Ethnic groups with the lowest poverty rates
Slovene Americans have the lowest poverty rate of the 101 ethnic, origin, and ancestry groups the Census Bureau profiles nationally, at 4.7%. Slovak Americans (4.8%) and Belgian Americans (5.1%) are next. The poverty rate for all US residents is 12.1%.
At the other end, Somali Americans have the highest poverty rate, at 31.2%. Among the four major groups, White Americans are at 9.1%, followed by Asian Americans (9.7%), Hispanic and Latino Americans (16.2%), and Black Americans (20.2%).
The four major groups
All 101 groups, ranked
| # | GROUP | POVERTY RATE | MEDIAN HH INCOME | BACHELOR'S+ | HOMEOWNERSHIP | MEDIAN AGE | MEDIAN HOME VALUE | BORN ABROAD | POPULATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slovene Americans | 4.7% | $95,273 | 56.2% | 77.6% | 53.6 | $364,800 | 4.3% | 171,617 |
| 2 | Slovak Americans | 4.8% | $91,196 | 52.4% | 79.1% | 56.2 | $336,800 | 3.6% | 574,325 |
| 3 | Belgian Americans | 5.1% | $101,411 | 51.3% | 77.0% | 50.7 | $363,300 | 8.6% | 312,593 |
| 4 | Australian Americans | 5.6% | $120,274 | 57.6% | 59.9% | 37.8 | $588,900 | 46.8% | 101,036 |
| 5 | Swiss Americans | 5.9% | $97,731 | 54.6% | 77.3% | 47.3 | $409,700 | 4.3% | 861,324 |
| 6 | Croatian Americans | 6.0% | $99,483 | 54.9% | 73.7% | 48.5 | $396,300 | 10.9% | 423,617 |
| 7 | Serbian Americans | 6.1% | $94,420 | 51.1% | 72.0% | 44.2 | $383,800 | 29.6% | 176,643 |
| 7 | Swedish Americans | 6.1% | $95,614 | 51.1% | 74.8% | 49.3 | $405,400 | 1.5% | 3,251,869 |
| 9 | Austrian Americans | 6.2% | $98,269 | 57.8% | 72.7% | 53.6 | $443,800 | 6.4% | 575,672 |
| 10 | Danish Americans | 6.3% | $94,874 | 52.1% | 76.3% | 49.6 | $434,600 | 2.4% | 1,110,484 |
| 11 | Czech Americans | 6.4% | $97,449 | 52.3% | 74.9% | 46.4 | $373,900 | 3.1% | 1,200,285 |
| 11 | Norwegian Americans | 6.4% | $94,807 | 46.3% | 73.5% | 46.3 | $397,300 | 0.7% | 3,864,701 |
| 11 | Scotch-Irish Americans | 6.4% | $88,753 | 49.2% | 74.5% | 51.8 | $362,500 | 0.7% | 2,509,053 |
| 14 | Welsh Americans | 6.5% | $90,638 | 50.4% | 72.4% | 49.9 | $378,700 | 1.6% | 1,532,031 |
| 15 | English Americans | 6.6% | $94,027 | 47.6% | 76.5% | 48.9 | $382,400 | 1.6% | 31,017,275 |
| 16 | British Americans | 6.7% | $101,649 | 58.6% | 72.1% | 46.5 | $428,900 | 12.7% | 1,253,423 |
| 16 | Lithuanian Americans | 6.7% | $100,647 | 57.2% | 74.6% | 52.6 | $425,100 | 6.7% | 593,350 |
| 18 | Polish Americans | 6.8% | $95,682 | 48.9% | 73.3% | 44.6 | $377,200 | 5.0% | 8,342,225 |
| 18 | Scottish Americans | 6.8% | $95,736 | 49.2% | 72.9% | 47.7 | $389,900 | 2.3% | 6,580,952 |
| 20 | Indian Americans | 6.9% | $161,520 | 77.6% | 62.6% | 35.2 | $669,200 | 65.1% | 5,559,778 |
| 21 | Finnish Americans | 7.1% | $92,343 | 47.6% | 72.9% | 46.2 | $381,300 | 3.7% | 612,181 |
| 21 | German Americans | 7.1% | $91,962 | 44.5% | 74.1% | 44.7 | $354,100 | 1.4% | 40,218,028 |
| 23 | Macedonian Americans | 7.2% | $117,500 | 44.5% | 71.1% | 36.8 | $427,000 | 40.6% | 74,805 |
| 24 | Dutch Americans | 7.3% | $88,029 | 43.9% | 73.9% | 47.3 | $368,400 | 3.9% | 3,011,733 |
| 24 | Filipino Americans | 7.3% | $112,099 | 50.6% | 60.7% | 35.8 | $550,900 | 43.2% | 4,974,949 |
| 26 | Japanese Americans | 7.4% | $103,760 | 54.6% | 62.1% | 37.4 | $661,200 | 20.6% | 1,715,404 |
| 27 | French Canadian Americans | 7.6% | $90,642 | 40.3% | 73.9% | 50.1 | $370,600 | 4.7% | 1,589,295 |
| 27 | Latvian Americans | 7.6% | $105,240 | 69.6% | 71.1% | 48.3 | $519,500 | 19.5% | 92,024 |
| 29 | Bolivian Americans | 7.7% | $95,048 | 44.7% | 61.9% | 36.7 | $503,800 | 55.0% | 153,117 |
| 29 | Irish Americans | 7.7% | $92,329 | 45.2% | 71.3% | 43.6 | $377,700 | 0.8% | 32,392,581 |
| 31 | Canadian Americans | 7.8% | $96,487 | 47.7% | 70.5% | 47.7 | $428,200 | 34.8% | 544,354 |
| 31 | Italian Americans | 7.8% | $99,619 | 47.5% | 70.2% | 40.3 | $434,000 | 3.6% | 16,271,362 |
| 33 | Greek Americans | 8.1% | $102,210 | 52.2% | 70.4% | 40.9 | $477,800 | 10.6% | 1,207,425 |
| 33 | Taiwanese Americans | 8.1% | $142,691 | 80.3% | 67.0% | 35.7 | $805,400 | 50.0% | 380,382 |
| 33 | Uruguayan Americans | 8.1% | $80,541 | 26.7% | 52.0% | 41.8 | $444,100 | 58.2% | 81,864 |
| 36 | French Americans | 8.2% | $87,615 | 42.8% | 72.2% | 47.8 | $364,300 | 4.0% | 6,128,915 |
| 36 | Portuguese Americans | 8.2% | $96,842 | 37.8% | 65.5% | 42.7 | $498,100 | 20.7% | 1,370,146 |
| 38 | Barbadian Americans | 8.3% | $89,259 | 40.3% | 53.0% | 47.9 | $461,800 | 43.7% | 82,851 |
| 39 | Russian Americans | 8.5% | $102,435 | 64.2% | 66.1% | 45.6 | $529,300 | 21.4% | 2,055,088 |
| 39 | Sri Lankan Americans | 8.5% | $111,121 | 63.4% | 59.1% | 36.8 | $630,800 | 69.4% | 76,678 |
| 41 | Indonesian Americans | 8.8% | $92,553 | 52.9% | 58.0% | 34.7 | $610,400 | 48.4% | 178,355 |
| 41 | Ukrainian Americans | 8.8% | $95,312 | 59.0% | 66.1% | 42.2 | $456,400 | 37.1% | 1,263,837 |
| 43 | Guyanese Americans | 9.0% | $90,323 | 34.2% | 57.7% | 41.4 | $506,700 | 59.1% | 251,108 |
| – | White AmericansMAJOR GROUP | 9.1% | $87,572 | 40.8% | 73.3% | 44.4 | $359,000 | 4.1% | 191,382,624 |
| 44 | Argentine Americans | 9.2% | $101,811 | 47.7% | 58.7% | 38.9 | $550,900 | 53.7% | 345,919 |
| 44 | Bulgarian Americans | 9.2% | $100,032 | 60.8% | 60.7% | 37.6 | $400,500 | 56.7% | 109,487 |
| 44 | Romanian Americans | 9.2% | $104,234 | 58.9% | 68.7% | 42.0 | $479,700 | 35.9% | 458,225 |
| 47 | Hungarian Americans | 9.3% | $92,408 | 48.6% | 73.4% | 47.7 | $395,100 | 6.9% | 1,277,896 |
| 47 | Korean Americans | 9.3% | $102,299 | 61.3% | 55.8% | 36.9 | $625,000 | 50.0% | 2,211,632 |
| – | Asian AmericansMAJOR GROUP | 9.7% | $117,894 | 59.3% | 63.4% | 39.1 | $643,000 | 64.1% | 21,036,558 |
| 49 | Lebanese Americans | 9.7% | $104,556 | 59.3% | 66.4% | 36.6 | $462,500 | 22.1% | 625,430 |
| 50 | Iranian Americans | 9.9% | $109,079 | 70.4% | 61.5% | 41.9 | $746,700 | 61.6% | 525,913 |
| 51 | Turkish Americans | 10.0% | $112,594 | 66.1% | 51.4% | 35.3 | $566,000 | 60.2% | 286,379 |
| 52 | Ghanaian Americans | 10.1% | $81,217 | 51.0% | 35.4% | 32.9 | $446,900 | 59.5% | 246,089 |
| 52 | Spaniard Americans | 10.1% | $87,034 | 41.1% | 61.0% | 36.1 | $437,700 | 14.9% | 998,504 |
| 54 | Thai Americans | 10.2% | $90,298 | 47.8% | 57.6% | 35.8 | $479,100 | 46.5% | 361,318 |
| 55 | Laotian Americans | 10.5% | $90,610 | 22.7% | 61.0% | 36.1 | $363,200 | 42.2% | 250,200 |
| 56 | Israeli Americans | 10.6% | $101,904 | 56.1% | 53.3% | 35.4 | $703,800 | 40.4% | 150,989 |
| 57 | Pakistani Americans | 10.7% | $112,528 | 62.1% | 58.0% | 32.1 | $561,200 | 56.3% | 706,253 |
| 58 | Armenian Americans | 11.0% | $97,466 | 53.6% | 58.8% | 42.0 | $709,300 | 42.3% | 472,670 |
| 58 | Vietnamese Americans | 11.0% | $94,607 | 37.6% | 67.9% | 37.6 | $495,100 | 54.9% | 2,445,295 |
| 60 | Cambodian Americans | 11.1% | $95,399 | 25.2% | 59.5% | 32.1 | $450,400 | 40.5% | 392,092 |
| 60 | Chinese Americans | 11.1% | $111,367 | 60.5% | 65.1% | 36.7 | $745,700 | 53.7% | 6,208,920 |
| 60 | Nepalese Americans | 11.1% | $103,466 | 48.0% | 58.1% | 31.9 | $476,300 | 76.1% | 277,448 |
| 63 | Peruvian Americans | 11.2% | $82,146 | 35.2% | 53.4% | 37.4 | $457,000 | 58.9% | 833,694 |
| 64 | Colombian Americans | 11.3% | $79,371 | 39.9% | 49.3% | 36.7 | $448,200 | 61.6% | 1,765,862 |
| 65 | Brazilian Americans | 11.9% | $83,089 | 43.9% | 33.8% | 31.4 | $490,900 | 66.4% | 624,383 |
| 65 | Chilean Americans | 11.9% | $87,061 | 46.4% | 49.3% | 34.3 | $506,000 | 53.0% | 226,993 |
| 65 | Hmong Americans | 11.9% | $97,293 | 26.7% | 56.7% | 27.2 | $329,000 | 25.5% | 379,699 |
| 68 | Trinidadian & Tobagonian Americans | 12.0% | $82,826 | 38.0% | 52.4% | 39.2 | $442,100 | 44.2% | 278,531 |
| – | All US residentsBENCHMARK | 12.1% | $81,604 | 36.8% | 65.3% | 39.2 | $360,600 | 14.8% | 340,110,990 |
| 69 | Jamaican Americans | 12.1% | $80,297 | 35.3% | 52.1% | 36.9 | $413,200 | 53.2% | 1,390,336 |
| 70 | Kenyan Americans | 12.2% | $92,970 | 51.8% | 41.2% | 32.6 | $434,200 | 68.6% | 158,365 |
| 71 | Nigerian Americans | 12.3% | $87,063 | 65.0% | 43.7% | 32.2 | $403,700 | 48.5% | 858,236 |
| 72 | American ancestry | 12.4% | $69,658 | 27.5% | 70.9% | 43.4 | $291,800 | 0.8% | 18,060,343 |
| 73 | Chamorro Americans | 12.5% | $100,502 | 31.8% | 50.0% | 30.5 | $470,100 | 2.6% | 167,504 |
| 73 | Costa Rican Americans | 12.5% | $82,059 | 34.3% | 49.5% | 34.2 | $475,100 | 43.1% | 219,912 |
| – | West Indian AmericansREGIONAL TOTAL | 12.5% | $78,836 | 36.8% | 50.1% | 40.3 | $419,100 | 35.7% | 277,519 |
| – | South AmericansREGIONAL TOTAL | 12.8% | $81,606 | 39.4% | 47.2% | 35.4 | $465,600 | 62.8% | 5,692,419 |
| 75 | Cape Verdean Americans | 12.9% | $82,362 | 26.5% | 47.6% | 36.6 | $446,000 | 32.0% | 110,145 |
| 76 | Native Hawaiians | 13.3% | $87,976 | 25.9% | 53.0% | 31.4 | $541,300 | 2.4% | 728,718 |
| 76 | Panamanian Americans | 13.3% | $82,020 | 39.4% | 49.7% | 35.1 | $396,900 | 33.7% | 260,645 |
| 78 | Moroccan Americans | 13.6% | $73,710 | 42.8% | 38.5% | 33.3 | $401,200 | 48.4% | 156,002 |
| 79 | Ecuadorian Americans | 13.7% | $82,828 | 27.3% | 46.0% | 33.1 | $480,200 | 56.6% | 1,044,023 |
| 79 | Ethiopian Americans | 13.7% | $75,170 | 36.5% | 40.5% | 32.7 | $433,400 | 64.3% | 412,320 |
| 81 | Samoan Americans | 14.7% | $83,777 | 24.1% | 36.6% | 25.9 | $492,300 | 13.5% | 271,387 |
| 82 | Salvadoran Americans | 14.8% | $76,821 | 14.4% | 47.1% | 31.2 | $390,200 | 52.4% | 2,767,861 |
| 83 | Cuban Americans | 15.2% | $71,085 | 32.6% | 52.3% | 39.4 | $453,400 | 57.3% | 2,948,426 |
| 84 | Syrian Americans | 15.5% | $95,044 | 52.2% | 59.5% | 37.2 | $483,000 | 41.2% | 211,107 |
| 85 | Mexican Americans | 15.7% | $74,008 | 17.0% | 54.7% | 29.8 | $315,000 | 28.5% | 38,990,058 |
| 86 | Tongan Americans | 15.8% | $94,051 | 24.5% | 44.3% | 20.8 | $583,700 | 17.6% | 84,616 |
| 87 | Palestinian Americans | 16.0% | $96,230 | 55.9% | 60.1% | 30.0 | $452,500 | 34.0% | 195,108 |
| – | Hispanic and Latino AmericansMAJOR GROUP | 16.2% | $72,574 | 21.5% | 50.9% | 31.2 | $350,800 | 33.3% | 68,013,553 |
| 88 | Haitian Americans | 16.5% | $74,090 | 27.5% | 43.0% | 33.0 | $429,300 | 55.6% | 1,261,840 |
| 89 | Nicaraguan Americans | 16.6% | $72,423 | 23.5% | 38.6% | 33.9 | $445,900 | 61.2% | 606,767 |
| 90 | Egyptian Americans | 16.7% | $89,900 | 70.8% | 56.7% | 34.8 | $570,400 | 55.6% | 323,227 |
| 91 | Jordanian Americans | 17.0% | $84,804 | 56.5% | 45.4% | 31.2 | $441,000 | 55.4% | 93,767 |
| 92 | Subsaharan African Americans | 17.2% | $69,734 | 41.7% | 39.9% | 33.4 | $373,000 | 44.1% | 4,686,257 |
| – | Arab AmericansREGIONAL TOTAL | 17.4% | $87,068 | 55.1% | 55.8% | 33.7 | $466,700 | 43.6% | 2,349,805 |
| 93 | Venezuelan Americans | 17.9% | $74,510 | 48.0% | 32.0% | 33.3 | $431,400 | 79.6% | 1,168,271 |
| 94 | Bangladeshi Americans | 18.2% | $77,201 | 54.0% | 47.7% | 32.8 | $536,700 | 69.9% | 324,554 |
| 94 | Burmese Americans | 18.2% | $75,272 | 26.8% | 67.3% | 28.0 | $275,700 | 68.7% | 249,950 |
| 96 | Puerto Rican Americans | 18.5% | $64,509 | 24.0% | 46.1% | 33.3 | $347,000 | 2.2% | 6,110,356 |
| 97 | Dominican Americans | 18.9% | $61,221 | 23.5% | 33.5% | 31.9 | $392,500 | 49.5% | 2,539,893 |
| – | Central AmericansREGIONAL TOTAL | 19.0% | $70,271 | 16.2% | 39.7% | 29.7 | $376,400 | 56.3% | 7,518,139 |
| – | Black AmericansMAJOR GROUP | 20.2% | $56,669 | 26.9% | 45.4% | 36.6 | $277,500 | 11.4% | 39,959,479 |
| 98 | Guatemalan Americans | 22.0% | $65,369 | 12.6% | 33.0% | 27.2 | $342,000 | 59.0% | 2,174,242 |
| 99 | Honduran Americans | 25.6% | $58,749 | 13.6% | 30.4% | 27.5 | $315,000 | 63.4% | 1,459,863 |
| 100 | Iraqi Americans | 25.7% | $68,019 | 44.5% | 54.2% | 34.9 | $443,600 | 71.4% | 170,175 |
| 101 | Somali Americans | 31.2% | $48,294 | 28.2% | 17.5% | 23.2 | $400,400 | 49.4% | 193,061 |
The share of the group's people living below the federal poverty line, which depends on family size and income. Click a column header to see that ranking.
How the groups are defined. Asian and Pacific Islander groups (Chinese, Korean, Samoan, and so on) count everyone who reports that group, alone or with another race. Hispanic groups count people by Hispanic origin, and they can be of any race. European, African, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean groups count people by the ancestry they report, and a person can report two. So the detailed groups overlap, and one person can appear in more than one row. The four major groups do not overlap: Hispanic or Latino of any race, and White, Black, and Asian residents who are not Hispanic. The Census Bureau publishes this profile only for groups with about 65,000 or more people nationwide, so smaller groups are absent.
Frequently asked
Slovene Americans, at 4.7%, according to the Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey. Slovak Americans are second at 4.8%, and Belgian Americans are third at 5.1%. The poverty rate for all US residents is 12.1%.
Somali Americans, at 31.2%, among the 101 groups large enough for the Census Bureau to profile nationally. Iraqi Americans are next at 25.7%.
Among the four major groups, White Americans are at 9.1%, followed by Asian Americans (9.7%), Hispanic and Latino Americans (16.2%), and Black Americans (20.2%). The poverty rate for all US residents is 12.1%.
Regional totals such as Central American and Arab already include countries listed on their own, and the four major groups include whole families of them. Ranking those rows too would count the same people twice, so they appear for reference only.
DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU 2024 ACS 1-YEAR SELECTED POPULATION PROFILE (S0201) · LICENSE: CC BY 4.0
All group rankings →Every origin and ancestry group →How we source this data →