New data released today from the U.S. Census Bureau provide the first social and economic characteristic profiles of the people living in group quarters — such as adult correctional facilities, college dorms and nursing homes — in nearly three decades.

     “This release marks the first in-depth look at the characteristics of the nonhousehold population since the 1980 Census,” said Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon. “These are important data to understand as decision makers grapple with policies that impact the people who live in these facilities.”

     The latest data from the American Community Survey also include profiles of more than 100 race and ethnic group iterations such as blacks, Chinese and Mexicans. In addition, profiles for 72 ancestry groups, from Afghani to Welsh, are also available.

     Selected national highlights for today’s data release include the following:

The Group Quarters Population as a Whole

The group quarters data are collected for two categories of facilities: institutional, including residences such as correctional facilities, nursing homes and psychiatric hospitals; and noninstitutional, which include residences such as college dormitories, military barracks and adult group homes. Profiles are available for specific group quarters type for the nation, regions, Puerto Rico and the 35 states that have a group quarters population of at least 45,000. Table shells can be found on the ACS 2006 Data Products Page and data can be accessed via American FactFinder. The applicable subject tables are S2601A, B, C and C-PR (Puerto Rico).

• Nationally, 8.1 million people were living in group quarters, or about 2.7 percent of the total population, according to the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program.
  
  
• The group quarters population is more likely to be never married or widowed than the total population — 62 percent of those 15 and older living in group quarters have never been married and 15 percent were widowed, compared with 31 percent and 6 percent for the total population.
  
  
• The group quarters population had lower levels of educational attainment than the total population — 61 percent of those 25 and older living in group quarters were high school graduates or higher and 9 percent had a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 84 percent and 27 percent for the total population.
  
  
• Individuals living in group quarters have much lower per capita income than the total population — the per capita income of those living in group quarters was $8,095 in 2006 compared to $25,267 for the total population. Those living in noninstitutional group quarters had lower per capita income than those living in institutional group quarters, $7,423 compared with $8,737.
  
  
• Of the group quarters population, 58 percent were male and 42 percent were female.

• The population living in adult correctional facilities was 2.1 million in 2006, nearly double the 1990 population of 1.1 million. In 2000, the adult correctional population was nearly 2 million.
  
  
• Males comprised more than 90 percent of the adult correctional population in 2006. Females represented 10 percent of this population in 2006, up from 8 percent in 1990.
  
  
• More than 60 percent of the population of adult correctional facilities was between the ages of 25 and 44. The median age of the adult correctional population is 34.3.
  
  
• About 46 percent of the adult correctional population was white alone. Also, approximately 41 percent of the adult correctional population was black alone and 19 percent were Hispanic.
  
  
• Of those 25 and older, 61 percent in adult correctional facilities had graduated high school and 3 percent had at least a bachelor’s degree. The comparable rates for the total population were 84 percent and 27 percent, respectively.

• Unlike the adult correctional population, the population of nursing facilities was disproportionately female. Females comprised approximately half of the total population, but were nearly 70 percent of the nursing facility population.
  
  
• Nearly three-in-four residents of nursing facilities were 75 or older. The median age of nursing facility residents was 83.2.
  
  
• The population living in nursing facilities was more likely to be white alone than the total population, 84 percent compared with 75 percent. The black alone population represented 13 percent of both the nursing home population and the total population. They were less likely to be of Hispanic or Latino origin than the total population, 4 percent compared with 15 percent.

• Among the Asian alone population 25 and older, bachelor’s degrees or higher were held by 68.6 percent of Asian Indians, 46.3 of Japanese and 51.7 percent of Chinese.
  
  
• Among the Hispanic population 5 and older, 84.4 percent of Cubans, 79.1 percent of Mexicans, and 69 percent of Puerto Ricans spoke a language other than English at home.
  
  
• Among the black population alone households, 29 percent were in married couple families compared with 49.7 percent for the nation. Of the black alone population 25 and older, 16.9 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher.
  
  
• Among the American Indian alone population 30 years and older, 6.9 percent live with their grandchildren, compared with 3.5 percent of the total population.
  
  
• Among Alaska Natives alone, 34.5 percent are married, compared with 50.4 percent of the total population.

     For more information on the group quarters population or the race or ethnic and ancestry populations, visit American FactFinder at www.census.gov.

     As part of the Census Bureau’s reengineered 2010 Census, the data collected by the ACS helps federal officials determine where to distribute more than $300 billion to state and local governments each year. Responses to the survey are strictly confidential and protected by law.

     The 2006 ACS estimates are based on an annual, nationwide sample of about 250,000 addresses per month. In addition, approximately 20,000 group quarters across the United States were sampled, comprising approximately 200,000 residents. Geographic areas for which data are available are based on total populations of 65,000 or more.

     As is the case with all surveys, statistics from sample surveys are subject to sampling and nonsampling error. All comparisons have been tested and found to be statistically significant at the 90 percent confidence level, unless otherwise noted. Please consult the data tables for specific margins of error. For more information go to <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/UseData/index.htm>.