RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Highest poverty rate, US states · 2020

US states with the highest share of residents below the federal poverty line (2020 ACS). Mississippi leads at 19.6%. 51 states qualify in total.

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SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOVERTY RATEVS 2000

USUnited States331,449,28112.8%–

01Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77919.6%−2%

02Louisiana, LALA4,611,96118.6%−5%

03New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24618.6%+1%

04West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37317.1%−5%

05Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82416.6%+5%

06Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39116.1%+2%

07Alabama, ALAL5,086,76816.0%−1%

08District of Columbia, DCDC681,29415.5%−24%

09Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63415.3%+4%

10South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22514.7%+4%

11Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38314.6%+8%

12Georgia, GAGA10,940,40714.3%+10%

13Texas, TXTX30,188,42414.2%−7%

14Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83814.1%+2%

15North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40414.0%+14%

16Michigan, MIMI10,077,76113.7%+30%

17Ohio, OHOH11,810,29313.6%+29%

18New York, NYNY19,852,36613.6%−7%

19Florida, FLFL22,416,07713.3%+7%

20Missouri, MOMO6,191,81413.0%+11%

21Indiana, ININ6,851,07312.9%+36%

22South Dakota, SDSD907,42812.8%−3%

23Montana, MTMT1,116,87512.8%−12%

24Nevada, NVNV3,184,61212.8%+22%

25California, CACA39,287,37712.6%−12%

26Oregon, OROR4,254,29312.4%+6%

27Illinois, ILIL12,694,79812.0%+12%

28Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63912.0%+9%

29Idaho, IDID1,934,26211.9%+1%

30Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80111.6%−3%

31Kansas, KSKS2,947,19711.4%+16%

32Delaware, DEDE1,021,19111.4%+24%

33Iowa, IAIA3,210,50711.1%+22%

34Maine, MEME1,387,81711.1%+1%

35Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87211.0%+27%

36Vermont, VTVT647,10610.8%+14%

37Wyoming, WYWY582,39710.8%−6%

38North Dakota, NDND784,84110.5%−11%

39Nebraska, NENE1,978,70710.4%+7%

40Alaska, AKAK735,70610.3%+10%

41Washington, WAWA7,816,11610.2%−4%

42Virginia, VAVA8,705,17010.0%+4%

43Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,0569.8%+5%

44Connecticut, CTCT3,624,5089.8%+24%

45Colorado, COCO5,862,1899.8%+6%

46New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,8099.7%+14%

47Minnesota, MNMN5,739,4459.3%+18%

48Hawaii, HIHI1,445,2359.3%−13%

49Utah, UTUT3,392,3319.1%−3%

50Maryland, MDMD6,206,0119.0%+6%

51New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,8687.4%+13%

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest poverty rate?

Mississippi ranks #1 with 19.6% (2020 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by poverty rate?

Mississippi, Louisiana, 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 2020 Decennial Census data.

How is poverty rate measured?

Share of people with income below the federal poverty line. Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census.