Population characteristics

CHILDREN OF FOREIGN-BORN PARENTS

The foreign-born population in the United States has increased substantially since the 1970s, largely due to immigration from Asia and Latin America. In 2003, over 20 percent of children living in the United States had at least one foreign-born parent. Of all children, 16.5 percent were born in the United States to foreign-born parents and 4 percent were themselves foreign-born. Most children (76.2 percent) were native-born and lived in households with native-born parents.

Children with foreign-born parents were more likely than children with native-born parents to have family incomes below 100 percent of the Federal poverty level. Health insurance coverage also varies by nativity: native-born children with foreign-born parents were the most likely to have public insurance, while foreign-born children with foreign-born parents were the most likely to be uninsured. Native-born children with native-born parents were most likely to have private insurance.

> Pie Chart: Children Under Age 18, by Nativity of Child and Parent(s)

> Bar Chart: Children Under Age 18, by Health Insurance Status and Nativity of Child and Parent(s): 2003