Poverty stats

 USA Facts-  The US Census Bureau updates the poverty threshold annually. In 2023, the poverty threshold for a single person was $15,480. For a family of four, it averaged $31,200. 

The poverty rate has decreased over the past 65 years: In 1960, 22.2% of the population was under the poverty threshold, and the rate has lowered since then. The rate spikes during economic recessions.  The poverty threshold is the same in all states, though guidelines for some program eligibility are adjusted for Hawaii and Alaska. In 2023, Louisiana residents had the highest poverty rate, 18.9%, while New Hampshire had the lowest, 7.2%.  The poverty rate varies by demographics, including race and family type. About 4.6% of married couples are under the poverty line, but 21.8% of single female-led households are. Children are more likely than adults to live in poverty: in 2023, 15.3% of children were under the poverty threshold, while 9.7% of people ages 65 and over were. Meanwhile, 21.2% of Native American people are below the poverty line, the highest rate of any racial or ethnic group.