RELEASED: 12:01 A.M. EDT, SEPTEMBER 27, 2007 (THURSDAY)
- Shelly Lowe
- Public Information Office
- 301-763-3691/763-6340 (fax)
- 301-457-1037 (TDD)
- e-mail: <pio@census.gov>
- CB07-CN.11
- Detailed tables
- 2006 data user guide
- ACS media tool kit page
- 2000 Data (Race, Hispanic Origin)
- 1990/2000 Data (Type, Sex, Age)
- 1980 Data
- Institutional [PDF]
- Noninstitutional [PDF]
- by Type [PDF]
Census Bureau Releases New Data on Residents of Adult Correctional
Facilities, Nursing Homes and Other Group Quarters
Annual Data Also Paint Diverse Portrait of Nation’s Race, Ethnic and
Ancestry Groups
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>.