Top 10 Poorest States in the U.S. | Friends Committee On National Legislation (2024)

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the national poverty rate was 12.4% in 2022, up from 11.2% in 2021. These states have the highest percentages of poverty in the country: Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia, New Mexico, Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, and New York.

As a Quaker organization, FCNL seeks to eliminate poverty at home and abroad through economic policies that expand opportunities for all people.

For the states with the highest rates of hunger, click here.

Top 10 Poorest States in the U.S. | Friends Committee On National Legislation (2024)

FAQs

Top 10 Poorest States in the U.S. | Friends Committee On National Legislation? ›

These states have the highest percentages of poverty in the country: Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia, New Mexico, Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, and New York.

What is the 10 poorest state in the United States? ›

The ten poorest states, by poverty rate, are :
  • Mississippi – 18.70%
  • Louisiana – 17.80%
  • New Mexico – 16.80%
  • West Virginia – 15.80%
  • Arkansas – 15.20%
  • Alabama – 14.90%
  • Kentucky – 14.90%
  • Oklahoma – 14%

What is the poorest state in the United States in 2024? ›

Mississippi

With a poverty rate of approximately 19.5% as of 2020. In 2024 it has the highest poverty rate with 18.8%. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it faces significant economic challenges.

What is the poorest place in the United States? ›

In the United States (in 2017), the place with the lowest median household income was Little River, California (population 117), while the place with the lowest median household income with a population of more than 1,000 was Comerío Zona Urbana in Comerío, Puerto Rico (population 4,312).

What are the top 10 lowest income states? ›

The 10 poorest states in America
  1. Mississippi. Jackson, Mississippi.
  2. Arkansas. Hot Springs, Arkansas. ...
  3. West Virginia. Charleston, West Virginia. ...
  4. Alabama. Birmingham, Alabama. ...
  5. Kentucky. Louisville, Kentucky. ...
  6. New Mexico. Albuquerque, New Mexico. ...
  7. Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee. ...
  8. Louisiana. ...
Sep 27, 2013

What is the brokest state in the United States? ›

Mississippi. Mississippi is the poorest U.S. state, with 18.8% of its residents living in poverty. The state also has the highest child poverty rate, with 27.9% of its under-18 population meeting federal poverty guidelines.

What is the richest U.S. state? ›

New Jersey topped a U.S. News & World Report ranking of the richest states in the U.S. The ranking, published in November, used the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey estimates from 2022 to identify states with the highest median household income.

What is the least richest state in the United States? ›

The three U.S. states with the highest GDPs were California ($3.8 trillion), Texas ($2.56 trillion), and New York ($2.15 trillion). The three U.S. states with the lowest GDPs were Vermont ($43.1 billion), Wyoming ($50.1 billion), and Alaska ($67.1 billion).

What is the least wealthiest state? ›

The states with the lowest median household income are Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas.

What is the poorest major city in America? ›

When data researchers use the term, it has a specific definition. Out of the top 10 most populous cities across the United States, Philadelphia has the highest poverty rate.

What is the poorest zip code in America? ›

10 poorest zip codes in America
  • Zip code: 44702 │ Canton, Ohio. ...
  • Zip code: 62523 │ Decatur, Illinois. ...
  • Zip code: 16501 │ Erie, Pennsylvania. ...
  • Zip code: 86029 │ Sun Valley, Arizona. ...
  • Zip code: 44503 │ Youngstown, Ohio. ...
  • Zip code: 97414 │ Broadbent, Oregon. ...
  • Zip code: 15929 │ East Wheatfield, Pennsylvania.
Jul 18, 2019

What race is the poorest in the United States? ›

Poverty and race/ethnicity

The US Census declared that in 2014, 14.8% of the general population lived in poverty: As of 2010 about half of those living in poverty are non-Hispanic white (19.6 million). Non-Hispanic white children comprised 57% of all poor rural children.

What is the richest country in the world in 2024? ›

Top 10 economies by GDP per capita ranking 2024
CountryContinentGDP-PPP per capita (in USD)
#1 LuxembourgEurope143,740
#2 Macao SARAsia134,140
#3 IrelandEurope133,900
#4 SingaporeAsia133,740
6 more rows
5 days ago

What is the No 1 poorest country? ›

1. Burundi. Burundi consistently ranks among the poorest countries globally.

Who is the richest country in the world? ›

Luxembourg

What is the 10 richest state in America? ›

10 richest states in America
  • New Jersey. Median household income: $96,346.
  • Maryland. Median household income: $94,991.
  • Massachusetts. Median household income: $94,488.
  • Hawaii. Median household income: $92,458.
  • California. Median household income: $91,551.
  • Washington. Median household income: $91,306.
  • New Hampshire. ...
  • Colorado.
Apr 1, 2024

What are the poorest 50 states? ›

Poverty rates were highest in the states of New Mexico (18.2%), Mississippi (17.8%), Louisiana (16.9%), Arkansas (15.9%), Kentucky (15.8%), Oklahoma (15.8%), and West Virginia (15.6%) and they were lowest in the states of New Hampshire (7.42%), Maryland (9.02%), Utah (9.13%), Hawaii (9.26%).

Where is poverty the worst? ›

In 2018, Puerto Rico had a poverty rate of 43.1%. In 2017, American Samoa had a poverty rate of 65% — the highest poverty rate of any state or territory in the United States.

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