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Chapter 17.
ADDING DIVERSITY
FROM ABROAD:
The Foreign-Born Population, 1999
About 10 percent of Americans Since 1970, the composition of
are foreign born — less than the foreign-born population has
the highest share this century changed dramatically.
(15 percent in 1910), but more than Between 1970 and 1999, the share of foreign-born U.S.
the lowest share (5 percent in 1970). residents from Europe dropped from 62 percent to
16 percent. Over the same period, the share of the
Having all the facts on America's growing cultural di- foreign-born from Asia tripled, from 9 percent to 27
versity is essential for good government and good percent, and the share from Latin America increased
business. In some parts of the country, the character- from 19 percent to 51 percent. In 1999, two-thirds of
istics of the foreign-born population must be taken foreign-born Latin Americans were from Central
into account when developing educational programs, America and Mexico.
designing street signs, and providing social services.
However, this population defies generalization, be- Figure 17-1.
cause it is both diverse and rapidly changing. The Foreign-Born Population: 1900-99
Changes in the immigration laws from 1965 to 1990 Foreign-born population (in millions)
contributed to increased migration from abroad and Percent of total population
generated greater diversity among the newcomers.
Millions Percent
The foreign-born population in the United States grew 30 16
from 10 million in 1970,1 the lowest total in this cen-
tury, to 14 million in 1980, and 20 million in 1990. In 14
March 1999, the estimated foreign-born population in 25
the United States was 26 million — not statistically
12
different than the high reached in 1997.
20
10
Words That Count 15 8
• The foreign-born population refers to
6
people who were not U.S. citizens at birth. 10
• The native population refers to people who 4
were either born in the United States or a U.S.
5
Island Area, such as Puerto Rico, or who were 2
born abroad of a U.S. citizen parent.
0 0
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 1999
1
The number of people in the United States who were foreign born was Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1900 to 1990 censuses and March 1999
9.6 million in 1970 and 9.7 million in 1960. Current Population Survey.
Population Profile of the United States: 1999 67
U.S. Census Bureau
Thirty-five percent of the foreign-born population en- as naturalized citizens to be poor (22 percent com-
tered the U.S. in the 1990s and 30 percent in the pared with 11 percent). The general poverty rates for
1980s. More than one in every three foreign-born the foreign-born population ranged from 11 percent
people in the United States (37 percent) was a natu- for both Europeans and Asians to 24 percent for Latin
ralized citizen, according to the 1999 Current Popu- Americans. Yet these figures masked further differences
lation Survey (CPS). Among those who entered the within each group. For example, among Latin Americans,
country before 1980, 79 percent were naturalized. the poverty rate for Central Americans and Mexicans was
28 percent.
Significant differences exist between
the foreign-born and native The foreign-born population was
populations, as well as important highly concentrated in a few states,
differences among the major according to the 1999 CPS.
foreign-born population groups. In 1999, California had the highest percentage of for-
eign-born residents, 24 percent.4 In fact, California
In 1999, 25 percent of family households maintained
alone accounted for 30 percent of the foreign-born
by a foreign-born person contained five or more mem-
population living in the United States. Two out of ev-
bers, compared with 13 percent of family households
ery three foreign-born people living in the United States
maintained by a native-born person. About 40 percent
could be found in just five states: California, Florida,
of families with a Central American or Mexican house-
New Jersey, New York, and Texas.
holder were this large, compared with 11 percent of
those with a European householder. 4
The percent foreign-born in California is not statistically different than
the percent foreign-born in New York state.
The foreign-born were less likely
Figure 17-2.
than the native population to
have a high school diploma.
Foreign-Born Population by State: 1999
Among the population aged 25 Percent foreign-born
Less than 10.0
and older, 66 percent of the AK
10.0 to 19.9
5.1
foreign-born were high school 20.0 or more
United States = 9.6
graduates, compared with 86
percent of the native-born popu-
lation. The share of high school WA
7.4 NH 4.2 ME
graduates ranged from 83 per- MT ND VT 3.4 2.7
1.2 0.6
cent for Asians to 48 percent of OR
7.9
MN
5.9
ID NY MA 11.4
SD WI
Latin Americans.2 6.1
WY 1.0 2.1 MI
19.2
1.3 4.2 RI 9.7
IA PA CT 9.7
NV NE 2.9 3.4 NJ 14.3
In 1998, 18 percent of the for- 14.7 UT
3.6
IL IN
OH
2.3 DE 4.1
CA 4.4 9.2 1.9 WV
CO
eign-born population lived in 24.0
6.4 KS MO
KY
1.2 VA
7.4
MD 10.1
DC 10.9
4.9 2.2
poverty, compared with 12 per- TN
2.1
NC
4.1
OK
cent of the native-born popula- AZ
13.7 NM
6.2
3.2 AR
1.3
SC
2.6 2.2
tion. 3 Those without U.S. MS
1.2
AL
1.8
GA
3.8
citizenship were twice as likely TX LA
11.7 2.5
HI FL
15.2 16.0
2
For more information on educational
attainment, see Chapter 9.
3
The 1999 Current Population Survey
collects poverty statistics for 1998. See
Chapter 13 for more information on the 1999
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 1999.
poverty rates for the foreign-born population.
68 Population Profile of the United States: 1999
U.S. Census Bureau
The Census Bureau Can
Tell You More
• For more detailed information, consult the fol-
lowing U.S. Census Bureau Current Population
Report: The Foreign Born Population in the United
States: March 1999 by Angela Brittingham.
• Look for complete reports and detailed tables
on the Census Bureau's World Wide Web site
(www.census.gov). Click on “F” and select “For-
eign-Born Population Data.”
• Contact the Ethnic and Hispanic Statistics Branch
of the U.S. Census Bureau at 301-457-2403
or e-mail pop@census.gov.
• For information on publications and other re-
sources, see Appendix A.
Population Profile of the United States: 1999 69
U.S. Census Bureau
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