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RANKING · 2024 ACS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Highest poverty rate, US states

US states with the highest share of residents below the federal poverty line (2024 ACS). Louisiana leads at 18.9%. 51 states qualify in total. The median across all 51 is 11.8%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: New York, NY, up 7 places to #11.

Flip the list · Lowest poverty rate, US states →
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RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOVERTY RATEVS 2000
USUnited States334,922,49912.5%–
01▲1Louisiana, LALA4,611,96118.9%−0.7 pts
02▼1Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77918.9%−1.0 pts
03New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24617.8%−0.6 pts
04West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37316.7%−1.2 pts
05Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82416.1%+0.2 pts
06Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39116.0%+0.2 pts
07Alabama, ALAL5,086,76815.6%−0.5 pts
08District of Columbia, DCDC681,29415.4%−4.8 pts
09Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63415.3%+0.6 pts
10South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22514.1%0.0 pts
11▲7New York, NYNY19,852,36614.0%−0.6 pts
12▲1Texas, TXTX30,188,42413.8%−1.6 pts
13▼2Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38313.8%+0.3 pts
14▼2Georgia, GAGA10,940,40713.4%+0.4 pts
15▲2Ohio, OHOH11,810,29313.3%+2.7 pts
16Michigan, MIMI10,077,76113.2%+2.7 pts
17▼2North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40413.0%+0.7 pts
18▲2Missouri, MOMO6,191,81412.6%+0.8 pts
19Florida, FLFL22,416,07712.6%+0.1 pts
20▼6Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83812.5%−1.4 pts
21▲3Nevada, NVNV3,184,61212.4%+1.9 pts
22▼1Indiana, ININ6,851,07312.3%+2.8 pts
23▲2California, CACA39,287,37712.0%−2.2 pts
24▲2Oregon, OROR4,254,29311.9%+0.3 pts
25▼3South Dakota, SDSD907,42811.9%−1.3 pts
26▲1Illinois, ILIL12,694,79811.8%+1.1 pts
27▲1Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63911.7%+0.7 pts
28▼5Montana, MTMT1,116,87511.5%−3.1 pts
29▲2Kansas, KSKS2,947,19711.3%+1.4 pts
30Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80111.2%−0.8 pts
31▲2Iowa, IAIA3,210,50711.1%+1.9 pts
32▲6North Dakota, NDND784,84110.8%−1.0 pts
33▲1Maine, MEME1,387,81710.7%−0.2 pts
34▲5Nebraska, NENE1,978,70710.6%+0.9 pts
35▼6Idaho, IDID1,934,26210.6%−1.2 pts
36▼1Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87210.6%+1.9 pts
37Wyoming, WYWY582,39710.5%−0.9 pts
38▼6Delaware, DEDE1,021,19110.4%+1.2 pts
39▲1Alaska, AKAK735,70610.1%+0.7 pts
40▼4Vermont, VTVT647,10610.1%+0.6 pts
41▲7Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23510.0%−0.7 pts
42▲1Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05610.0%+0.7 pts
43▲1Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50810.0%+2.2 pts
44▼3Washington, WAWA7,816,1169.9%−0.7 pts
45▼3Virginia, VAVA8,705,1709.9%+0.3 pts
46New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,8099.7%+1.2 pts
47▲3Maryland, MDMD6,206,0119.4%+1.0 pts
48▼3Colorado, COCO5,862,1899.4%+0.2 pts
49▼2Minnesota, MNMN5,739,4459.3%+1.4 pts
50▼1Utah, UTUT3,392,3318.5%−0.9 pts
51New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,8687.2%+0.7 pts
SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest poverty rate?

Louisiana ranks #1 with 18.9% (2024 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 states by poverty rate?

Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, West Virginia, Kentucky.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2024 ACS 5-year data.

How is poverty rate measured?

Share of people with income below the federal poverty line. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024).