Child Poverty Rates

Although the number of children living in families considered officially poor (earning less than 50% of the federal poverty threshold) reached new lows (2021), they still represent one in six American kids. These numbers reflect the persistent roadblocks that continue to block economic mobility for many American children. Child poverty rates vary significantly in the United States by race, ethnicity, and family structure. For example, Black and Hispanic children are more likely to live in impoverished households than white and Asian children. Poverty rates also differ by state, with the lowest levels in New Hampshire and the highest in Mississippi.

While the official poverty rate declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, the supplemental measure of poverty (before considering government benefits) increased slightly. This reflects the fact that most of the economic growth in recent decades has benefited families on the top rungs of the income ladder. Poverty remains an enormous challenge for millions of children in the United States, but progress towards eliminating child poverty is vital for advancing children’s long-term prospects. Research shows that children growing up in poverty are more likely to fall behind academically, perform worse on standardized tests, and have health problems as adults. Additional gains in poverty reduction can help break these inequality cycles and improve all Americans’ lives.

Child Poverty Rates by State 2024

While child poverty rates have dropped overall since the recession, large racial/ethnic disparities remain and have actually widened. Fortunately, we know what works to reduce these gaps. In particular, investing in education has proven to be a powerful tool for children from low-income families to break the cycle of poverty and increase opportunities for upward mobility.

In addition to improving children’s educational outcomes, the right mix of policies can help increase jobs, lower income inequality, and reduce child poverty. The first report in our new series, titled “Children, Families and Poverty”, looks at how these policies work together to make a difference for children.

This brief highlights the importance of the expansion of refundable tax credits to reduce poverty among working families. It also shows how a monthly benefit delivery approach can effectively smooth within-year volatility in household incomes and reduce child poverty year-round.

Mississippi	27.57%	191,339	693,906
Louisiana	26.34%	284,760	1,081,097
New Mexico	25.56%	121,373	474,884
West Virginia	23.13%	82,218	355,520
District of Columbia	22.83%	28,347	124,153
Alabama	22.74%	244,726	1,076,150
Kentucky	22.16%	218,023	983,940
Arkansas	22%	151,653	689,387
South Carolina	21.2%	231,061	1,089,946
Tennessee	20.83%	308,226	1,479,850
Oklahoma	20.73%	194,537	938,307
Georgia	20.09%	495,477	2,466,599
Texas	20.05%	1,462,277	7,293,273
North Carolina	20.01%	452,423	2,261,173
Arizona	20%	321,919	1,609,860
Ohio	19.13%	486,835	2,545,054
Michigan	18.77%	398,119	2,121,489
New York	18.68%	746,203	3,994,613
Florida	18.67%	773,801	4,145,349
Nevada	17.62%	119,005	675,571
Indiana	17.56%	269,559	1,535,005
Missouri	17.35%	233,927	1,347,911
Delaware	17.21%	34,390	199,880
California	16.8%	1,480,649	8,815,673
Pennsylvania	16.7%	434,413	2,600,657
Illinois	16.16%	454,654	2,813,715
South Dakota	16.06%	33,852	210,809
Rhode Island	15.65%	31,629	202,159
Montana	15.16%	33,815	223,110
Oregon	15.02%	127,349	847,858
Idaho	14.37%	63,003	438,474
Wisconsin	14.16%	177,140	1,250,830
Maine	13.99%	34,067	243,504
Kansas	13.94%	96,696	693,728
Alaska	13.84%	24,864	179,636
New Jersey	13.34%	257,552	1,930,346
Iowa	13.31%	95,105	714,639
Virginia	13.14%	241,637	1,838,531
Connecticut	13.03%	94,665	726,564
Washington	12.56%	204,059	1,625,130
Vermont	12.32%	13,975	113,470
Wyoming	12.27%	16,175	131,843
Massachusetts	12.24%	164,081	1,340,628
Nebraska	12.21%	56,828	465,570
Hawaii	11.7%	34,575	295,576
Maryland	11.62%	153,356	1,319,572
Minnesota	11.6%	147,958	1,275,790
Colorado	11.55%	143,390	1,241,717
North Dakota	11.12%	19,459	175,040
Utah	9.94%	91,046	915,887
New Hampshire	8.92%	22,509	252,401
United States		12,598,699	72,065,