Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Income, Poverty, and Health 

Insurance Coverage: 2011 

September 2012 

Webinar Access Information 

Toll free number: 888-989-4394

Passcode: CENSUS 

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Conference/meeting number: PW2599186 

Conference/meeting passcode: CENSUS 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Presenters 

Host Stacy Vidal

Public Information Office 

Presenter David S. Johnson, Ph.D. 

Chief, Social, Economic, and Housing Statistics Division

2 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Go to www.census.gov and click on the 

slider at the top to obtain – 

• Today’s Webinar Presentation 

• News Release and Supporting Tables 

• Links to the Report and Other 

Reference Pages 

• Links to Fact Sheets 

Resources for Today’s Webinar 

3 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

• Median household money income for the nation was $50,100 in 2011, 

a decline of 1.5 percent from 2010, in real terms. 

• The 2011 official poverty rate for the nation was 15.0 percent and there 

were 46.2 million people in poverty, not statistically different from last 

year. 

• The percentage of people without health insurance coverage 

decreased in 2011 to 15.7 percent from 16.3 percent in 2010. The 

number of uninsured also decreased to 48.6 million in 2011 from 50.0 

million in 2010. 

Highlights 

Note: Income rounded to nearest $100. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2011 and 

2012 Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 4 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Real Median Household Income: 1967 to 2011 

Note: Income rounded to nearest $100. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1968 to 

2012 Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1967 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2011

Income in thousands (2011 dollars) Recession 

$50,100

$42,100

5 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Real Median Household Income by Age of Householder: 

2010 and 2011 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2011 and 

2012 Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

15 to 24

years

25 to 34

years

35 to 44

years

45 to 54

years

55 to 64

years

65 years and

older

Income in thousands (2011 dollars) 2010 2011 

-2.3% 

No significant 

difference 

No significant 

difference 

6 

No significant 

difference 

No significant 

difference 

-4.0% 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Real Median Household Income by Race and Hispanic 

Origin of Householder: 1967 to 2011 

Income in thousands (2011 dollars) 

Note: Income rounded to nearest $100. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1968 to 

2012 Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

Recession 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1967 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2011

Hispanic (any 

race) 

Asian 

Black

$65,100

$55,400

$32,200

$38,600

Non-Hispanic 

White 

$61,000

$49,600

$36,900

$25,500

7 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Real Household Income at Selected Percentiles: 

1967 to 2011 

Note: Income rounded to nearest $100. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1968 to 

2012 Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

1967 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2011

Income in thousands (2011 dollars) 

10th 

50th (median) 

90th 

$88,600

$9,600

$42,100

Recession 

$143,600

$12,000

$50,100

8 

95th 

$111,900 

$186,000
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

US Dollars x 100,000

Density

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2

10th 50th 90th 95th 99th 

9 

$17,000 

$65,000 

$173,000 

$230,000 

$437,000 

Distribution of 

Family SizeAdjusted Income 

2011 

Note: To adjust your income by family size relative to a 4-person family, use the following factors: 

 Single person, multiply income by 2.2 

 Married-couple, multiply income by 1.5 

 Married-couple with one child, multiply income by 1.4 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2012 Annual 

Social and Economic Supplement. 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Change in Share of Aggregate Equivalence-Adjusted Income by 

Quintile and Top Five Percent: 2010 and 2011 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2011 and 

2012 Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Lowest

Quintile

Second

Quintile

Middle

Quintile

Fourth

Quintile

Highest

Quintile

Top 5

Percent

-1.6%

2010 2011 

-1.9% 

-1.6% +5.3% 

10

No significant 

difference 

+1.6% 

Percent 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Gini Index of Equivalence-Adjusted Income Compared 

to Money Income: 1967 to 2011 

Note: Change in data collection methodology in 1993. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1968 to 2012 

Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

0.300

0.320

0.340

0.360

0.380

0.400

0.420

0.440

0.460

0.480

0.500

1967 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2011

Recession 

11

0.477

0.397

0.362

0.463

Money Income 

Gini Index 

Equivalence-adjusted 

Gini Index 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2011

Real Median Earnings and Women’s-to-Men’s Earnings 

Ratio: 1960 to 2011 

(Full-time, year-round workers)

Note: Earnings rounded to nearest $100. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1961 to 2012 

Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

Earnings of men 

$35,700 $48,200

$21,600 Earnings of women 

$37,100

Women’s-to-men’s 

 earnings ratio 

61%

77%

2011 dollars Recession 

Percent 

12
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1967 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2011

Total and Full-Time, Year-Round Workers With Earnings 

by Sex: 1967 to 2011 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1968 to 2012 

Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

All male workers 

Females, full-time 

year-round 

Males, full-time 

year-round 

14.8 million 

Numbers in millions 

53.2 

million 

36.6 

million 

34.4 

million 

Recession 

43.7 million 

81.4 million 

73.1 million 

58.0 million 

All female 

workers 

13
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Year-Round, Full-Time Workers by Quintile: 

2010 and 2011 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2011 and 

2012 Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Lowest

Quintile

Second

Quintile

Middle

Quintile

Fourth

Quintile

Highest

Quintile

Top 5 Percent

Number of workers in millions 2010

14

2011 

17.3%

3.4%

No significant 

difference 

No significant 

difference 

2.5%

No significant 

difference 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

1959 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2011

Poverty rate

Percent

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Numbers in millions 

Poverty Rate and Number in Poverty: 

1959 to 2011 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1960 to 2012 

Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

15.0%

Recession 

Number in poverty 

39.5 

million 

46.2 

million 

22.4%

15
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Poverty Rates by Race and Hispanic 

Origin: 1959 to 2011 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1960 to 2012 

Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

1959 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2011

Percent 

Non-Hispanic White 

Hispanic 

(any race) Asian 

Black 

55.1%

22.8%

16.1%

7.5% 

Recession 

25.3%

27.6%

12.3%

9.8% 

16
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Poverty Rates by Age: 1959 to 2011 

Note: Data for people aged 18 to 64 and 65 and older are not available 

from 1960 to 1965.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1960 to 2012 

Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

1959 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2011

Percent 

18 to 64 years 

Under 18 years 17.0%

27.3%

35.2%

65 years and older 

Recession 

21.9%

13.7%

8.7%

17
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Change in Number of Persons in Poverty Compared to Change in 

Full-time, Year-Round Workers: 2010 to 2011 

-0.74 -0.74

-0.55

1.23

1.50

0.41

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

South Suburbs Noncitizens

Numbers in Millions 

18

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2011 and 2012 

Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

Change in number of full-time, year-round workers 

Change in number of persons in poverty 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

People With Income Below Specified Ratio of Their 

Poverty Thresholds: 1967 to 2011 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1968 to 2012 

Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

19

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1967 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2011

18.2% At or above 400% of poverty threshold 35.1% 

40.6% 200% to 399% of poverty threshold 30.5%

26.9% 100% to 199% of poverty threshold 19.4%

 9.8% 50% to 99% of poverty threshold 8.4%

 4.4% Below 50% of poverty threshold 6.6%

Percent of all people 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Supplemental Poverty 

Measure (SPM) 

Observations from the Interagency 

Technical Working Group - March 2, 

2010

•Will not replace the official poverty 

measure 

•Will not be used for resource 

allocation or program eligibility 

•Census Bureau and BLS 

responsible for improving and 

updating the measure 

•Continued research and 

improvement 

•Based on NAS panel 1995 

recommendations 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2011 Annual Social 

and Economic Supplement. 

http://www.census.gov/hhes/povmeas/methodology/supplemental/research/Sho

rt_ResearchSPM2010.pdf 

20 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Comparison of SPM and Official Poverty Estimates: 

2010

*Includes unrelated individuals under age 15. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2011 Annual 

Social and Economic Supplement. 

15.2%

22.5%

13.7%

9.0%

16.0%

18.2%

15.2% 15.9%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

All People Under 18 years 18 to 64

years

65 years and

older

Percent Official* SPM

21
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Change in the Number of People Below Their Poverty 

Threshold Using Alternative Resource Measures: 2011 

Alternative resource measures All people Children 

under 18 

Adults 

18 to 64 

Adults 65 

and older 

Money income plus 

SNAP (food stamps) -3.9 -1.7 -1.9 -0.3

Money income after the federal 

earned income tax credit -5.7 -3.1 -2.6 - 

Money income less 

Unemployment Insurance 

Benefits 

+2.3 +0.6 +1.6 +0.1 

Money income less 

Social Security income +21.4 +1.1 +5.8 +14.5 

Note: - Represents or rounds to zero. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2012 Annual 

Social and Economic Supplement. Unpublished data. 

22

Numbers in millions 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

People Without Health 

Insurance Coverage: 1987 to 2011 

Note: The data for 1999 reflect the results of follow-up verification 

questions, creating a break in the historical series. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1988 to 2012 

Annual Social and Economic Supplements..

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

1987 1990 1995 2000 2005 2011

Percent 

12.9%

All people 

All children 12.9%

Recession 

15.7%

9.4%

23
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Note: Estimates by type of coverage are not mutually exclusive. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2000 to 2012 

Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

People by Type of Health Insurance 

Coverage: 1999 to 2011 

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1999 2005 2011

Percent 

73.0%

Government coverage 

Employment-based coverage 

Any private coverage 

64.1%

13.6%

24.2%

Uninsured rate 

Recession 

63.9%

55.1%

32.2%

15.7%

24
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

1999 2005 2011

Uninsured Rates by 

Race and Hispanic Origin: 1999 to 2011 

Hispanic 

(any race) 

Asian 

Black 

Non-Hispanic White 

Percent Recession 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2000 to 2012 

Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

31.9%

18.7%

9.0%

17.0%

30.1%

19.5%

11.1% 

16.8%

25
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2011 and 2012 

Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

Uninsured Rates by Age: 2010 and 2011 

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

 Under 19 19 to 25

years

 26 to 34

years

 35 to 44

years

 45 to 64

years

 65 years

and older

No 

significant 

difference

No 

significant 

difference

Percentage point change 2010 2011 

 -2.2 

 -0.9 

No significant 

difference 

26

 -0.3 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Note: Income in 2011 dollars. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2000 to 2012 

Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 

Uninsured Rates for All People by Real 

Household Income: 1999 to 2011 

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

1999 2005 2011

Percent 

$50,000 to $74,999 

$25,000 to $49,999 

Less than $25,000 

$75,000 and over 

24.2%

19.9%

6.8%

12.4%

Recession 

7.8%

15.4%

21.5%

25.4%

27
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

28

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2012 Annual 

Social and Economic Supplement. 

24.0%

14.3%

36.0%

56.7%

26.5%

27.5%

13.4%

1.4%

18 to 44 

years

Total 

Population

Uninsured

Age Distribution of the Total Population 

and the Uninsured: 2011 

Under 18 

years 

45 to 64 

years 

65 years 

and older 

Percent 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2012 Annual 

Social and Economic Supplement. 

Distribution of Working Status of Those 

Aged 18 to 64 Years: 2011 

29

50.4%

36.4%

24.2%

31.6%

25.4%

32.0%

Less than Fulltime, Yearround

Aged 18 to 

64 years

Uninsured

Full-time, Year-round 

Did not work 

at least one 

week 

Percent 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

For additional questions, contact: 

Questions? 

30
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

American Community Survey (ACS)

September 17 Webinar on the 2011 ACS One-Year Estimates 

September 20 ACS One-Year Estimates 

October 25 ACS Three-Year Estimates (2009-2011) 

December 6 ACS Five-Year Estimates (2007-2011) 

Other Releases

October Health Status, Health Insurance, and Medical Services Utilization: 2010 

November 13 Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2011

December Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: 2011 

Upcoming Releases 

31
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

For additional questions, contact: 

U.S. Census Bureau

Public Information Office

301-763-3030

www.census.gov 

32

Random Samplings 

http://blogs.census.gov 
Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

33