EMBARGOED UNTIL: 9 A.M. EDT, SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 (THURSDAY) Public Information Office CB98-177 301-457-3030/301-457-3670 (fax) 301-457-4067 (TDD) e-mail: pio@census.gov Income and Poverty Information Staff 301-457-3242 Asians and Pacific Islanders Have Nation's Highest Median Household Income in 1997, Census Bureau Reports Asians and Pacific Islanders had the highest median household income among the nation's major race groups in 1997, although their income per household member fell in comparison to Whites, according to reports released today by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau. (The reports, Money Income in the United States: 1997 and Poverty in the United States: 1997, are available on our web site at<http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income97.html>for income, and<http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/povty97.html>for poverty.) "Asians and Pacific Islanders as a group had the highest median household income in 1997 at $45,249," said Daniel Weinberg, chief of the Census Bureau's Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division. "However, this is the first time in six years that the income-per- household-member estimate of White households was higher than that of Asian and Pacific Islander households." The larger average size of Asian and Pacific Islander households (3.17 people) compared with White households (2.58 people) produced an income estimate of $18,569 per household member, lower than the $20,093 estimate for White households. The median household income of Asians and Pacific Islanders ($45,249) was highest, while White households had the second highest ($38,972), followed by African American households ($25,050). Households maintained by a person of Hispanic origin, who may be of any race, had a median income of $26,628. Other highlights: Poverty - Both the number (1.5 million) and percentage (14.0 percent) of Asians and Pacific Islanders who were poor in 1997, statistically were unchanged from the previous year. In 1997, the number and poverty rate of Whites was 24.4 million and 11.0 percent; 9.1 million and 26.5 percent for African Americans; and 8.3 million and 27.1 percent for Hispanics. The poverty rate for Hispanics did not differ statistically from the rate for African Americans. - For families, the number and percent who were poor in 1997 was 244,000 and 10.2 percent for Asians and Pacific Islanders; 5.0 million and 8.4 percent for Whites; 2.0 million and 23.6 percent for African Americans; and 1.7 million and 24.7 percent for Hispanics. The poverty rate for Hispanics did not differ statistically from the rate for African Americans. - The poverty threshold for a family of four was $16,400 in annual income in 1997. Income - The Asian and Pacific Islander group was the only race group that did not experience a statistically significant increase in real median, or inflation-adjusted, household income between 1996 and 1997. - The Asian and Pacific Islander population trailed the White population, which had the highest per capita income in 1997 at $20,425. The per capita income for Asians and Pacific Islanders was $18,226, followed by African Americans at $12,351 and Hispanics at $10,773. The data are from the March 1998 Current Population Survey. As in all surveys, the data are subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. The Asian and Pacific Islander population consists of many distinct groups, which differ in socioeconomic characteristics, culture and recency of immigration. Since there are differences among the individual groups, data users should exercise caution when interpreting aggregate data for this population group.-X-The Census Bureau pre-eminent collector and provider of timely, relevant and quality data about the people and economy of the United States. In more than 100 surveys annually and 20 censuses a decade, evolving from the first census in 1790, the Census Bureau provides official information about America's people, businesses, industries and institutions.
