Most States Had Lower Official Poverty Rates in 2019-2021 Than a Decade Earlier
Most states had lower average official poverty rates in 2019-2021 than a decade earlier, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates released in January, during National Poverty in America Awareness Month.
A new historical table using the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC) shows that three-year average official poverty rates fell nationwide and in most states between 2009-2011 and 2019-2021.
These changes reflect economic trends over the decade.
The 2009-2011 data cover the period immediately following the Great Recession (December 2007 to June 2009), when poverty rates were among their highest this century.
The 2019-2021 data include three key time periods:
- The end of economic expansion following the Great Recession.
- The recession that accompanied the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (February to April 2020).
- The government’s response to the pandemic, which provided support and reduced poverty rates.
The official poverty measure uses a set of thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty. Those thresholds are compared to family or individual before-tax money income. Capital gains and noncash benefits (like public housing, Medicaid or food stamps) are not included as income.
Overall, the national average official poverty rate fell from 14.8% in 2009-2011 to 11.2% in 2019-2021. The figures below demonstrate the differences between the states during both time periods.
Figure 1 shows that from 2009 to 2011:
- Mississippi had among the highest average poverty rates (21.0%). It was the only state with a poverty rate of 20% or more.
- New Hampshire had the lowest average poverty rate (7.3%).
Figure 2 displays the average official poverty rate by state 10 years later, from 2019 to 2021. Among the highlights:
- Mississippi’s poverty rate fell to 18.1% but continued to be one of the highest in the country.
- New Hampshire’s poverty rate fell to 5.6%, remaining among the nation’s lowest poverty rates.
Figure 3 shows the change in the average official poverty rate between 2009-2011 and 2019-2021.
- The national average poverty rate fell 3.6 percentage points between 2009-2011 and 2019-2021.
- No states saw an increase in their poverty rate between periods.
- Poverty rates declined in 40 states and the District of Columbia. The remaining 10 states did not experience statistically significant changes in their poverty rates.