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

Sunflower County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 82 counties in 2021, at 58.5%. DeSoto County had the lowest, at 14.1%. The median was 30.6% and the figure for Mississippi was 27.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest58.5Sunflower County
Lowest14.1DeSoto County
Median30.682 counties
Mississippi27.1History

Map of counties, 2021

Adams County: 36.6 %Alcorn County: 23.5 %Amite County: 30.4 %Attala County: 32 %Benton County: 30.5 %Bolivar County: 46.6 %Calhoun County: 32.1 %Carroll County: 23.3 %Chickasaw County: 28.7 %Choctaw County: 30.9 %Claiborne County: 39.9 %Clarke County: 29.1 %Clay County: 33.5 %Coahoma County: 54.1 %Copiah County: 27.9 %Covington County: 30.6 %DeSoto County: 14.1 %Forrest County: 27.6 %Franklin County: 32 %George County: 22.1 %Greene County: 24.8 %Grenada County: 36 %Hancock County: 24.1 %Harrison County: 27.9 %Hinds County: 34 %Holmes County: 48.3 %Humphreys County: 47.6 %Issaquena County: 58.4 %Itawamba County: 18.1 %Jackson County: 19.6 %Jasper County: 27.5 %Jefferson County: 43.9 %Jefferson Davis County: 39.9 %Jones County: 25.6 %Kemper County: 38 %Lafayette County: 16 %Lamar County: 17.6 %Lauderdale County: 31.1 %Lawrence County: 27.2 %Leake County: 37.1 %Lee County: 21.5 %Leflore County: 47.9 %Lincoln County: 25.5 %Lowndes County: 27.4 %Madison County: 16.2 %Marion County: 31.2 %Marshall County: 29.4 %Monroe County: 22.6 %Montgomery County: 32.7 %Neshoba County: 31.1 %Newton County: 27.8 %Noxubee County: 40.5 %Oktibbeha County: 24.5 %Panola County: 34.1 %Pearl River County: 22 %Perry County: 29.4 %Pike County: 39.4 %Pontotoc County: 22.7 %Prentiss County: 22 %Quitman County: 49.7 %Rankin County: 14.3 %Scott County: 28 %Sharkey County: 53.1 %Simpson County: 31.6 %Smith County: 24.1 %Stone County: 24.9 %Sunflower County: 58.5 %Tallahatchie County: 42.8 %Tate County: 20.6 %Tippah County: 28.1 %Tishomingo County: 20.3 %Tunica County: 42 %Union County: 21.1 %Walthall County: 35 %Warren County: 34.8 %Washington County: 40.2 %Wayne County: 33 %Webster County: 24.7 %Wilkinson County: 39.5 %Winston County: 32.9 %Yalobusha County: 34.7 %Yazoo County: 38.9 %
  • Under 22
  • 22 to 27
  • 27 to 31
  • 31 to 34
  • 34 to 40
  • 40 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

Sunflower County: 58.5 %Sunflower County58.5Issaquena County: 58.4 %Issaquena County58.4Coahoma County: 54.1 %Coahoma County54.1Sharkey County: 53.1 %Sharkey County53.1Quitman County: 49.7 %Quitman County49.7Holmes County: 48.3 %Holmes County48.3Leflore County: 47.9 %Leflore County47.9Humphreys County: 47.6 %Humphreys County47.6Bolivar County: 46.6 %Bolivar County46.6Jefferson County: 43.9 %Jefferson County43.9Tallahatchie County: 42.8 %Tallahatchie County42.8Tunica County: 42 %Tunica County42Noxubee County: 40.5 %Noxubee County40.5Washington County: 40.2 %Washington County40.2Claiborne County: 39.9 %Claiborne County39.9Jefferson Davis County: 39.9 %Jefferson Davis County39.9Wilkinson County: 39.5 %Wilkinson County39.5Pike County: 39.4 %Pike County39.4Yazoo County: 38.9 %Yazoo County38.9Kemper County: 38 %Kemper County38Leake County: 37.1 %Leake County37.1Adams County: 36.6 %Adams County36.6Grenada County: 36 %Grenada County36Walthall County: 35 %Walthall County35Warren County: 34.8 %Warren County34.8Yalobusha County: 34.7 %Yalobusha County34.7Panola County: 34.1 %Panola County34.1Hinds County: 34 %Hinds County34Clay County: 33.5 %Clay County33.5Wayne County: 33 %Wayne County33Winston County: 32.9 %Winston County32.9Montgomery County: 32.7 %Montgomery County32.7Calhoun County: 32.1 %Calhoun County32.1Attala County: 32 %Attala County32Franklin County: 32 %Franklin County32Simpson County: 31.6 %Simpson County31.6Marion County: 31.2 %Marion County31.2Lauderdale County: 31.1 %Lauderdale County31.1Neshoba County: 31.1 %Neshoba County31.1Choctaw County: 30.9 %Choctaw County30.9Sunflower County: 58.5 %Sunflower County58.5Issaquena County: 58.4 %Issaquena County58.4Coahoma County: 54.1 %Coahoma County54.1Sharkey County: 53.1 %Sharkey County53.1Quitman County: 49.7 %Quitman County49.7Holmes County: 48.3 %Holmes County48.3Leflore County: 47.9 %Leflore County47.9Humphreys County: 47.6 %Humphreys County47.6Bolivar County: 46.6 %Bolivar County46.6Jefferson County: 43.9 %Jefferson County43.9Tallahatchie County: 42.8 %Tallahatchie County42.8Tunica County: 42 %Tunica County42Noxubee County: 40.5 %Noxubee County40.5Washington County: 40.2 %Washington County40.2Claiborne County: 39.9 %Claiborne County39.9Jefferson Davis County: 39.9 %Jefferson Davis County39.9Wilkinson County: 39.5 %Wilkinson County39.5Pike County: 39.4 %Pike County39.4Yazoo County: 38.9 %Yazoo County38.9Kemper County: 38 %Kemper County38Leake County: 37.1 %Leake County37.1Adams County: 36.6 %Adams County36.6Grenada County: 36 %Grenada County36Walthall County: 35 %Walthall County35Warren County: 34.8 %Warren County34.8Yalobusha County: 34.7 %Yalobusha County34.7Panola County: 34.1 %Panola County34.1Hinds County: 34 %Hinds County34Clay County: 33.5 %Clay County33.5Wayne County: 33 %Wayne County33Winston County: 32.9 %Winston County32.9Montgomery County: 32.7 %Montgomery County32.7Calhoun County: 32.1 %Calhoun County32.1Attala County: 32 %Attala County32Franklin County: 32 %Franklin County32Simpson County: 31.6 %Simpson County31.6Marion County: 31.2 %Marion County31.2Lauderdale County: 31.1 %Lauderdale County31.1Neshoba County: 31.1 %Neshoba County31.1Choctaw County: 30.9 %Choctaw County30.9
%. 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
1Sunflower County58.5+17.3 pts
2Issaquena County58.4+5.8 pts
3Coahoma County54.1+1 pts
4Sharkey County53.1+7.9 pts
5Quitman County49.7+4.8 pts
6Holmes County48.3+3.1 pts
7Leflore County47.9+12 pts
8Humphreys County47.6-3.6 pts
9Bolivar County46.6+5.3 pts
10Jefferson County43.9-5.8 pts
11Tallahatchie County42.8+3.4 pts
12Tunica County42+0.3 pts
13Noxubee County40.5+3.4 pts
14Washington County40.2+0.5 pts
15Claiborne County39.9-2.7 pts
15Jefferson Davis County39.9-5.3 pts
17Wilkinson County39.5+2.4 pts
18Pike County39.4+1.8 pts
19Yazoo County38.9+2.7 pts
20Kemper County38+2.1 pts
21Leake County37.1+3.6 pts
22Adams County36.6-3.5 pts
23Grenada County36+5.7 pts
24Walthall County35-1.3 pts
25Warren County34.8+1.5 pts
26Yalobusha County34.7+4.2 pts
27Panola County34.1+3.4 pts
28Hinds County34-5.6 pts
29Clay County33.5-0.1 pts
30Wayne County33+3.2 pts
31Winston County32.9-1.2 pts
32Montgomery County32.7+1.5 pts
33Calhoun County32.1+6.3 pts
34Attala County32+4.1 pts
34Franklin County32+5.4 pts
36Simpson County31.6+0.3 pts
37Marion County31.2+1.2 pts
38Lauderdale County31.1+0.3 pts
38Neshoba County31.1+3.1 pts
40Choctaw County30.9+3.5 pts
41Covington County30.6-0.6 pts
42Benton County30.5+0.7 pts
43Amite County30.4+4.9 pts
44Marshall County29.4-4.9 pts
44Perry County29.4+2 pts
46Clarke County29.1-3.7 pts
47Chickasaw County28.7-2.8 pts
48Tippah County28.1+7.2 pts
49Scott County28+1.9 pts
50Copiah County27.9-3.2 pts
50Harrison County27.9+5.7 pts
52Newton County27.8+4.6 pts
53Forrest County27.6-5.2 pts
54Jasper County27.5-1.2 pts
55Lowndes County27.4+1.6 pts
56Lawrence County27.2+2 pts
57Jones County25.6-0.5 pts
58Lincoln County25.5+1.2 pts
59Stone County24.9+1.3 pts
60Greene County24.8+1.8 pts
61Webster County24.7+2.6 pts
62Oktibbeha County24.5-1 pts
63Hancock County24.1+3.9 pts
63Smith County24.1+2.8 pts
65Alcorn County23.5+1.1 pts
66Carroll County23.3+1.3 pts
67Pontotoc County22.7+3.4 pts
68Monroe County22.6+0.9 pts
69George County22.1-2.2 pts
70Pearl River County22+0.1 pts
70Prentiss County22-0.6 pts
72Lee County21.5+3.4 pts
73Union County21.1+3.2 pts
74Tate County20.6+1.5 pts
75Tishomingo County20.3+0.3 pts
76Jackson County19.6+2.4 pts
77Itawamba County18.1+0.3 pts
78Lamar County17.6+1.1 pts
79Madison County16.2-0.3 pts
80Lafayette County16-0.7 pts
81Rankin County14.3+1.7 pts
82DeSoto County14.1+1 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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/mississippi-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 Mississippi 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/mississippi-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 Mississippi 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/mississippi-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_mississippi_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 Mississippi 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/mississippi-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 Mississippi 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/mississippi-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/mississippi-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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Rank Counties in Mississippi by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

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

Sunflower County, with 58.5% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

DeSoto County, with 14.1% 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 Mississippi: more rankings