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RANKING · 2010 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Highest poverty rate, US states · 2010

US states with the highest share of residents below the federal poverty line (2010 ACS). Mississippi leads at 21.2%. 51 states qualify in total.

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RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOVERTY RATEVS 2000
USUnited States308,745,53813.8%–
01Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77921.2%+1.3 pts
02District of Columbia, DCDC681,29418.5%−1.8 pts
03New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24618.4%−0.1 pts
04Louisiana, LALA4,611,96118.1%−1.5 pts
05Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39118.0%+2.2 pts
06Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82417.7%+1.9 pts
07West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37317.4%−0.5 pts
08Alabama, ALAL5,086,76817.1%+1.0 pts
09Texas, TXTX30,188,42416.8%+1.4 pts
10Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38316.5%+3.0 pts
11South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22516.4%+2.3 pts
12Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63416.2%+1.5 pts
13Georgia, GAGA10,940,40715.7%+2.7 pts
14North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40415.5%+3.2 pts
15Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83815.3%+1.4 pts
16Michigan, MIMI10,077,76114.8%+4.3 pts
17Montana, MTMT1,116,87514.5%−0.1 pts
18New York, NYNY19,852,36614.2%−0.4 pts
19Ohio, OHOH11,810,29314.2%+3.6 pts
20Oregon, OROR4,254,29314.0%+2.4 pts
21Missouri, MOMO6,191,81414.0%+2.2 pts
22Florida, FLFL22,416,07713.8%+1.3 pts
23South Dakota, SDSD907,42813.7%+0.5 pts
24California, CACA39,287,37713.7%−0.5 pts
25Idaho, IDID1,934,26213.6%+1.8 pts
26Indiana, ININ6,851,07313.5%+4.1 pts
27Illinois, ILIL12,694,79812.6%+2.0 pts
28Maine, MEME1,387,81712.6%+1.6 pts
29Kansas, KSKS2,947,19712.4%+2.5 pts
30Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63912.4%+1.4 pts
31North Dakota, NDND784,84112.3%+0.5 pts
32Colorado, COCO5,862,18912.2%+3.0 pts
33Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80112.2%+0.2 pts
34Washington, WAWA7,816,11612.1%+1.5 pts
35Nevada, NVNV3,184,61211.9%+1.4 pts
36Nebraska, NENE1,978,70711.8%+2.1 pts
37Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87211.6%+3.0 pts
38Iowa, IAIA3,210,50711.6%+2.5 pts
39Vermont, VTVT647,10611.1%+1.7 pts
40Delaware, DEDE1,021,19111.0%+1.8 pts
41Utah, UTUT3,392,33110.8%+1.4 pts
42Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44510.6%+2.7 pts
43Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05610.5%+1.2 pts
44Virginia, VAVA8,705,17010.3%+0.7 pts
45Wyoming, WYWY582,3979.8%−1.6 pts
46Hawaii, HIHI1,445,2359.6%−1.1 pts
47Alaska, AKAK735,7069.5%+0.1 pts
48Connecticut, CTCT3,624,5089.2%+1.3 pts
49New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,8099.1%+0.6 pts
50Maryland, MDMD6,206,0118.6%+0.1 pts
51New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,8687.8%+1.3 pts
SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest poverty rate?

Mississippi ranks #1 with 21.2% (2010 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by poverty rate?

Mississippi, District of Columbia, New Mexico, Louisiana, Arkansas.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2010 Decennial Census data.

How is poverty rate measured?

Share of people with income below the federal poverty line. Source: US Census Bureau, 2010 Decennial Census.