In 2023, there were a total of seven 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 2023
(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.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
US Census Bureau. (September 16, 2024). Number of families living below the poverty line in the United States from 1990 to 2023 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 21, 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 2023 (in 1,000s)." Chart. September 16, 2024. Statista. Accessed December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/204743/number-of-poor-families-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. (2024). Number of families living below the poverty line in the United States from 1990 to 2023 (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 21, 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 2023 (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 16 Sep 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 2023 (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/204743/number-of-poor-families-in-the-us/ (last visited December 21, 2024)
Number of families living below the poverty line in the United States from 1990 to 2023 (in 1,000s) [Graph], US Census Bureau, September 16, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/204743/number-of-poor-families-in-the-us/
