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 2019, at 40.7%. St. Charles County had the lowest, at 5.4%. The median was 21.2% and the figure for Missouri was 17%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest40.7Pemiscot County
Lowest5.4St. Charles County
Median21.2115 counties
Missouri17History

Map of counties, 2019

Adair County: 18.9 %Andrew County: 11.1 %Atchison County: 17.5 %Audrain County: 23.9 %Barry County: 29.6 %Barton County: 21.6 %Bates County: 25.4 %Benton County: 28.6 %Bollinger County: 21.4 %Boone County: 14 %Buchanan County: 20.2 %Butler County: 35.3 %Caldwell County: 19 %Callaway County: 16.4 %Camden County: 21.2 %Cape Girardeau County: 17.8 %Carroll County: 21.1 %Carter County: 29.4 %Cass County: 11.6 %Cedar County: 26.7 %Chariton County: 16.3 %Christian County: 12.8 %Clark County: 22.2 %Clay County: 12.5 %Clinton County: 13.1 %Cole County: 13.7 %Cooper County: 16.5 %Crawford County: 23.1 %Dade County: 22.8 %Dallas County: 28 %Daviess County: 27.6 %DeKalb County: 13.6 %Dent County: 29.9 %Douglas County: 26.8 %Dunklin County: 35.3 %Franklin County: 12.6 %Gasconade County: 17 %Gentry County: 18 %Greene County: 13.3 %Grundy County: 25.9 %Harrison County: 23.1 %Henry County: 27.5 %Hickory County: 34.1 %Holt County: 17 %Howard County: 18.2 %Howell County: 29.7 %Iron County: 31.1 %Jackson County: 19.6 %Jasper County: 26.6 %Jefferson County: 11.3 %Johnson County: 12 %Knox County: 27.7 %Laclede County: 20.4 %Lafayette County: 14.6 %Lawrence County: 22.7 %Lewis County: 20.3 %Lincoln County: 11.9 %Linn County: 30.7 %Livingston County: 19.6 %McDonald County: 28.8 %Macon County: 18.4 %Madison County: 24.2 %Maries County: 19.9 %Marion County: 18.3 %Mercer County: 21 %Miller County: 21.6 %Mississippi County: 34.4 %Moniteau County: 16.4 %Monroe County: 20 %Montgomery County: 19.7 %Morgan County: 26.8 %New Madrid County: 32.9 %Newton County: 17.7 %Nodaway County: 13.2 %Oregon County: 31.8 %Osage County: 10.3 %Ozark County: 36.5 %Pemiscot County: 40.7 %Perry County: 14 %Pettis County: 17.9 %Phelps County: 19.4 %Pike County: 21.8 %Platte County: 6.5 %Polk County: 24.4 %Pulaski County: 14.8 %Putnam County: 23 %Ralls County: 13.6 %Randolph County: 22.5 %Ray County: 12.4 %Reynolds County: 35.3 %Ripley County: 30.2 %St. Charles County: 5.4 %St. Clair County: 27.5 %Ste. Genevieve County: 12.9 %St. Francois County: 19.8 %St. Louis County: 12.3 %Saline County: 21.3 %Schuyler County: 20.5 %Scotland County: 23.8 %Scott County: 27.9 %Shannon County: 35.2 %Shelby County: 20.7 %Stoddard County: 24.7 %Stone County: 24.5 %Sullivan County: 22 %Taney County: 18.7 %Texas County: 28.2 %Vernon County: 26.6 %Warren County: 14.1 %Washington County: 30.3 %Wayne County: 33.3 %Webster County: 27 %Worth County: 21.1 %Wright County: 31.2 %St. Louis city: 27.7 %
  • Under 14
  • 14 to 18
  • 18 to 21
  • 21 to 25
  • 25 to 29
  • 29 and over
%, 2019. 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, 2019

Pemiscot County: 40.7 %Pemiscot County40.7Ozark County: 36.5 %Ozark County36.5Butler County: 35.3 %Butler County35.3Dunklin County: 35.3 %Dunklin County35.3Reynolds County: 35.3 %Reynolds County35.3Shannon County: 35.2 %Shannon County35.2Mississippi County: 34.4 %Mississippi County34.4Hickory County: 34.1 %Hickory County34.1Wayne County: 33.3 %Wayne County33.3New Madrid County: 32.9 %New Madrid County32.9Oregon County: 31.8 %Oregon County31.8Wright County: 31.2 %Wright County31.2Iron County: 31.1 %Iron County31.1Linn County: 30.7 %Linn County30.7Washington County: 30.3 %Washington County30.3Ripley County: 30.2 %Ripley County30.2Dent County: 29.9 %Dent County29.9Howell County: 29.7 %Howell County29.7Barry County: 29.6 %Barry County29.6Carter County: 29.4 %Carter County29.4McDonald County: 28.8 %McDonald County28.8Benton County: 28.6 %Benton County28.6Texas County: 28.2 %Texas County28.2Dallas County: 28 %Dallas County28Scott County: 27.9 %Scott County27.9Knox County: 27.7 %Knox County27.7St. Louis city: 27.7 %St. Louis city27.7Daviess County: 27.6 %Daviess County27.6Henry County: 27.5 %Henry County27.5St. Clair County: 27.5 %St. Clair County27.5Webster County: 27 %Webster County27Douglas County: 26.8 %Douglas County26.8Morgan County: 26.8 %Morgan County26.8Cedar County: 26.7 %Cedar County26.7Jasper County: 26.6 %Jasper County26.6Vernon County: 26.6 %Vernon County26.6Grundy County: 25.9 %Grundy County25.9Bates County: 25.4 %Bates County25.4Stoddard County: 24.7 %Stoddard County24.7Stone County: 24.5 %Stone County24.5Pemiscot County: 40.7 %Pemiscot County40.7Ozark County: 36.5 %Ozark County36.5Butler County: 35.3 %Butler County35.3Dunklin County: 35.3 %Dunklin County35.3Reynolds County: 35.3 %Reynolds County35.3Shannon County: 35.2 %Shannon County35.2Mississippi County: 34.4 %Mississippi County34.4Hickory County: 34.1 %Hickory County34.1Wayne County: 33.3 %Wayne County33.3New Madrid County: 32.9 %New Madrid County32.9Oregon County: 31.8 %Oregon County31.8Wright County: 31.2 %Wright County31.2Iron County: 31.1 %Iron County31.1Linn County: 30.7 %Linn County30.7Washington County: 30.3 %Washington County30.3Ripley County: 30.2 %Ripley County30.2Dent County: 29.9 %Dent County29.9Howell County: 29.7 %Howell County29.7Barry County: 29.6 %Barry County29.6Carter County: 29.4 %Carter County29.4McDonald County: 28.8 %McDonald County28.8Benton County: 28.6 %Benton County28.6Texas County: 28.2 %Texas County28.2Dallas County: 28 %Dallas County28Scott County: 27.9 %Scott County27.9Knox County: 27.7 %Knox County27.7St. Louis city: 27.7 %St. Louis city27.7Daviess County: 27.6 %Daviess County27.6Henry County: 27.5 %Henry County27.5St. Clair County: 27.5 %St. Clair County27.5Webster County: 27 %Webster County27Douglas County: 26.8 %Douglas County26.8Morgan County: 26.8 %Morgan County26.8Cedar County: 26.7 %Cedar County26.7Jasper County: 26.6 %Jasper County26.6Vernon County: 26.6 %Vernon County26.6Grundy County: 25.9 %Grundy County25.9Bates County: 25.4 %Bates County25.4Stoddard County: 24.7 %Stoddard County24.7Stone County: 24.5 %Stone County24.5
%. 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

RankCounties2019 (%)Change on 2018
1Pemiscot County40.7-3.8 pts
2Ozark County36.5+3.3 pts
3Butler County35.3+5.1 pts
3Dunklin County35.3-2.8 pts
3Reynolds County35.3+2.3 pts
6Shannon County35.2-2.2 pts
7Mississippi County34.4-0.9 pts
8Hickory County34.1-0.4 pts
9Wayne County33.3-2.5 pts
10New Madrid County32.9+6.3 pts
11Oregon County31.8-5.9 pts
12Wright County31.2-8.7 pts
13Iron County31.1+1.3 pts
14Linn County30.7+5 pts
15Washington County30.3+2.4 pts
16Ripley County30.2-3.8 pts
17Dent County29.9-1.7 pts
18Howell County29.7-0.9 pts
19Barry County29.6+2.7 pts
20Carter County29.4-5.9 pts
21McDonald County28.8+2.6 pts
22Benton County28.6-5.1 pts
23Texas County28.2-6.6 pts
24Dallas County28+2.5 pts
25Scott County27.9+1.2 pts
26Knox County27.7+0.2 pts
26St. Louis city27.7-10.7 pts
28Daviess County27.6+1.6 pts
29Henry County27.5+3.6 pts
29St. Clair County27.5-2.1 pts
31Webster County27+2.3 pts
32Douglas County26.8-2.7 pts
32Morgan County26.8+0.8 pts
34Cedar County26.7-3.5 pts
35Jasper County26.6+3.9 pts
35Vernon County26.6+2.6 pts
37Grundy County25.9+0.1 pts
38Bates County25.4+5.1 pts
39Stoddard County24.7+2.8 pts
40Stone County24.5+3 pts
41Polk County24.4+0.6 pts
42Madison County24.2-0.3 pts
43Audrain County23.9-1.7 pts
44Scotland County23.8+0.5 pts
45Crawford County23.1-1 pts
45Harrison County23.1+0.6 pts
47Putnam County23+0.5 pts
48Dade County22.8-2.4 pts
49Lawrence County22.7-0.8 pts
50Randolph County22.5-3.6 pts
51Clark County22.2-1 pts
52Sullivan County22+0.7 pts
53Pike County21.8+1.3 pts
54Barton County21.6-2.3 pts
54Miller County21.6-3.2 pts
56Bollinger County21.4-0.5 pts
57Saline County21.3+1.3 pts
58Camden County21.2-1.7 pts
59Carroll County21.1+0.3 pts
59Worth County21.1+1.1 pts
61Mercer County21+1.4 pts
62Shelby County20.70 pts
63Schuyler County20.5-6.8 pts
64Laclede County20.4-1.8 pts
65Lewis County20.3-1.2 pts
66Buchanan County20.2-2.2 pts
67Monroe County20-2.5 pts
68Maries County19.9+0.2 pts
69St. Francois County19.8-4.8 pts
70Montgomery County19.7-1.8 pts
71Jackson County19.6+0.6 pts
71Livingston County19.6-1.1 pts
73Phelps County19.4-2.4 pts
74Caldwell County19-0.6 pts
75Adair County18.9-1 pts
76Taney County18.7-4.3 pts
77Macon County18.4-3.4 pts
78Marion County18.3-0.7 pts
79Howard County18.20 pts
80Gentry County18-1.6 pts
81Pettis County17.9-5.4 pts
82Cape Girardeau County17.8+0.6 pts
83Newton County17.7-4.8 pts
84Atchison County17.5+1.5 pts
85Gasconade County17-0.4 pts
85Holt County17-2.7 pts
87Cooper County16.5-4.2 pts
88Callaway County16.4-1.1 pts
88Moniteau County16.4+1.1 pts
90Chariton County16.3-3 pts
91Pulaski County14.8-1.8 pts
92Lafayette County14.60 pts
93Warren County14.1-1.9 pts
94Boone County14+0.8 pts
94Perry County14-0.9 pts
96Cole County13.7+1.7 pts
97DeKalb County13.6-0.1 pts
97Ralls County13.6+0.3 pts
99Greene County13.3-3.2 pts
100Nodaway County13.2-0.6 pts
101Clinton County13.1+0.2 pts
102Ste. Genevieve County12.9-1 pts
103Christian County12.8+1.3 pts
104Franklin County12.6-0.6 pts
105Clay County12.5+3.8 pts
106Ray County12.4-2.2 pts
107St. Louis County12.3-3.4 pts
108Johnson County12-1.9 pts
109Lincoln County11.9-3.4 pts
110Cass County11.6+0.8 pts
111Jefferson County11.3+0.9 pts
112Andrew County11.1-0.3 pts
113Osage County10.3+0.2 pts
114Platte County6.5-0.9 pts
115St. Charles County5.4-1.6 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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2019. 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), 2019. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2019.

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), 2019 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2019 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_missouri_by_2019,
  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), 2019}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2019. 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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2019
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2019.
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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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 40.7% in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

St. Charles County, with 5.4% in 2019.

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