Demographic and Economic Profile
Rhode Island
Updated December 2006
Metro and Nonmetro Counties in Rhode Island
Based on the most recent listing of core based statistical areas by the Office of
Management and Budget, all 5 counties in Rhode Island are part of the Providence-New
Bedford-Fall River Metropolitan Area1.
Metro and Nonmetro
Counties in Rhode Island
Metropolitan Counties
Nonmetro Counties:
Micropolitan Counties
Noncore Counties
Source: Office of Management and
Budget and U.S. Census Bureau
Map Prepared by RUPRI
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Because Rhode Island has only metropolitan counties, no metropolitan-nonmetropolitan comparisons are
possible in this report.
1
Population
Rhode Island’s population in July of 2005 was 1,076,189, up 2.7 percent from the 2000
Census (Census Bureau population estimates). During the 1990s, the population in
Rhode Island increased by 4.5 percent. Nationally, population increased 13.1 percent
during the 1990s, and 5.3 percent from April 2000 to July 2005.
Population Percent
Change, 1990-2000
Population decrease
Population increase
less than 10%
Population increase
10% or more
Only one county in Rhode
Island lost population
during the 1990s - Newport
County. The fastest
growth during this time
period was in Washington
County, with a population
increase of 12.3 percent
during the decade.
Source: US Census Bureau
Census 1990 and 2000
Map prepared by RUPRI
Population Percent
Change, 2000-2005
Population decrease
Population increase
less than 10%
From 2000 to 2005,
Newport County was again
the only county to lose
population. The fastest
growth during this time
was in Bristol County, with
a population increase of 4.1
percent.
Source: US Census Bureau
Population Estimates
Map prepared by RUPRI
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Race / Ethnicity
The population in Rhode Island is 88.9 percent white and 6.2 percent African American.
Nationally, the population is 80.2 percent white and 12.8 percent African American
(2005 Census Bureau population estimates).
Racial Composition of the Population in
Rhode Island and the U.S., 2005
90%
U.S.
80%
Rhode Island
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
White
African
American
Amer. Indian/
Alaska Native
Asian
Hawaiian/
Pac. Islander
Two or More
Races
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates
People of Hispanic origin make up 10.7 percent of Rhode Island’s population, and 14.4
percent of the total U.S. population. Many areas have experienced significant increases
in the Hispanic population over the past decade and a half. In three Rhode Island
counties, the Hispanic population more than doubled during this time - these counties are
shown in the map below. However, the Hispanic population accounted for a small
portion (less than 5%) of total population in all counties except for Providence County,
which is 16.5 percent Hispanic.
Hispanic Growth Counties
Counties in which the Hispanic population
more than doubled between 1990 and 2005
Hispanic Growth Counties
Other Counties
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
1990 Census and Population Estimates for 2005
Map prepared by RUPRI
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Educational Attainment
The percent of the population age 25 and over that has earned a Bachelor’s Degree or
higher is 24.4 percent in the U.S. and 28.3 percent in Rhode Island. In Kent County, over
half of the population has earned a B.S. degree or higher.
Percent of Population 25
Years and Over with a
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher,
2000
Less than 25%
25% to 50%
Higher than 50%
Source: US Census Bureau
Census 2000
Map prepared by RUPRI
Poverty
The poverty rate in Rhode Island in 2003 was 11.3 percent, based on Census Bureau
estimates. Nationally, the poverty rate for 2003 was 12.5 percent. Within Rhode Island,
the 2003 poverty rate ranged from 6.1 percent in Washington County to 14.4 percent in
Providence County.
Percent of Population in
Poverty, 2003
Less than 10.0%
10.0% or more
Source: U.S. Census Bureau,
Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates
Map prepared by RUPRI
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Health Services
The designation of areas or populations as medically underserved is based on an index of
four variables - the ratio of primary care physicians per 1,000 population, the infant
mortality rate, the percent of the population with incomes below the poverty level, and
the percent of the population age 65 and over (Health Resources and Services
Administration, HHS). Within Rhode Island, several areas of the state are considered
medically underserved, shown in the map below.
Medically Underserved
Areas in Rhode Island
Medically Underserved Area
Governor Defined Area
Data Source: Health Resources and Services
Administration, HHS
Map created by RUPRI Community Information
Resource Center Interactive Map Room:
http://circ.rupri.orgc
Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) are those areas that “may have shortages of
primary medical care, dental or mental health providers and may be urban or rural areas,
population groups, or medical or other public facilities” (Health Resources and Services
Administration, HHS). Within Rhode Island, several areas in the state are designated as
primary care HPSAs for the total or low income population.
Health Professional
Shortage Areas (Primary
Care) in Rhode Island
Total Population
Low Income Population
Data Source: Health Resources and Services
Administration, HHS
Map created by RUPRI Community Information
Resource Center Interactive Map Room:
http://circ.rupri.org
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Per Capita Income
Per capita income trends in Rhode Island have closely matched national trends over the
past several decades. In 2004, per capita income in Rhode Island was $34,207, compared
to $33,050 for the U.S.
Per Capita Income in Rhode Island
and the U.S., 1969-2004 ($2004)
$40,000
U.S.
$35,000
Rhode Island
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
20
03
20
01
19
97
19
99
19
93
19
95
19
91
19
89
19
87
19
83
19
85
19
79
19
81
19
77
19
73
19
75
19
71
19
69
$-
Source: Bureau of Ecoomic Analysis, Regional Economic Information System
Within Rhode Island, 2004 per capita income ranged from $31,259 in Providence County
to $41,728 in Bristol County.
Per Capita Income, 2004
Less than $35,000
$35,000 to $39,999
$40,000 or more
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis,
Regional Economic Information System
Map prepared by RUPRI
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Employment
In 2004, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest share of employment
in Rhode Island (13.6%). Nationally, government and government enterprises accounted
for the largest share of employment (13.9%). Government and government enterprises
was the second largest employment sector in Rhode Island (12.7%).
Employment by Industry in Rhode Island and the U.S., 2004
Farm
Rhode Island
U.S.
Forestry, fishing, related activities
Mining
Utilities
Construction
Manufacturing
Wholesale trade
Retail Trade
Transportation & warehousing
Information
Finance & insurance
Real estate & rental & leasing
Professional & technical services
Management of companies & enterprises
Administrative & waste services
Educational services
Health care & social assistance
Arts, entertainment, & recreation
Accommodation & food services
Other services, except public administration
Government & government enterprises
Source: BEA, REIS
0%
The ERS Economic
Typology classifies
counties into one of five
industry categories of
specialization or as
nonspecialized. The map to
the right shows the
classification of Rhode
Island counties by this
typology.
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
Rhode Island Counties by
ERS Economic Typology
Farming
Mining
Manufacturing
Government
Services
Nonspecialized
Source: Economic Research
Service, USDA
Map prepared by RUPRI
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Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is an
CFED Development Report Card for the States
important component to
Entrepreneurial Energy
economic development
today. Unfortunately, data
that allow us to measure
entrepreneurial activity and
trends is difficult to
ascertain, particularly at the
county level. The 2004
CFED Development Report
Grade
Card for the States rates
A
B
each state on its
C
entrepreneurial energy,
D
“evaluating the extent to
Source: CFED
F
Map prepared by RUPRI
which new firms are
Not shown: Alaska (C) and Hawaii (D)
generated and whether they
are contributing to employment growth.” While this is a state-level ranking, it provides
useful insight as to how a state is performing. Rhode Island’s ranking is “C”.
As mentioned, county level indicators of entrepreneurship are difficult to ascertain, but a
good indicator is the proportion of workers that are self employed. The map below
shows self employed workers as a percent of nonfarm private employment in the county.
Entrepreneurship in Rhode Island:
Self Employed as a Percent of
Nonfarm Private Employment, 2004
Less than 15%
15% or more
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer
Statistics and Bureau of Economic Analysis,
Regional Economic Information System
Map Prepared by RUPRI
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Unemployment
The 2005 unemployment rate in Rhode Island was 5.0 percent, compared to 5.1 percent
for the U.S. Within Rhode Island, the unemployment rate ranged from 4.1 percent in
Washington County to 5.5 percent in Providence County.
Unemployment Rate, 2005
Less than 5.0%
5.0% or more
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Map prepared by RUPRI
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Data Sources and References
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Information System
http://www.bea.gov/bea/regional/reis/
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
http://www.bls.gov/lau/home.htm
CFED Development Report Card for the States
http://drc.cfed.org/
Economic Research Service, USDA, 2004 County Typology
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/Rurality/Typology/
Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human
Services, Designations of Health Professional Shortage Areas and Medically
Underserved Areas and Populations
http://www.bhpr.hrsa.gov/shortage/
National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
2002 Census of Agriculture
http://www.nass.usda.gov/Census_of_Agriculture/index.asp
Office of Management and Budget, Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their
Uses
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins/fy05/b05-02.html
RUPRI Community Information Resource Center Interactive Map Room
http://circ.rupri.org/
U.S. Census Bureau
Census 2000
http://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html
Population Estimates
http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php
Metropolitan and Micropolitan Area Classifications
http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metrodef.html
Nonemployer Statistics
http://www.census.gov/epcd/nonemployer/
Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/saipe/saipe.html
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For Comments and Questions on this Report:
Kathleen K. Miller
RUPRI Program Director
(573) 882-5098
[email protected]
Contact RUPRI
Rural Policy Research Institute
Truman School of Public Affairs
University of Missouri-Columbia
214 Middlebush Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 882-0316 Voice
[573] 884=5310 FAX
http://www.rupri.org
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