In 2023, about 12.8 percent of North Carolina's population lived below the poverty line. This accounts for persons or families whose collective income in the preceding 12 months was below the national poverty level of the United States. . The poverty rate of the United States can be accessed here.

Percentage of Poverty data for North Carolina and all counties.

Graph and download economic data for Estimate of People of All Ages in Poverty in North Carolina (PEAANC37000A647NCEN) from 1989 to 2023 about NC, child, poverty, persons, and USA.

These data identify persistent poverty counties for 10|20|30 funding formulas. In these counties, at least 20% of the population had incomes below poverty in 1997, 2007, 2017, and 2020 as estimated by the Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) from the US Census Bureau. These data also indicate how many times a county met this threshold for these 4 periods (from 0 to 4). In addition, these data include the total number of census tracts and tracts consisting of 20% or more of the population with incomes below poverty (considered "high poverty" tracts) based on the 2015-2019 American Community Survey estimates. The data also include the percent in poverty and the population in poverty for these four periods. Please note that LINC also includes historical data on poverty from the American Community Survey and the 2000 and before decennial census. These estimates may differ. In addition, the choice of different time periods may lead to different results regarding persistent poverty counties and numbers of high poverty census tracts.

Graph and download economic data for Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level (5-year estimate) in Wayne County, NC (S1701ACS037191) from 2012 to 2023 about Wayne County, NC; Goldsboro; NC; poverty; percent; 5-year; population; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level (5-year estimate) in Mecklenburg County, NC (S1701ACS037119) from 2012 to 2023 about Mecklenburg County, NC; Charlotte; NC; percent; poverty; 5-year; population; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level (5-year estimate) in Rutherford County, NC (S1701ACS037161) from 2012 to 2023 about Rutherford County, NC; NC; poverty; percent; 5-year; population; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level (5-year estimate) in New Hanover County, NC (S1701ACS037129) from 2012 to 2023 about New Hanover County, NC; Wilmington; NC; poverty; percent; 5-year; population; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Estimate of People Age 0-17 in Poverty in Wake County, NC (PEU18NC37183A647NCEN) from 1989 to 2023 about Wake County, NC; Raleigh; under 18 years; child; NC; poverty; persons; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level (5-year estimate) in Macon County, NC (S1701ACS037113) from 2012 to 2023 about Macon County, NC; poverty; NC; percent; 5-year; population; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level (5-year estimate) in Caldwell County, NC (S1701ACS037027) from 2012 to 2023 about Caldwell County, NC; Hickory; NC; poverty; percent; 5-year; population; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level (5-year estimate) in Scotland County, NC (S1701ACS037165) from 2012 to 2023 about Scotland County, NC; poverty; NC; percent; 5-year; population; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level (5-year estimate) in Ashe County, NC (S1701ACS037009) from 2012 to 2023 about Ashe County, NC; NC; poverty; percent; 5-year; population; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level (5-year estimate) in Person County, NC (S1701ACS037145) from 2012 to 2023 about Person County, NC; Durham; NC; poverty; percent; 5-year; population; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level (5-year estimate) in Robeson County, NC (S1701ACS037155) from 2012 to 2023 about Robeson County, NC; NC; poverty; percent; 5-year; population; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level (5-year estimate) in Union County, NC (S1701ACS037179) from 2012 to 2023 about Union County, NC; Charlotte; NC; percent; poverty; 5-year; population; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Estimate of People Age 0-17 in Poverty in Mecklenburg County, NC (PEU18NC37119A647NCEN) from 1989 to 2023 about Mecklenburg County, NC; Charlotte; under 18 years; child; NC; poverty; persons; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level (5-year estimate) in Wake County, NC (S1701ACS037183) from 2012 to 2023 about Wake County, NC; Raleigh; NC; poverty; percent; 5-year; population; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Percent of Population Below the Poverty Level (5-year estimate) in Pender County, NC (S1701ACS037141) from 2012 to 2023 about Pender County, NC; Wilmington; NC; poverty; percent; 5-year; population; and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Estimated Percent of People of All Ages in Poverty for Perquimans County, NC (PPAANC37143A156NCEN) from 1989 to 2023 about Perquimans County, NC; NC; percent; child; poverty; and USA.