? How many people are poor in America?
The number of Americans living in poverty grew significantly in 2002, swelling to 34.6 million people - nearly one out of every eight people in the United States. Poverty's rise to 12.1% of the total population represented an additional 1.7 million people falling into need during the last year. (U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, September 2003.)
12.1 million children lived in poverty in 2002. The rate of poverty among children was 16.7%, significantly higher than the poverty rate for the population as a whole. Child poverty in the U.S. is much higher -- often two-to-three times higher -- than that of most other major Western industrialized countries. Each day in America, 2,019 babies are born into poverty. This means that a child is born into poverty every 43 seconds. Almost 80 percent of poor children live in working households. One in five children is poor during the first three years of life – the time of greatest brain development. An American child is born without health insurance every minute – 90 percent of our nine million uninsured children live in working families. In Minnesota, 121,691 children lived in poverty in 2002. That translates to a poverty rate of 9.6%, the second-lowest in the nation. For more detailed numbers and historical trends, see http://www.childrensdefense.org/fs_cptb_young18.phpSee also "25 Key Facts About American Children"For international comparisons, see http://www.lisproject.org/keyfigures/childpovrates.htm
12.1 million children lived in poverty in 2002. The rate of poverty among children was 16.7%, significantly higher than the poverty rate for the population as a whole. Child poverty in the U.S. is much higher -- often two-to-three times higher -- than that of most other major Western industrialized countries.
Each day in America, 2,019 babies are born into poverty. This means that a child is born into poverty every 43 seconds. Almost 80 percent of poor children live in working households.
One in five children is poor during the first three years of life – the time of greatest brain development.
An American child is born without health insurance every minute – 90 percent of our nine million uninsured children live in working families.
In Minnesota, 121,691 children lived in poverty in 2002. That translates to a poverty rate of 9.6%, the second-lowest in the nation.
For more detailed numbers and historical trends, see http://www.childrensdefense.org/fs_cptb_young18.phpSee also "25 Key Facts About American Children"For international comparisons, see http://www.lisproject.org/keyfigures/childpovrates.htm
The poverty rate for children is significantly higher (roughly 50% higher) than the rates for other age groups.
Poverty and low-income rates of children , 1975-2001
Poverty Rates by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1959 to 2001
In 2002 the official federal poverty threshold was $18,850 for a family of four. Size of Family 48 Contiguous States and D.C. Alaska Hawaii 1 $9,310 $11,630 $10,700 2 12,490 15,610 14,360 3 15,670 19,590 18,020 4 18,850 23,570 21,680 5 22,030 27,550 25,340 6 25,210 31,530 29,000 7 28,390 35,510 32,660 8 31,570 39,490 36,320 For poverty thresholds in other years see http://www.census.gov/hhes/poverty/threshld.html
In 2002 the official federal poverty threshold was $18,850 for a family of four.
Size of Family
48 Contiguous States and D.C.
For poverty thresholds in other years see http://www.census.gov/hhes/poverty/threshld.html
The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is poor. Essentially, they take a basket of food goods for a given family and multiply the value of those food goods by three. For a summary of how this formula was established, see http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/papers/hptgssiv.htm The poverty thresholds do not vary geographically, but they are updated annually for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). The official poverty definition counts money income before taxes and does not include capital gains and noncash benefits (such as public housing, Medicaid, and food stamps). Poverty is not defined for people in military barracks, institutional group quarters, or for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children). They are excluded from the poverty universe--that is, they are considered neither as "poor" nor as "nonpoor."
The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is poor. Essentially, they take a basket of food goods for a given family and multiply the value of those food goods by three. For a summary of how this formula was established, see http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/papers/hptgssiv.htm
The poverty thresholds do not vary geographically, but they are updated annually for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). The official poverty definition counts money income before taxes and does not include capital gains and noncash benefits (such as public housing, Medicaid, and food stamps). Poverty is not defined for people in military barracks, institutional group quarters, or for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children). They are excluded from the poverty universe--that is, they are considered neither as "poor" nor as "nonpoor."
Most Americans think that it takes about $35,000 annually to adequately house, clothe and feed a family of four. See http://www.usnewswire.com/topnews/qtr1_2003/0107-103.html for more details of public opinion survey.
Most Americans think that it takes about $35,000 annually to adequately house, clothe and feed a family of four.
See http://www.usnewswire.com/topnews/qtr1_2003/0107-103.html for more details of public opinion survey.
Most Americans believe that between 1 and 5 million people live in poverty in the UnitedStates when the actual number is nearly 33 million. See results of the national "Poverty Pulse" survey released by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD).
Most Americans believe that between 1 and 5 million people live in poverty in the UnitedStates when the actual number is nearly 33 million.
See results of the national "Poverty Pulse" survey released by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD).
No, the percentage of America's poor who live in the central cities is 40%. The percentage of Americas's poor who live in suburbs is almost as high (36%). Source: Poverty USA: The State of Poverty in America
No, the percentage of America's poor who live in the central cities is 40%. The percentage of Americas's poor who live in suburbs is almost as high (36%).
Source: Poverty USA: The State of Poverty in America
Nearly 40% of America's poor over the age of 16 worked either part-time or full-time in 2001, yet could not earn enough to secure even the basic necessities of life. Three out of four children in poverty lived with a family member who worked at least part time. And one out of every three children in poverty lived with someone who worked full-time, year round. Source: Poverty USA: The State of Poverty in America
Nearly 40% of America's poor over the age of 16 worked either part-time or full-time in 2001, yet could not earn enough to secure even the basic necessities of life.
Three out of four children in poverty lived with a family member who worked at least part time. And one out of every three children in poverty lived with someone who worked full-time, year round.
A single parent of two young children working full-time in a minimum wage job for a year would make $10,712 before taxes - more than $4,300 below the poverty line. (U.S. Department of Labor; U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 2001.)
According to the Children's Defense Fund, for every year that 14.5 million American children continue to experience poverty, their lifetime contribution to the economy will decline by an estimated $130 billion because poor children grow up to be less educated and often less productive workers.
