2006 State Report > Who We Are > Place of Birth and Citizenship
Who We Are: Place of Birth and Citizenship
Among South Carolina's population aged 60 and older in 2000, 97.8 percent were native-born, meaning that they were born in the United States, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Island Areas. People who were born in a foreign country but have at least one American parent also are included in this category. Among the native population aged 60 and older, 64.3 percent were born in South Carolina, 35.4 percent were born in another state in the United States, and 0.3 percent were born outside the United States.
The remaining 2.2 percent of the 60-plus population in South Carolina was foreign-born, meaning that they were not U.S. citizens at birth. Of the older foreign-born population in 2000, 75.7 percent were naturalized citizens and 24.3 percent were not citizens.
The percentage of the older population who are native-born tends to increase slightly with age. While 97.8 percent of the 60-plus population in South Carolina was native born in 2000, 98.0 percent of the 65-plus population and 98.3 percent of the 75-plus population were native-born.
Foreign-Born and Native Population by Age Group: 2000
| 60+ | 65+ | 75+ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | |
| Native Born Population | 637,190 | 100.0 | 475,945 | 100.0 | 208,795 | 100.0 |
| Born in South Carolina | 409,740 | 64.3 | 309,445 | 65.0 | 140,150 | 67.1 |
| Born in Other State | 225,690 | 35.4 | 165,200 | 34.7 | 68,090 | 32.6 |
| Born Outside the U.S. | 1,760 | 0.3 | 1,305 | 0.3 | 555 | 0.3 |
| Foreign Born Population | 14,415 | 100.0 | 9,900 | 100.0 | 3,680 | 100.0 |
| Naturalized Citizen | 10,910 | 75.7 | 7,750 | 78.3 | 3,070 | 83.4 |
| Not a Citizen | 3,500 | 24.3 | 2,145 | 21.7 | 605 | 16.4 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Special Tabulation.