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

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

Pemiscot County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 115 counties in 2016, at 41.3%. St. Charles County had the lowest, at 6.5%. The median was 23.7% and the figure for Missouri was 19.2%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest41.3Pemiscot County
Lowest6.5St. Charles County
Median23.7115 counties
Missouri19.2History

Map of counties, 2016

Adair County: 23.8 %Andrew County: 14 %Atchison County: 18.7 %Audrain County: 25.7 %Barry County: 31.3 %Barton County: 24.4 %Bates County: 19.6 %Benton County: 29.1 %Bollinger County: 24.4 %Boone County: 15.4 %Buchanan County: 23.5 %Butler County: 30.6 %Caldwell County: 19.4 %Callaway County: 17.3 %Camden County: 27.7 %Cape Girardeau County: 16.5 %Carroll County: 23.7 %Carter County: 34 %Cass County: 11.7 %Cedar County: 31.3 %Chariton County: 19 %Christian County: 14.4 %Clark County: 22.5 %Clay County: 11.3 %Clinton County: 14.5 %Cole County: 14.5 %Cooper County: 19.5 %Crawford County: 26.8 %Dade County: 28.7 %Dallas County: 29.3 %Daviess County: 29.5 %DeKalb County: 15.8 %Dent County: 28.8 %Douglas County: 31.6 %Dunklin County: 37.9 %Franklin County: 15.2 %Gasconade County: 18.7 %Gentry County: 21.6 %Greene County: 18.1 %Grundy County: 26.2 %Harrison County: 26.2 %Henry County: 29.6 %Hickory County: 35.4 %Holt County: 20.7 %Howard County: 21 %Howell County: 30.8 %Iron County: 32.3 %Jackson County: 23.2 %Jasper County: 22.2 %Jefferson County: 13 %Johnson County: 15.3 %Knox County: 31.9 %Laclede County: 23.7 %Lafayette County: 17.6 %Lawrence County: 23.3 %Lewis County: 23.1 %Lincoln County: 15.1 %Linn County: 24.2 %Livingston County: 22 %McDonald County: 32.3 %Macon County: 23.5 %Madison County: 27.3 %Maries County: 23.3 %Marion County: 19.9 %Mercer County: 20 %Miller County: 24.5 %Mississippi County: 34.7 %Moniteau County: 16.9 %Monroe County: 24.4 %Montgomery County: 23.4 %Morgan County: 30.5 %New Madrid County: 36.4 %Newton County: 21.4 %Nodaway County: 15 %Oregon County: 37.5 %Osage County: 11.1 %Ozark County: 38.8 %Pemiscot County: 41.3 %Perry County: 15.8 %Pettis County: 22.3 %Phelps County: 22.8 %Pike County: 24.4 %Platte County: 7.6 %Polk County: 24.8 %Pulaski County: 17 %Putnam County: 27.9 %Ralls County: 15.8 %Randolph County: 22.4 %Ray County: 15.2 %Reynolds County: 35 %Ripley County: 38.3 %St. Charles County: 6.5 %St. Clair County: 32.7 %Ste. Genevieve County: 16.8 %St. Francois County: 20.4 %St. Louis County: 12.6 %Saline County: 22 %Schuyler County: 30.1 %Scotland County: 25.7 %Scott County: 27.4 %Shannon County: 40.3 %Shelby County: 24.7 %Stoddard County: 25.2 %Stone County: 26 %Sullivan County: 23.2 %Taney County: 27.3 %Texas County: 39.9 %Vernon County: 25.7 %Warren County: 18.6 %Washington County: 29.7 %Wayne County: 37.1 %Webster County: 25.2 %Worth County: 21.6 %Wright County: 36.4 %St. Louis city: 38.3 %
  • Under 16
  • 16 to 21
  • 21 to 24
  • 24 to 27
  • 27 to 32
  • 32 and over
%, 2016. 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, 2016

Pemiscot County: 41.3 %Pemiscot County41.3Shannon County: 40.3 %Shannon County40.3Texas County: 39.9 %Texas County39.9Ozark County: 38.8 %Ozark County38.8Ripley County: 38.3 %Ripley County38.3St. Louis city: 38.3 %St. Louis city38.3Dunklin County: 37.9 %Dunklin County37.9Oregon County: 37.5 %Oregon County37.5Wayne County: 37.1 %Wayne County37.1New Madrid County: 36.4 %New Madrid County36.4Wright County: 36.4 %Wright County36.4Hickory County: 35.4 %Hickory County35.4Reynolds County: 35 %Reynolds County35Mississippi County: 34.7 %Mississippi County34.7Carter County: 34 %Carter County34St. Clair County: 32.7 %St. Clair County32.7Iron County: 32.3 %Iron County32.3McDonald County: 32.3 %McDonald County32.3Knox County: 31.9 %Knox County31.9Douglas County: 31.6 %Douglas County31.6Barry County: 31.3 %Barry County31.3Cedar County: 31.3 %Cedar County31.3Howell County: 30.8 %Howell County30.8Butler County: 30.6 %Butler County30.6Morgan County: 30.5 %Morgan County30.5Schuyler County: 30.1 %Schuyler County30.1Washington County: 29.7 %Washington County29.7Henry County: 29.6 %Henry County29.6Daviess County: 29.5 %Daviess County29.5Dallas County: 29.3 %Dallas County29.3Benton County: 29.1 %Benton County29.1Dent County: 28.8 %Dent County28.8Dade County: 28.7 %Dade County28.7Putnam County: 27.9 %Putnam County27.9Camden County: 27.7 %Camden County27.7Scott County: 27.4 %Scott County27.4Madison County: 27.3 %Madison County27.3Taney County: 27.3 %Taney County27.3Crawford County: 26.8 %Crawford County26.8Grundy County: 26.2 %Grundy County26.2Pemiscot County: 41.3 %Pemiscot County41.3Shannon County: 40.3 %Shannon County40.3Texas County: 39.9 %Texas County39.9Ozark County: 38.8 %Ozark County38.8Ripley County: 38.3 %Ripley County38.3St. Louis city: 38.3 %St. Louis city38.3Dunklin County: 37.9 %Dunklin County37.9Oregon County: 37.5 %Oregon County37.5Wayne County: 37.1 %Wayne County37.1New Madrid County: 36.4 %New Madrid County36.4Wright County: 36.4 %Wright County36.4Hickory County: 35.4 %Hickory County35.4Reynolds County: 35 %Reynolds County35Mississippi County: 34.7 %Mississippi County34.7Carter County: 34 %Carter County34St. Clair County: 32.7 %St. Clair County32.7Iron County: 32.3 %Iron County32.3McDonald County: 32.3 %McDonald County32.3Knox County: 31.9 %Knox County31.9Douglas County: 31.6 %Douglas County31.6Barry County: 31.3 %Barry County31.3Cedar County: 31.3 %Cedar County31.3Howell County: 30.8 %Howell County30.8Butler County: 30.6 %Butler County30.6Morgan County: 30.5 %Morgan County30.5Schuyler County: 30.1 %Schuyler County30.1Washington County: 29.7 %Washington County29.7Henry County: 29.6 %Henry County29.6Daviess County: 29.5 %Daviess County29.5Dallas County: 29.3 %Dallas County29.3Benton County: 29.1 %Benton County29.1Dent County: 28.8 %Dent County28.8Dade County: 28.7 %Dade County28.7Putnam County: 27.9 %Putnam County27.9Camden County: 27.7 %Camden County27.7Scott County: 27.4 %Scott County27.4Madison County: 27.3 %Madison County27.3Taney County: 27.3 %Taney County27.3Crawford County: 26.8 %Crawford County26.8Grundy County: 26.2 %Grundy County26.2
%. 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

RankCounties2016 (%)Change on 2015
1Pemiscot County41.30 pts
2Shannon County40.3-2.3 pts
3Texas County39.9+6.5 pts
4Ozark County38.8-2.5 pts
5Ripley County38.3-1 pts
5St. Louis city38.3-1 pts
7Dunklin County37.9-1.1 pts
8Oregon County37.5-2.3 pts
9Wayne County37.1-0.6 pts
10New Madrid County36.4-0.5 pts
10Wright County36.4-1.1 pts
12Hickory County35.4-3.9 pts
13Reynolds County35+0.7 pts
14Mississippi County34.7-3.3 pts
15Carter County34-2.3 pts
16St. Clair County32.7-3.5 pts
17Iron County32.3-2.1 pts
17McDonald County32.3+1.3 pts
19Knox County31.9+1.5 pts
20Douglas County31.6-3.9 pts
21Barry County31.3+1.6 pts
21Cedar County31.3-2.4 pts
23Howell County30.8+0.8 pts
24Butler County30.6-6.1 pts
25Morgan County30.5-2.6 pts
26Schuyler County30.1-1.5 pts
27Washington County29.7-2.9 pts
28Henry County29.6+2.9 pts
29Daviess County29.5+1.9 pts
30Dallas County29.3-0.1 pts
31Benton County29.1-2.7 pts
32Dent County28.8-2.2 pts
33Dade County28.7+1.1 pts
34Putnam County27.9+0.1 pts
35Camden County27.7+1.6 pts
36Scott County27.4+1.6 pts
37Madison County27.3-2.3 pts
37Taney County27.3+2.3 pts
39Crawford County26.8-1.8 pts
40Grundy County26.2-1.6 pts
40Harrison County26.2-0.7 pts
42Stone County26+0.2 pts
43Audrain County25.7-1.2 pts
43Scotland County25.7+0.7 pts
43Vernon County25.7-2.4 pts
46Stoddard County25.2-1.2 pts
46Webster County25.2-4.9 pts
48Polk County24.8-1.2 pts
49Shelby County24.7+0.3 pts
50Miller County24.5-2.8 pts
51Barton County24.4-2.5 pts
51Bollinger County24.4-2.6 pts
51Monroe County24.4+1.6 pts
51Pike County24.4-1.2 pts
55Linn County24.2-2.4 pts
56Adair County23.8+0.5 pts
57Carroll County23.7+1 pts
57Laclede County23.7-2.2 pts
59Buchanan County23.5-0.2 pts
59Macon County23.5+0.3 pts
61Montgomery County23.4-2.8 pts
62Lawrence County23.3-4 pts
62Maries County23.3-1.1 pts
64Jackson County23.2-1.8 pts
64Sullivan County23.20 pts
66Lewis County23.1-1.6 pts
67Phelps County22.8-2.3 pts
68Clark County22.50 pts
69Randolph County22.4-4.1 pts
70Pettis County22.3-0.2 pts
71Jasper County22.2-0.4 pts
72Livingston County22-4.2 pts
72Saline County22-0.4 pts
74Gentry County21.6+0.2 pts
74Worth County21.6-3.7 pts
76Newton County21.4+0.7 pts
77Howard County21+0.1 pts
78Holt County20.7+0.4 pts
79St. Francois County20.4-5 pts
80Mercer County20-1.9 pts
81Marion County19.9-3.5 pts
82Bates County19.6-2.9 pts
83Cooper County19.5-0.4 pts
84Caldwell County19.4-0.3 pts
85Chariton County19+0.2 pts
86Atchison County18.7+1.4 pts
86Gasconade County18.7-0.5 pts
88Warren County18.6-0.2 pts
89Greene County18.1-3.3 pts
90Lafayette County17.6-0.4 pts
91Callaway County17.3-3.9 pts
92Pulaski County17-0.5 pts
93Moniteau County16.9-3.5 pts
94Ste. Genevieve County16.8+0.2 pts
95Cape Girardeau County16.5-2.9 pts
96DeKalb County15.8-2.7 pts
96Perry County15.8+0.1 pts
96Ralls County15.8-0.3 pts
99Boone County15.4+0.8 pts
100Johnson County15.3-1.9 pts
101Franklin County15.2-1.1 pts
101Ray County15.2-0.9 pts
103Lincoln County15.1-0.3 pts
104Nodaway County15-1.8 pts
105Clinton County14.5-0.6 pts
105Cole County14.5-1.7 pts
107Christian County14.4+0.1 pts
108Andrew County14+1.1 pts
109Jefferson County13-0.6 pts
110St. Louis County12.6-1.4 pts
111Cass County11.7-0.6 pts
112Clay County11.3+1.6 pts
113Osage County11.1-0.3 pts
114Platte County7.6-1.9 pts
115St. Charles County6.5-1.3 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/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.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 Missouri by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in Missouri by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2016. 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 Missouri by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2016.

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 Missouri by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_missouri_by_2016,
  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 Missouri by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2016. 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/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.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 Missouri by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2016.
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/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Pemiscot County, with 41.3% in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

St. Charles County, with 6.5% in 2016.

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 Missouri: more rankings