s income is counted once for each member of the family in the group. For example, in the calculation of the median family income of native-born members of married-couple families, the income of a married-couple family is counted once for each native-born family member. One result of that approach is that the income of a large family influences the calculation of the median more than does the income of a small family.

a. Includes Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

Citizenship and BirthplaceNative Born 55 76 32 24 62 3.1Foreign Born 45 57 36 19 66 3.3

Citizenship

Naturalized 58 70 45 25 69 3.1Noncitizen 36 47 31 18 63 3.4

Birthplace

Mexico and Central America 33 40 32 15 64 3.8Asia 65 76 50 24 75 3.2Caribbean and South America 44 60 38 20 55 3.0Europe and Canada 58 75 43 25 69 2.5

Africa and Oceaniaa 43 58 31 24 62 3.3

All 53 74 33 24 62 3.1

Percentage in

Family

in the

(Thousands of 2009 dollars)

Median Family Income, by Type of Family Average

Number

All Couple

Married

Other Family

Not in a 

Families

Married-Couple

On average, in 200naturalized citizens that had higher inccase for noncitizensnaturalized citizens aged 3.1 members; averaged 3.4 membfamily income amo$55,000, compared naturalized citizens citizens. The mediafrom Mexico and C$33,000; for peoplincome was $65,00Median family incopeople in 2009 was married-couple fam$36,000 median fofamilies and the $1who were not in faalone or shared houWithin married-coin family income bnative-born and nanoncitizens’ median $47,000, compared born people and $7citizens. LABOR MARKET CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOREIGN-BORN AND NATIVE-BORN POPULATIONS A DESCRIPTION OF THE 

CBO

Exhibit 20.

Percentage of the Population Living in Families with Income 

Below the Poverty Threshold, by Age, Sex, and Citizenship, 2009Source: Congressional Budget Office based on data from Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 

Supplement, 2010.

Age (Years)Under 18 21 20 32 17 3618 to 64 13 12 19 10 2465 or Older 9 8 15 13 21

All Ages 14 14 19 11 25

Under 18 20 20 30 16 3318 to 64 11 10 17 10 2265 or Older 7 6 13 9 21

All Ages 13 12 18 10 23

Under 18 21 21 33 17 3818 to 64 15 14 20 11 2765 or Older 11 10 17 15 21

All Ages 16 15 20 12 28

Foreign Born

Total U.S. Naturalized 

Population Native Born All Citizen Noncitizen

All Males and Females

Males

Females

In 2009, 14 percenthe United States hthe poverty threshoa family of four. By uralized citizens anwere in such familiof native-born chillived in families whthe poverty threshocent of foreign-bornaturalized citizens dren who were ado36 percent of those children born in thin a family headed instead with childrpoverty rate among to 19 percent and tcitizen children rise