Some states do collect such information, but those figures are not included in this Almanac because they would not always be comparable. Because of rounding, figures may not add up to 100 per cent. In some instances, U.S. totals may include data on service schools and outlying areas that are not shown separately. Figures cover people 25 years and older. The figures are subject to sampling error, and the Census Bureau advises against using them to rank the states.
Poverty thresholds vary by family size and composition.
The statistics were prepared for the foundation by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, using data from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey. Figures represent the composition of state legislatures as of July 1998. Beginning with its 1996-97 surveys, the U.S. Department of Education changed the way it identifies colleges and universities. Public institutions include colleges and universities controlled by local and state governments, as well as military academies and other institutions operated by the federal government. Some boards also have governing authority.