Data / Rankings / Child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) / Counties in Alabama

Counties in Alabama by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure)

Greene County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 67 counties in 2021, at 51.8%. Shelby County had the lowest, at 9.1%. The median was 27.1% and the figure for Alabama was 22.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest51.8Greene County
Lowest9.1Shelby County
Median27.167 counties
Alabama22.7History

Map of counties, 2021

Autauga County: 16.1 %Baldwin County: 16.4 %Barbour County: 35.1 %Bibb County: 29 %Blount County: 16.7 %Bullock County: 41.7 %Butler County: 34.2 %Calhoun County: 25.2 %Chambers County: 32.2 %Cherokee County: 26.6 %Chilton County: 22.4 %Choctaw County: 32.4 %Clarke County: 29.2 %Clay County: 27.6 %Cleburne County: 22.1 %Coffee County: 24.2 %Colbert County: 23.6 %Conecuh County: 33.9 %Coosa County: 29.9 %Covington County: 28.3 %Crenshaw County: 28.9 %Cullman County: 17.5 %Dale County: 22.7 %Dallas County: 45.4 %DeKalb County: 29.3 %Elmore County: 17.3 %Escambia County: 29.9 %Etowah County: 25 %Fayette County: 26.5 %Franklin County: 25.1 %Geneva County: 29.1 %Greene County: 51.8 %Hale County: 32.6 %Henry County: 24.6 %Houston County: 27.1 %Jackson County: 27 %Jefferson County: 23.6 %Lamar County: 24.7 %Lauderdale County: 22.8 %Lawrence County: 23 %Lee County: 18.4 %Limestone County: 11.8 %Lowndes County: 43 %Macon County: 42.9 %Madison County: 13.9 %Marengo County: 34.2 %Marion County: 24.5 %Marshall County: 22.3 %Mobile County: 24.8 %Monroe County: 33.2 %Montgomery County: 33.5 %Morgan County: 17 %Perry County: 50.3 %Pickens County: 30.1 %Pike County: 30 %Randolph County: 30.1 %Russell County: 31 %St. Clair County: 16.8 %Shelby County: 9.1 %Sumter County: 48.1 %Talladega County: 27.1 %Tallapoosa County: 27.9 %Tuscaloosa County: 18.3 %Walker County: 27.7 %Washington County: 30.6 %Wilcox County: 49.4 %Winston County: 26.9 %
  • Under 18
  • 18 to 25
  • 25 to 27
  • 27 to 30
  • 30 to 34
  • 34 and over
%, 2021. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2021

Greene County: 51.8 %Greene County51.8Perry County: 50.3 %Perry County50.3Wilcox County: 49.4 %Wilcox County49.4Sumter County: 48.1 %Sumter County48.1Dallas County: 45.4 %Dallas County45.4Lowndes County: 43 %Lowndes County43Macon County: 42.9 %Macon County42.9Bullock County: 41.7 %Bullock County41.7Barbour County: 35.1 %Barbour County35.1Butler County: 34.2 %Butler County34.2Marengo County: 34.2 %Marengo County34.2Conecuh County: 33.9 %Conecuh County33.9Montgomery County: 33.5 %Montgomery County33.5Monroe County: 33.2 %Monroe County33.2Hale County: 32.6 %Hale County32.6Choctaw County: 32.4 %Choctaw County32.4Chambers County: 32.2 %Chambers County32.2Russell County: 31 %Russell County31Washington County: 30.6 %Washington County30.6Pickens County: 30.1 %Pickens County30.1Randolph County: 30.1 %Randolph County30.1Pike County: 30 %Pike County30Coosa County: 29.9 %Coosa County29.9Escambia County: 29.9 %Escambia County29.9DeKalb County: 29.3 %DeKalb County29.3Clarke County: 29.2 %Clarke County29.2Geneva County: 29.1 %Geneva County29.1Bibb County: 29 %Bibb County29Crenshaw County: 28.9 %Crenshaw County28.9Covington County: 28.3 %Covington County28.3Tallapoosa County: 27.9 %Tallapoosa County27.9Walker County: 27.7 %Walker County27.7Clay County: 27.6 %Clay County27.6Houston County: 27.1 %Houston County27.1Talladega County: 27.1 %Talladega County27.1Jackson County: 27 %Jackson County27Winston County: 26.9 %Winston County26.9Cherokee County: 26.6 %Cherokee County26.6Fayette County: 26.5 %Fayette County26.5Calhoun County: 25.2 %Calhoun County25.2Greene County: 51.8 %Greene County51.8Perry County: 50.3 %Perry County50.3Wilcox County: 49.4 %Wilcox County49.4Sumter County: 48.1 %Sumter County48.1Dallas County: 45.4 %Dallas County45.4Lowndes County: 43 %Lowndes County43Macon County: 42.9 %Macon County42.9Bullock County: 41.7 %Bullock County41.7Barbour County: 35.1 %Barbour County35.1Butler County: 34.2 %Butler County34.2Marengo County: 34.2 %Marengo County34.2Conecuh County: 33.9 %Conecuh County33.9Montgomery County: 33.5 %Montgomery County33.5Monroe County: 33.2 %Monroe County33.2Hale County: 32.6 %Hale County32.6Choctaw County: 32.4 %Choctaw County32.4Chambers County: 32.2 %Chambers County32.2Russell County: 31 %Russell County31Washington County: 30.6 %Washington County30.6Pickens County: 30.1 %Pickens County30.1Randolph County: 30.1 %Randolph County30.1Pike County: 30 %Pike County30Coosa County: 29.9 %Coosa County29.9Escambia County: 29.9 %Escambia County29.9DeKalb County: 29.3 %DeKalb County29.3Clarke County: 29.2 %Clarke County29.2Geneva County: 29.1 %Geneva County29.1Bibb County: 29 %Bibb County29Crenshaw County: 28.9 %Crenshaw County28.9Covington County: 28.3 %Covington County28.3Tallapoosa County: 27.9 %Tallapoosa County27.9Walker County: 27.7 %Walker County27.7Clay County: 27.6 %Clay County27.6Houston County: 27.1 %Houston County27.1Talladega County: 27.1 %Talladega County27.1Jackson County: 27 %Jackson County27Winston County: 26.9 %Winston County26.9Cherokee County: 26.6 %Cherokee County26.6Fayette County: 26.5 %Fayette County26.5Calhoun County: 25.2 %Calhoun County25.2
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Greene County51.8+8.3 pts
2Perry County50.3+6.1 pts
3Wilcox County49.4+20 pts
4Sumter County48.1+6.1 pts
5Dallas County45.4+3.1 pts
6Lowndes County43+4.9 pts
7Macon County42.9+3.6 pts
8Bullock County41.7+3 pts
9Barbour County35.1-2.4 pts
10Butler County34.2+3.4 pts
10Marengo County34.2+4 pts
12Conecuh County33.9-1.2 pts
13Montgomery County33.5+5.1 pts
14Monroe County33.2+3.3 pts
15Hale County32.6+2.6 pts
16Choctaw County32.4+3.5 pts
17Chambers County32.2+6 pts
18Russell County31-0.7 pts
19Washington County30.6+7.7 pts
20Pickens County30.1-1.1 pts
20Randolph County30.1+2.8 pts
22Pike County30+1.7 pts
23Coosa County29.9+1.1 pts
23Escambia County29.9+3.8 pts
25DeKalb County29.3+9.1 pts
26Clarke County29.2+0.5 pts
27Geneva County29.1-2.9 pts
28Bibb County29+7.1 pts
29Crenshaw County28.9+3.3 pts
30Covington County28.3+5.7 pts
31Tallapoosa County27.9+1.6 pts
32Walker County27.7+4.7 pts
33Clay County27.6+3.8 pts
34Houston County27.1+3.7 pts
34Talladega County27.1+3.2 pts
36Jackson County27+3.6 pts
37Winston County26.9+4.1 pts
38Cherokee County26.6+3.3 pts
39Fayette County26.5+2.8 pts
40Calhoun County25.2+8.5 pts
41Franklin County25.1+2.2 pts
42Etowah County25+2.1 pts
43Mobile County24.8-2.5 pts
44Lamar County24.7+3.4 pts
45Henry County24.6+1.1 pts
46Marion County24.5+0.9 pts
47Coffee County24.2+3.6 pts
48Colbert County23.6+2.7 pts
48Jefferson County23.6+3.5 pts
50Lawrence County23+1.1 pts
51Lauderdale County22.8+2.9 pts
52Dale County22.7-3.4 pts
53Chilton County22.4+1.4 pts
54Marshall County22.3-2.3 pts
55Cleburne County22.1+2.6 pts
56Lee County18.4+1.6 pts
57Tuscaloosa County18.3+0.9 pts
58Cullman County17.5+0.1 pts
59Elmore County17.3+0.7 pts
60Morgan County17-3.1 pts
61St. Clair County16.8+2.2 pts
62Blount County16.7-2.2 pts
63Baldwin County16.4+4 pts
64Autauga County16.1+1.2 pts
65Madison County13.9+0.4 pts
66Limestone County11.8-2.5 pts
67Shelby County9.1+0.9 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People under 18 in families or living alone with income below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people under 18 whose poverty status can be determined. United States: Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) for the nation, states and counties.

A model-based single-year estimate; the national figure is the one-year American Community Survey estimate. The Census Bureau advises comparing years from 2006 on only. Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate. The rate for all ages is poverty_rate.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties (Counties in Alabama by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in Alabama by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/alabama-counties?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. Counties in Alabama by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/alabama-counties?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in Alabama by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/alabama-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_alabama_by_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties: Counties in Alabama by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/alabama-counties?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties: Counties in Alabama by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/alabama-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/alabama-counties?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure)?

Greene County, with 51.8% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure)?

Shelby County, with 9.1% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure): other rankings

Counties in Alabama: more rankings