EAST

The council of state governments | 2013

The Book of the States 2013

Facts & Figures
Trends in Poverty
National Analysis

`` In 2011, 46 million Americans lived below the federal poverty line,

according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The poverty income line for a
family of four in 2011 was $22,350 per year.
`` The number of poor Americans in 2011 was nearly 10 million
more than the total population of California (37 million), the most
populous state.
`` The total population of the 24 smallest states is roughly equal to
the number of poor Americans of all ages in 2011.
`` The national poverty rate for children, 21.9 percent in 2011, is higher
than for the general population, 15 percent, while the poverty rate of
8.7 percent for seniors 65 and older is considerably lower.
`` Regional poverty rates are highest in the South (16.3 percent)
and the West (15.8 percent); the rates are lowest in the East (12.8
percent) and the Midwest (13.8 percent).
`` Nationally, poverty has been on the rise since 2000, with a slight moderation in 2005 and 2006 before the Great Recession of 2007-08.
`` Over the past decade, from 2001 to 2011, poverty increased nationally by 28.2 percent. Every region also saw poverty increase over the
decade. In the Western region, however, poverty fell slightly between
2001 and 2006, but then rose sharply between 2006 and 2011.

Regional Analysis

`` Regional poverty rates in 2011 were the lowest in the East12.8

percentcompared to 15 percent nationally.
`` State poverty varied in the East from 16 percent in New York to
7.6 percent in New Hampshire.
`` Child poverty rates in the East were the highest in New York (23.2
percent) and the lowest in New Hampshire (9.4 percent).
`` Poverty doubled in Delaware between 2001 and 2011, while poverty
in New York increased just 12.7 percent between 2001 and 2011.
`` In Massachusetts, poverty rates fell 11.7 percent during the years,
2006 to 2011. It was the only state to post a decline in the years
that include the recession and post-recession years. Maine, New
Hampshire, New York and Vermont had declines in poverty
between 2001 and 2006, but could not sustain the declines in the
following five years.

u.s. Poverty Rate, 1995-2011

Note: Shaded areas indicate recession periods,

March 2001 to November 2001 and December
2007 to June 2009, according to the National
Bureau of Economic Research.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Surveys,
Annual Social and Economic Supplements, http://www.census.
gov/hhes/www/poverty/publications/pubs-cps.html

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.CSG.ORG/BOOKOFTHESTATES

A Product of Capitol Research

midwest

The council of state governments | 2013

The Book of the States 2013

Facts & Figures
Trends in Poverty
National Analysis

`` In 2011, 46 million Americans lived below the federal poverty line,

according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The poverty income line for a
family of four in 2011 was $22,350 per year.
`` The number of poor Americans in 2011 was nearly 10 million
more than the total population of California (37 million), the most
populous state.
`` The total population of the 24 smallest states is roughly equal to
the number of poor Americans of all ages in 2011.
`` The national poverty rate for children, 21.9 percent in 2011, is higher
than for the general population, 15 percent, while the poverty rate of
8.7 percent for seniors 65 and older is considerably lower.
`` Regional poverty rates are highest in the South (16.3 percent)
and the West (15.8 percent); the rates are lowest in the East (12.8
percent) and the Midwest (13.8 percent).
`` Nationally, poverty has been on the rise since 2000, with a slight moderation in 2005 and 2006 before the Great Recession of 2007-08.
`` Over the past decade, from 2001 to 2011, poverty increased nationally by 28.2 percent. Every region also saw poverty increase over the
decade. In the Western region, however, poverty fell slightly between
2001 and 2006, but then rose sharply between 2006 and 2011.

Regional Analysis

`` The regional poverty rate in 2011 for people of all ages in the
Midwest was 13.8 percent. Childrens poverty was higher at 20.4
percent, while poverty among seniors 65 and older in the Midwest
was 7.3 percent.
`` State poverty varied in the Midwest from 15.6 percent in Indiana
to 9.9 percent in North Dakota.
`` Child poverty rates in the Midwest were the highest in Indiana (24
percent) and the lowest in North Dakota (12.2 percent).
`` All the Midwestern states posted single digit poverty rates for
seniors 65 and older, ranging from 8.9 percent in Ohio to just 4
percent in Wisconsin.
`` Poverty rates rose in all the Midwestern states between 2001 and
2011, except for North Dakota, where poverty fell 28.3 percent, the
biggest decline of any state. The mining boom is probably responsible for this economic good news.
`` Poverty rose only 8.5 percent in Nebraska, with all the other Midwest states posting increases between 35 percent in Minnesota and
83 percent in Indiana.

u.s. Poverty Rate, 1995-2011

Note: Shaded areas indicate recession periods,

March 2001 to November 2001 and December
2007 to June 2009, according to the National
Bureau of Economic Research.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Surveys,
Annual Social and Economic Supplements, http://www.census.
gov/hhes/www/poverty/publications/pubs-cps.html

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.CSG.ORG/BOOKOFTHESTATES

A Product of Capitol Research

south

The council of state governments | 2013

The Book of the States 2013

Facts & Figures
Trends in Poverty
National Analysis

`` In 2011, 46 million Americans lived below the federal poverty line,

according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The poverty income line for a
family of four in 2011 was $22,350 per year.
`` The number of poor Americans in 2011 was nearly 10 million
more than the total population of California (37 million), the most
populous state.
`` The total population of the 24 smallest states is roughly equal to
the number of poor Americans of all ages in 2011.
`` The national poverty rate for children, 21.9 percent in 2011, is higher
than for the general population, 15 percent, while the poverty rate of
8.7 percent for seniors 65 and older is considerably lower.
`` Regional poverty rates are highest in the South (16.3 percent)
and the West (15.8 percent); the rates are lowest in the East (12.8
percent) and the Midwest (13.8 percent).
`` Nationally, poverty has been on the rise since 2000, with a slight moderation in 2005 and 2006 before the Great Recession of 2007-08.
`` Over the past decade, from 2001 to 2011, poverty increased nationally by 28.2 percent. Every region also saw poverty increase over the
decade. In the Western region, however, poverty fell slightly between
2001 and 2006, but then rose sharply between 2006 and 2011.

Regional Analysis

`` The regional poverty rate in 2011 for people of all ages in the
South was 16.3 percent, the highest of the four regions.
`` The poverty rate for children was also the highest in the South,
with one in four children living below the federal poverty line.
Among seniors 65 and older in the South in 2011, 10.1 percent
were poor.
`` State poverty in 2011 ranged in the South from 21.1 percent in
Louisiana to 11.4 percent in Virginia.
`` Children in Louisiana were most likely to be poor; the child poverty rate was 31 percent in 2011. Southern children were least likely
to be poor in Virginia. Virginias child poverty rate of 14.6 percent
was the only child poverty rate below 20 percent in the South.
`` From 2001 to 2011, poverty rates in Alabama, Mississippi and
Oklahoma declined. That may be because these states were already among the poorest in the nation before the recession, so the
recession may not have hit them as severely.

u.s. Poverty Rate, 1995-2011

Note: Shaded areas indicate recession periods,

March 2001 to November 2001 and December
2007 to June 2009, according to the National
Bureau of Economic Research.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Surveys,
Annual Social and Economic Supplements, http://www.census.
gov/hhes/www/poverty/publications/pubs-cps.html

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.CSG.ORG/BOOKOFTHESTATES

A Product of Capitol Research

west

The council of state governments | 2013

The Book of the States 2013

Facts & Figures
Trends in Poverty
National Analysis

`` In 2011, 46 million Americans lived below the federal poverty line,

according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The poverty income line for a
family of four in 2011 was $22,350 per year.
`` The number of poor Americans in 2011 was nearly 10 million
more than the total population of California (37 million), the most
populous state.
`` The total population of the 24 smallest states is roughly equal to
the number of poor Americans of all ages in 2011.
`` The national poverty rate for children, 21.9 percent in 2011, is higher
than for the general population, 15 percent, while the poverty rate of
8.7 percent for seniors 65 and older is considerably lower.
`` Regional poverty rates are highest in the South (16.3 percent)
and the West (15.8 percent); the rates are lowest in the East (12.8
percent) and the Midwest (13.8 percent).
`` Nationally, poverty has been on the rise since 2000, with a slight moderation in 2005 and 2006 before the Great Recession of 2007-08.
`` Over the past decade, from 2001 to 2011, poverty increased nationally by 28.2 percent. Every region also saw poverty increase over the
decade. In the Western region, however, poverty fell slightly between
2001 and 2006, but then rose sharply between 2006 and 2011.

Regional Analysis

`` The regional poverty rate in 2011 for people of all ages in the West
was 15.8 percent. Without California, which has more than half the
Wests population, the overall poverty rate was 14.6 percent.
`` Poverty rates in the West are highest among children and lowest
among seniors, as in the rest of the nation. The poverty rate for
children in the West is about half again higher than the general
population and the poverty rate for seniors is about half that of
the general population, whether California is included or excluded
from the regional statistics.
`` State poverty in the West ranged from 22.2 percent in New Mexico
to 10.7 percent in Wyoming.
`` Child poverty rates in the West ranged from 31.8 percent in New
Mexico to 12.7 percent in Wyoming.
`` Poverty rates increased in all Western states from 2001 to 2011.
Poverty more than doubled in Nevada, rising by 118.3 percent, the
biggest increase in the U.S.
`` Poverty in several Western states did not increase consistent with
the national trend. Poverty rates remained about the same in
Hawaii and Utah in 2011 compared to 2001, up just 6.1 and 4.8
percent respectively.

u.s. Poverty Rate, 1995-2011

Note: Shaded areas indicate recession periods,

March 2001 to November 2001 and December
2007 to June 2009, according to the National
Bureau of Economic Research.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Surveys,
Annual Social and Economic Supplements, http://www.census.
gov/hhes/www/poverty/publications/pubs-cps.html

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.CSG.ORG/BOOKOFTHESTATES

A Product of Capitol Research

Population below the poverty line

2011
All Ages
State

United States
EAST REGION
Connecticut
Delaware
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont
Regional total
MIDWEST REGION
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin
Regional total
SOUTH REGION
Alabama
Arkansas
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
Missouri
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
West Virginia
REGIONAL TOTAL
WEST REGION
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming
Regional total
REgional Total
Without california

All Ages
Under 18

65 and
Older

Percent of Population

Percent Change Over Time

Number (in
thousands)

Percent

Percent

Percent

2001

2006

2001-2006

20062011

20012011

46,247

15

21.9

8.7

11.7

12.3

5.1

22.0

28.2

356
123
178
537
688
99
988
3,085
1,604
139
71
7,868

10.1
13.7
13.4
9.3
10.6
7.6
11.4
16
12.6
13.4
11.6
12.8

14.5
22.6
18.2
11.5
13.6
9.4
17.9
23.2
17.5
18.2
18
18.1

7
7.4
8.2
7.2
8.9
4.4
5.4
11.5
8.8
7.2
9.1
8.8

7.3
6.7
10.3
7.2
8.9
6.5
8.1
14.2
9.6
9.6
9.7
10.3

8
9.3
10.2
8.4
12
5.4
8.8
14
11.3
10.5
7.8
11.4

9.6
38.8
-1.0
16.7
34.8
-16.9
8.6
-1.4
17.7
9.4
-19.6
10.7

26.3
47.3
31.4
10.7
-11.7
40.7
29.5
14.3
11.5
27.6
48.7
12.3

38.4
104.5
30.1
29.2
19.1
16.9
40.7
12.7
31.3
39.6
19.6
24.3

1,807
989
315
402
1,449
528
187
67
1,708
117
743
8,312

14.2
15.6
10.4
14.3
15
10
10.2
9.9
15.1
14.5
13.1
13.8

20.1
24
14
22.1
23.2
13.8
15
12.2
21.7
22.8
21.4
20.4

8
6.8
6.1
7.2
8
6.8
5.5
6.7
8.9
5.9
4
7.3

10.1
8.5
7.4
10.1
9.4
7.4
9.4
13.8
10.5
8.4
7.9
9.3

10.6
10.6
10.3
12.8
13.3
8.2
10.2
11.4
12.1
10.7
10.1
11.2

5.0
24.7
39.2
26.7
41.5
10.8
8.5
-17.4
15.2
27.4
27.8
20.4

34.0
47.2
1.0
11.7
12.8
22.0
0.0
-13.2
24.8
35.5
29.7
23.2

40.6
83.5
40.5
41.6
59.6
35.1
8.5
-28.3
43.8
72.6
65.8
48.4

732
545
2,822
1,783
689
947
510
910
1,459
522
874
1,030
4,458
907
318
18,506

15.4
18.7
14.9
18.4
16
21.1
17.4
15.4
15.4
13.9
19
16.3
17.4
11.4
17.5
16.3

22.6
25.9
22.3
24.8
24
31
24.6
23.9
24.1
21.4
27.3
24
25.8
14.6
25.2
24

8.3
11.2
9.4
8.4
9
14.7
9.8
7
10.2
7
14.3
12.1
11.2
9.5
6.8
10.1

15.9
17.8
12.7
12.9
12.6
16.2
19.3
9.7
12.5
15.1
15.1
14.1
14.9
8
16.4
13.6

14.3
17.7
11.5
12.6
16.8
17
20.6
11.4
13.8
15.2
11.2
14.9
16.4
8.6
15.3
14

-10.1
-0.6
-9.4
-2.3
33.3
4.9
6.7
17.5
10.4
0.7
-25.8
5.7
10.1
7.5
-6.7
2.9

7.7
5.6
29.6
46.0
-4.8
24.1
-15.5
35.1
11.6
-8.6
69.6
9.4
6.1
32.6
14.4
16.4

-3.1
5.1
17.3
42.6
27.0
30.2
-9.8
58.8
23.2
-7.9
25.8
15.6
16.8
42.5
6.7
19.9

83
1,128
6,352
661
162
248
163
414
451
553
309
854
60
11,438

11.7
17.2
16.9
13.2
12.1
15.7
16.5
15.5
22.2
14.4
11
12.5
10.7
15.8

16.7
25.2
24.3
16.1
16.3
23
25.7
20.6
31.8
21.7
14.5
19.2
12.7
22.5

*
7.2
8.2
7.3
7
8.5
7.7
9.2
9.6
5.4
7.9
5.5
*
7.7

8.5
14.6
12.6
8.7
11.4
11.5
13.3
7.1
18
11.8
10.5
10.7
8.7
12.1

8.9
14.4
12.2
9.7
9.2
9.5
13.5
9.5
16.9
11.8
9.3
8
10
11.6

4.7
-1.4
-3.2
11.5
-19.3
-17.4
1.5
33.8
-6.1
0.0
-11.4
-25.2
14.9
-4.1

31.5
19.4
38.5
36.1
31.5
65.3
22.2
63.2
31.4
22.0
18.3
56.3
7.0
36.2

37.6
17.8
34.1
51.7
6.1
36.5
24.1
118.3
23.3
22.0
4.8
16.8
23.0
30.6

5,086

14.6

20.6

7.2

11.5

11

-4.3

32.7

27.0

Debra Miller, CSG Director of Health Policy | dmiller@csg.org

TABLE
RESOURCES
Source: U.S. Census
Bureau, Current
Population Surveys,
2001, 2006 and
2012 Annual Social
and Economic
Supplements.
http://www.census.
gov/hhes/www/
poverty/data/
incpovhlth/2011/
index.html.

Note: *Due to
sampling size,
percentage would
be statistically
unreliable.

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