U.S. states and DC; people below poverty threshold, % of population measured, 2024.
Poverty rates are compared across U.S. states and DC for 2024. Values are ACS percentage estimates for the relevant population, labour-force or housing denominator in each geography. Louisiana ranks first at 18.69%, 0.88 percentage points above Mississippi. Oklahoma is the final listed row at 14.91%, making the first value 1.25 times the final listed value.
| Rank | Entry | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | 18.69% | 2024 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 17.81% | 2024 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | 17.31% | 2024 |
| 4 | West Virginia | 16.74% | 2024 |
| 5 | New Mexico | 16.42% | 2024 |
| 6 | Kentucky | 15.56% | 2024 |
| 7 | Arkansas | 15.54% | 2024 |
| 8 | Alabama | 15.19% | 2024 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 14.91% | 2024 |
Source 1: 2024 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates: Poverty rate
Publisher: U.S. Census Bureau
Dataset/table: American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates
Units: percent
Date checked: 2026-06-26
Evidence: Supports the 2024 poverty rate estimates, uncertainty fields and geography labels used in this ranking.
The percentage is an ACS survey estimate for the stated geography and period. ACS values are subject to sampling error; close rankings may have overlapping 90% confidence intervals. Each geography has its own denominator, so these values are rates or shares within that geography rather than parts of a common total.
The ranking uses the American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates for poverty rate across U.S. states and DC. Each percentage uses the Census numerator and the matching geography-specific denominator. Entries are ordered from highest to lowest after passing the stated ACS reliability rules. Regional aggregates and geographies outside the stated scope are excluded.
All entries use the same Census source family, ACS product, 2024 period, percent unit and reliability rules. No years, products or measurement units are mixed.
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