Household Income, Wages & Living Standards · U.S. Census Bureau

U.S. Official Poverty Rate by Year (1989-2024)

Name: U.S. Official Poverty Rate by Year (1989-2024)
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau

The U.S. Census Bureau tracks the share of the resident population living in households whose pre-tax money income falls below federal poverty thresholds. In 2024, u.s. poverty rate recorded 12.1% of Population, compared with 12.5 in 2023. Across the 32-year archive (1989-2024), readings have ranged between 11.3 (2000) and 15.9 (2011).

Series Summary Ledger

2024 Reading12.1
2023 Reading12.5
All-Time High (2011)15.9
All-Time Low (2000)11.3
Reporting Unit% of Population
Series CodePPAAUS00000A156NCEN

U.S. Census Bureau · 1989-2024

U.S. Official Poverty Rate by Year (1989-2024)

2024 Reading: 12.1 % of Population

Loading historical series...

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (PPAAUS00000A156NCEN) Range: 11.3 (2000) to 15.9 (2011)

DECADE BENCHMARKS (1950s-2020s)

U.S. Poverty Rate by Decade

Decade	Mean	Min	Max
1980s	12.8	12.8	12.8
1990s	13.4	11.9	15.1
2000s	12.7	11.3	14.3
2010s	14.6	12.3	15.9
2020s	12.4	11.9	12.8

U.S. Poverty Rate Year-by-Year Historical Table (1989-2024)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (PPAAUS00000A156NCEN)

Year	U.S. Poverty Rate (% of Population)	Annual Change
2024	12.1	-0.4
2023	12.5	-0.1
2022	12.6	-0.2
2021	12.8	+0.9
2020	11.9	-0.4
2019	12.3	-0.8
2018	13.1	-0.3
2017	13.4	-0.6
2016	14.0	-0.7
2015	14.7	-0.8
2014	15.5	-0.3
2013	15.8	-0.1
2012	15.9	0.0
2011	15.9	+0.6
2010	15.3	+1.0
2009	14.3	+1.1
2008	13.2	+0.2
2007	13.0	-0.3
2006	13.3	0.0
2005	13.3	+0.6
2004	12.7	+0.2
2003	12.5	+0.4
2002	12.1	+0.4
2001	11.7	+0.4
2000	11.3	-0.6
1999	11.9	-0.8
1998	12.7	-0.6
1997	13.3	-0.4
1996	13.7	-0.1
1995	13.8	-
1993	15.1	-
1989	12.8	-

U.S. Official Poverty Rate by Year (1989-2024)

U.S. Poverty Rate by Decade

U.S. Poverty Rate Year-by-Year Historical Table (1989-2024)

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