In 2022, there was a total of 7.4 million families living below the poverty line in the United States. Poverty is the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing, and shelter.
Number of families living below the poverty line in the United States from 1990 to 2022
(in 1,000s)
The Census Bureau defines a family as follows: "A family is a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together; all such people (including related subfamily members) are considered as members of one family."
Poverty is the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter.
U.S. Federal poverty guidelines may be found here. Data prior to 2018 can be found here.
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US Census Bureau. (September 13, 2023). Number of families living below the poverty line in the United States from 1990 to 2022 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/204743/number-of-poor-families-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. "Number of families living below the poverty line in the United States from 1990 to 2022 (in 1,000s)." Chart. September 13, 2023. Statista. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/204743/number-of-poor-families-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. (2023). Number of families living below the poverty line in the United States from 1990 to 2022 (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/204743/number-of-poor-families-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. "Number of Families Living below The Poverty Line in The United States from 1990 to 2022 (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 13 Sep 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/204743/number-of-poor-families-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau, Number of families living below the poverty line in the United States from 1990 to 2022 (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/204743/number-of-poor-families-in-the-us/ (last visited July 22, 2024)
Number of families living below the poverty line in the United States from 1990 to 2022 (in 1,000s) [Graph], US Census Bureau, September 13, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/204743/number-of-poor-families-in-the-us/