40.7 million Americans – 12.5% of the population – live below the poverty line, based on the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. The Census Bureau’s official single-year rate for 2025 was 10.2% (34.5 million people), and its Supplemental Poverty Measure rate was 13.1%. Here’s what the data reveals about who’s affected, where, and how the poverty line works.
Poverty Rate Snapshot (Census ACS Data)
| Metric | 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates |
|---|---|
| Overall poverty rate | 12.5% |
| Child poverty rate (under 18) | 16.1% |
| Senior poverty rate (65+) | 10.8% |
| People below the poverty line | 40,735,661 |
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates, fetched 2026-08-25.
Federal Poverty Level (2026)
| Household Size | 48 States & DC | Alaska | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,960 | $19,950 | $18,360 |
| 2 people | $21,640 | $27,050 | $24,890 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $34,150 | $31,420 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $41,250 | $37,950 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $48,350 | $44,480 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $55,450 | $51,010 |
| Each additional | +$5,680 | +$7,100 | +$6,530 |
What the poverty line means in practice: A family of four living at the poverty line has $2,750/month ($33,000/12) for ALL expenses — housing, food, transportation, healthcare, clothing, and everything else.
Poverty Rates by State
These figures are the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates and are updated when a new 5-Year release is published.
10 Highest Poverty Rates
| Rank | State | Poverty Rate | # in Poverty | Median Household Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | 18.9% | 848,967 | $60,756 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 18.9% | 538,793 | $56,447 |
| 3 | New Mexico | 17.8% | 370,915 | $64,059 |
| 4 | West Virginia | 16.7% | 287,953 | $59,608 |
| 5 | Kentucky | 16.1% | 708,321 | $63,726 |
| 6 | Arkansas | 16% | 473,903 | $60,773 |
| 7 | Alabama | 15.6% | 772,360 | $63,999 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | 15.4% | 101,008 | $109,870 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 15.3% | 599,071 | $65,039 |
| 10 | South Carolina | 14.1% | 725,690 | $69,324 |
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates, fetched 2026-08-25.
10 Lowest Poverty Rates
| Rank | State | Poverty Rate | # in Poverty | Median Household Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Hawaii | 10% | 141,401 | $100,389 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | 10% | 684,548 | $103,960 |
| 44 | Virginia | 9.9% | 837,363 | $93,170 |
| 45 | Washington | 9.9% | 760,577 | $98,141 |
| 46 | New Jersey | 9.7% | 891,891 | $103,556 |
| 47 | Colorado | 9.4% | 542,093 | $95,470 |
| 48 | Maryland | 9.4% | 574,017 | $103,678 |
| 49 | Minnesota | 9.3% | 522,508 | $89,062 |
| 50 | Utah | 8.5% | 283,680 | $95,166 |
| 51 | New Hampshire | 7.2% | 98,248 | $99,031 |
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates, fetched 2026-08-25.
See the full 50-state ranking with child and senior poverty rates.
Poverty by Demographics
Official poverty rates for 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (report P60-290).
By Age Group
| Age Group | Official Poverty Rate, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 13.4% |
| 18 to 64 | 9.2% |
| 65 and older | 9.8% |
By Race/Ethnicity
| Race/Ethnicity | Official Poverty Rate, 2025 |
|---|---|
| White, not Hispanic | 7.5% |
| Black | 17.3% |
| Hispanic (any race) | 13.9% |
| Asian | 7.7% |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 16.7% |
| Two or more races | 11.5% |
By Family Type
| Family Structure | Official Poverty Rate, 2025 |
|---|---|
| People in married-couple families | 4.4% |
| People in female-householder families | 21.9% |
| People in male-householder families | 11.3% |
| Unrelated individuals | 19.0% |
Historical Poverty Rate Trends
Official poverty measure, all people, from the Census Bureau’s historical tables.
| Year | Poverty Rate | # in Poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 22.2% | 39.9 million |
| 1970 | 12.6% | 25.4 million |
| 1980 | 13.0% | 29.3 million |
| 1990 | 13.5% | 33.6 million |
| 2000 | 11.3% | 31.6 million |
| 2010 | 15.1% | 46.3 million |
| 2015 | 13.5% | 43.1 million |
| 2019 | 10.5% | 34.0 million |
| 2020 | 11.5% | 37.6 million |
| 2021 | 11.6% | 37.9 million |
| 2025 | 10.2% | 34.5 million |
Minimum Wage and the Poverty Line
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, or $15,080 a year at 2,080 hours, which is below the 2026 poverty guideline at every household size shown above.
Full-Time Minimum Wage vs Poverty Line
| Family Size | Poverty Line | Federal Min Wage ($7.25 FT) | $15/hr FT | Gap at $7.25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,960 | $15,080 | $31,200 | -$880 |
| 2 people | $21,640 | $15,080 | $31,200 | -$6,560 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $15,080 | $31,200 | -$12,240 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $15,080 | $31,200 | -$17,920 |
A single full-time worker at the federal minimum wage earns $15,080 a year before taxes, below the 2026 poverty guideline for a family of 2 ($21,640).
Related: Poverty Line by State | Wealth Inequality | Cost of Living by State | Minimum Wage | Income to Live Comfortably | Shrinking Middle Class
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