In 2024, approximately 10.6 percent of the population was living below the national poverty line in the United States. This reflected a 0.5 percentage point decrease from the previous year. Most recently, poverty levels in the country peaked in 2010 at just over 15 percent. Poverty in the U.S. States The number of people living in poverty in the U.S. as well as poverty rates, vary greatly from state to state. With their large populations, California and Texas led that charts in terms of the size of their impoverished residents. On the other hand, Louisiana had the highest rates of poverty, standing at 20 percent in 2024. The state with the lowest poverty rate was New Hampshire at 5.9 percent. Vulnerable populations The poverty rate in the United States varies widely across different ethnic groups. American Indians and Alaska Natives are the ethnic group with the highest levels of poverty in 2024, with about 19 percent earning an income below the official threshold. In comparison, only about 7.5 percent of the White (non-Hispanic) and Asian populations were living below the poverty line. Children are one of the most poverty endangered population groups in the U.S. between 1990 and 2024. Child poverty peaked in 1993 with 22.7 percent of children living in poverty. Despite fluctuations, in 2024, poverty among minors reached its lowest level in decades, falling to 14.3 percent.

Graph and download economic data for Estimated Percent of People of All Ages in Poverty for United States (PPAAUS00000A156NCEN) from 1989 to 2023 about child, poverty, percent, and USA.

VITAL SIGNS INDICATOR
Poverty (EQ5)

FULL MEASURE NAME
The share of the population living in households that earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty limit

LAST UPDATED
January 2023

DESCRIPTION
Poverty refers to the share of the population living in households that earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty limit, which varies based on the number of individuals in a given household. It reflects the number of individuals who are economically struggling due to low household income levels.

DATA SOURCE
U.S Census Bureau: Decennial Census - http://www.nhgis.org
1980-2000

U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey - https://data.census.gov/
2007-2021
Form C17002

CONTACT INFORMATION
vitalsigns.info@mtc.ca.gov

METHODOLOGY NOTES (across all datasets for this indicator)
The U.S. Census Bureau defines a national poverty level (or household income) that varies by household size, number of children in a household, and age of householder. The national poverty level does not vary geographically even though cost of living is different across the United States. For the Bay Area, where cost of living is high and incomes are correspondingly high, an appropriate poverty level is 200% of poverty or twice the national poverty level, consistent with what was used for past equity work at MTC and ABAG. For comparison, however, both the national and 200% poverty levels are presented.

For Vital Signs, the poverty rate is defined as the number of people (including children) living below twice the poverty level divided by the number of people for whom poverty status is determined. The household income definitions for poverty change each year to reflect inflation. The official poverty definition uses money income before taxes and does not include capital gains or non-cash benefits (such as public housing, Medicaid and food stamps).

For the national poverty level definitions by year, see: US Census Bureau Poverty Thresholds - https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/historical-poverty-thresholds.html.

For an explanation on how the Census Bureau measures poverty, see: How the Census Bureau Measures Poverty - https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/poverty/guidance/poverty-measures.html.

American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year data is used for larger geographies – Bay counties and most metropolitan area counties – while smaller geographies rely upon 5-year rolling average data due to their smaller sample sizes. Note that 2020 data uses the 5-year estimates because the ACS did not collect 1-year data for 2020.

To be consistent across metropolitan areas, the poverty definition for non-Bay Area metros is twice the national poverty level. Data were not adjusted for varying income and cost of living levels across the metropolitan areas.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau; Poverty Thresholds for 2024 by Size of Family and Number of Related Children Under 18 Years. https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/historical-poverty-thresholds.html. (Retrieved 2 April 2025).

In the U.S., the share of the population living in poverty fluctuated significantly throughout the six decades between 1987 and 2023. In 2023, the poverty level across all races and ethnicities was 11.1 percent. Black Americans have been the ethnic group with the highest share of their population living in poverty almost every year since 1974. In 1979 alone, Black poverty was well over double the national average, and over four times the poverty rate in white communities; in 1982, almost 48 percent of the Black population lived in poverty. Although poverty rates have been trending downward across all ethnic groups, 17.8 percent of Black Americans and 18.9 percent of American Indian and Alaskan Natives still lived below the poverty line in 2022.

Context

This dataset focuses on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) run by the US federal government. It also has data on the historical poverty rate in the country, as well as historical food expense.

Content

Separate SNAP files for each state. Historical SNAP data, poverty rate and food expense in separate files.

Acknowledgements

• SNAP data from https://www.kaggle.com/jpmiller/publicassistance.
• Food expenditure data from https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-expenditure-series/. (I have run my own calculations on this data.)
• Poverty data from https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/historical-poverty-people.html.
• US states population data from https://github.com/JoshData/historical-state-population-csv.

Cover photo by Anne Preble on Unsplash

VITAL SIGNS INDICATOR
Poverty (EQ5)

FULL MEASURE NAME
The share of the population living in households that earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty limit

LAST UPDATED
January 2023

DESCRIPTION
Poverty refers to the share of the population living in households that earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty limit, which varies based on the number of individuals in a given household. It reflects the number of individuals who are economically struggling due to low household income levels.

DATA SOURCE
U.S Census Bureau: Decennial Census - http://www.nhgis.org
1980-2000

U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey - https://data.census.gov/
2007-2021
Form C17002

CONTACT INFORMATION
vitalsigns.info@mtc.ca.gov

METHODOLOGY NOTES (across all datasets for this indicator)
The U.S. Census Bureau defines a national poverty level (or household income) that varies by household size, number of children in a household, and age of householder. The national poverty level does not vary geographically even though cost of living is different across the United States. For the Bay Area, where cost of living is high and incomes are correspondingly high, an appropriate poverty level is 200% of poverty or twice the national poverty level, consistent with what was used for past equity work at MTC and ABAG. For comparison, however, both the national and 200% poverty levels are presented.

For Vital Signs, the poverty rate is defined as the number of people (including children) living below twice the poverty level divided by the number of people for whom poverty status is determined. The household income definitions for poverty change each year to reflect inflation. The official poverty definition uses money income before taxes and does not include capital gains or non-cash benefits (such as public housing, Medicaid and food stamps).

For the national poverty level definitions by year, see: US Census Bureau Poverty Thresholds - https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/historical-poverty-thresholds.html.

For an explanation on how the Census Bureau measures poverty, see: How the Census Bureau Measures Poverty - https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/poverty/guidance/poverty-measures.html.

American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year data is used for larger geographies – Bay counties and most metropolitan area counties – while smaller geographies rely upon 5-year rolling average data due to their smaller sample sizes. Note that 2020 data uses the 5-year estimates because the ACS did not collect 1-year data for 2020.

To be consistent across metropolitan areas, the poverty definition for non-Bay Area metros is twice the national poverty level. Data were not adjusted for varying income and cost of living levels across the metropolitan areas.

Poverty Universe, All Ages for Iowa County, WI was 23834.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Poverty Universe, All Ages for Iowa County, WI reached a record high of 23834.00000 in January of 2023 and a record low of 22777.00000 in January of 1999. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Poverty Universe, All Ages for Iowa County, WI - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

Actual value and historical data chart for Argentina Poverty Headcount Ratio At National Poverty Line Percent Of Population

Poverty Universe, All Ages for Clinton County, IA was 45536.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Poverty Universe, All Ages for Clinton County, IA reached a record high of 50032.00000 in January of 1999 and a record low of 45536.00000 in January of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Poverty Universe, All Ages for Clinton County, IA - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

Poverty Universe, All Ages for Salt Lake County, UT was 1169794.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Poverty Universe, All Ages for Salt Lake County, UT reached a record high of 1172028.00000 in January of 2022 and a record low of 857518.00000 in January of 1998. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Poverty Universe, All Ages for Salt Lake County, UT - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on December of 2025.

Poverty Universe, All Ages for McLean County, IL was 161520.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Poverty Universe, All Ages for McLean County, IL reached a record high of 163836.00000 in January of 2013 and a record low of 136963.00000 in January of 1998. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Poverty Universe, All Ages for McLean County, IL - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

Poverty Universe, All Ages for Madison County, IL was 256182.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Poverty Universe, All Ages for Madison County, IL reached a record high of 265523.00000 in January of 2010 and a record low of 255181.00000 in January of 1999. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Poverty Universe, All Ages for Madison County, IL - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on October of 2025.

Poverty Universe, All Ages for Outagamie County, WI was 190158.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Poverty Universe, All Ages for Outagamie County, WI reached a record high of 190158.00000 in January of 2023 and a record low of 158677.00000 in January of 1998. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Poverty Universe, All Ages for Outagamie County, WI - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

Poverty Universe, All Ages for Illinois was 12268067.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Poverty Universe, All Ages for Illinois reached a record high of 12576676.00000 in January of 2013 and a record low of 12057888.00000 in January of 1998. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Poverty Universe, All Ages for Illinois - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

Poverty Universe, All Ages for Lake County, FL was 419546.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Poverty Universe, All Ages for Lake County, FL reached a record high of 419546.00000 in January of 2023 and a record low of 207622.00000 in January of 1999. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Poverty Universe, All Ages for Lake County, FL - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

Poverty Universe, All Ages for Will County, IL was 690894.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Poverty Universe, All Ages for Will County, IL reached a record high of 690894.00000 in January of 2023 and a record low of 477728.00000 in January of 1998. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Poverty Universe, All Ages for Will County, IL - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

Poverty Universe, All Ages for New York was 19068452.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Poverty Universe, All Ages for New York reached a record high of 19337642.00000 in January of 2017 and a record low of 18111072.00000 in January of 1998. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Poverty Universe, All Ages for New York - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

Poverty Universe, All Ages for Marquette County, MI was 62791.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Poverty Universe, All Ages for Marquette County, MI reached a record high of 63246.00000 in January of 2012 and a record low of 59213.00000 in January of 1998. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Poverty Universe, All Ages for Marquette County, MI - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

Poverty Universe, Age 5-17 related for Clay County, IL was 2139.00000 Persons in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Poverty Universe, Age 5-17 related for Clay County, IL reached a record high of 2853.00000 in January of 1998 and a record low of 2126.00000 in January of 2019. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Poverty Universe, Age 5-17 related for Clay County, IL - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.