Foreign-born diversity - 1996 Current Population Survey

American Demographics, July, 1997 by Berna Miller

There are 24.6 million people living in the U.S. who were born in another country, according to the 1996 Current Population Survey. That is 9.3 percent of the population, the highest share since 1940.

The leading birth nations of the foreign-born are Mexico, the Philippines, China, Cuba, and India. Mexican-born Americans are 6.7 million, or 27 percent of all foreign-born. Mexicans are young, with 30 percent under age 25. Almost half have not completed high school, compared with 16 percent of natives. And 35 percent of the Mexican-born live in poverty, compared with 22 percent of all foreign-born and 13 percent of all Americans.

Another 27 percent of the foreign-born are from Asia. These include 1.2 million Filipinos, who are more likely than natives to have a bachelors degree or higher, and to have incomes over $35,000. Only 5 percent of Filipinos live below the poverty level. The Asian foreign-born also include 801,000 Chinese. China-born Americans are older than the national average, and they are more likely than natives to have incomes over $50,000. Although 85 percent live above the poverty level, the China-born are more likely than natives to have no income.

The 772,000 Cuban-born Americans tend to be older than natives, with 57 percent over age 45. They are more likely than natives to have less than a high school degree, and less likely to have graduated from college. Just behind them are Asian Indians, with 757,000 residents. Indians are very well-educated, with 29 percent holding graduate or professional degrees and 52 percent holding a four-year college degree. Asian Indians are also likely to be middle-aged, which may explain why they are more likely than natives to have incomes over $50,000.