We obtain demographic estimates of the resident population from the U.S. Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program. These estimates are published for the nation, states, and counties by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. The reference date for the estimates is July 1 of the specified year.

We adjust the total resident population estimates to create population estimates with a universe that is the same as the ACS poverty universe. The ACS poverty universe includes a small portion of group quarters populations, namely those in noninstitutionalized quarters, not elsewhere classified, such as emergency shelters, workers' dormitories, and so on.  Residents of college dormitories, military housing, and all institutionalized group quarters population are excluded. Also, children under the age of 15 who are not related to the reference person within the household by birth, marriage or adoption (for example, foster children) are not included in the poverty universe.

Procedures for computing poverty universe estimates are as follows. We begin with household population estimates provided by the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program. Household population estimates differ from resident population estimates in that they do not include group quarters populations. To these household population estimates we add the population estimates for noninstitutionalized group quarters, not elsewhere classified. Then we tabulate the ratio of the poverty universe to the household population for each demographic group in each state from the 5-year ACS (from 2010 onward) or from Census 2000 (up through 2009). Finally, we rake the resulting estimates of the poverty universe for some demographic groups to the national ACS poverty universe through a simple ratio adjustment.

Starting with the 2010 SAHIE estimates, the population estimates used in the production of SAHIE utilize values from the 2010 Census (with postcensal updates). For the 2009 SAHIE and prior, the population estimates utilized values from the 2000 Census (with postcensal updates). More information about Census Bureau population estimates is available at Population Estimates Program.

* This page describes information about the population estimates used for 2008 SAHIE and onward based on American Community Survey data.  For information about the population estimates used for 2007 SAHIE and prior based on the Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey data, please link to Population Estimates for 2007 SAHIE and prior.