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 2021, at 35.5%. St. Charles County had the lowest, at 6%. The median was 20.6% and the figure for Missouri was 16.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest35.5Pemiscot County
Lowest6St. Charles County
Median20.6115 counties
Missouri16.5History

Map of counties, 2021

Adair County: 20.1 %Andrew County: 10.7 %Atchison County: 17.6 %Audrain County: 23.1 %Barry County: 29.3 %Barton County: 20.8 %Bates County: 18.8 %Benton County: 26.9 %Bollinger County: 22.5 %Boone County: 13.5 %Buchanan County: 22.8 %Butler County: 28.5 %Caldwell County: 17.6 %Callaway County: 14.3 %Camden County: 20.6 %Cape Girardeau County: 13.5 %Carroll County: 19.3 %Carter County: 32.3 %Cass County: 9.6 %Cedar County: 27 %Chariton County: 15.1 %Christian County: 10.1 %Clark County: 21.4 %Clay County: 10.2 %Clinton County: 13.1 %Cole County: 14.7 %Cooper County: 16.7 %Crawford County: 22.8 %Dade County: 22.6 %Dallas County: 24.7 %Daviess County: 21.2 %DeKalb County: 13.5 %Dent County: 24.6 %Douglas County: 28.7 %Dunklin County: 32 %Franklin County: 12.1 %Gasconade County: 16.1 %Gentry County: 19.8 %Greene County: 14.8 %Grundy County: 24.4 %Harrison County: 23.8 %Henry County: 19.9 %Hickory County: 30.1 %Holt County: 19.9 %Howard County: 15.7 %Howell County: 25 %Iron County: 28.1 %Jackson County: 17.3 %Jasper County: 19.3 %Jefferson County: 11 %Johnson County: 13.3 %Knox County: 28.8 %Laclede County: 21.7 %Lafayette County: 14.9 %Lawrence County: 20 %Lewis County: 18.7 %Lincoln County: 12.1 %Linn County: 21.6 %Livingston County: 17.7 %McDonald County: 25.5 %Macon County: 20.5 %Madison County: 21.4 %Maries County: 16.9 %Marion County: 17.5 %Mercer County: 19.1 %Miller County: 19.9 %Mississippi County: 29.3 %Moniteau County: 15.1 %Monroe County: 20.6 %Montgomery County: 19.2 %Morgan County: 25 %New Madrid County: 29.5 %Newton County: 21.5 %Nodaway County: 12.1 %Oregon County: 31.7 %Osage County: 9.9 %Ozark County: 33.5 %Pemiscot County: 35.5 %Perry County: 13.4 %Pettis County: 20.8 %Phelps County: 21.8 %Pike County: 21.6 %Platte County: 8.1 %Polk County: 19.9 %Pulaski County: 14.2 %Putnam County: 20.9 %Ralls County: 13.1 %Randolph County: 20 %Ray County: 14.4 %Reynolds County: 31.5 %Ripley County: 33 %St. Charles County: 6 %St. Clair County: 28.9 %Ste. Genevieve County: 14.3 %St. Francois County: 23 %St. Louis County: 13.2 %Saline County: 18.1 %Schuyler County: 22 %Scotland County: 20.5 %Scott County: 23.1 %Shannon County: 32.5 %Shelby County: 21.1 %Stoddard County: 21.7 %Stone County: 24.2 %Sullivan County: 20 %Taney County: 22.4 %Texas County: 31.6 %Vernon County: 26.5 %Warren County: 12.3 %Washington County: 26.5 %Wayne County: 30.9 %Webster County: 23.9 %Worth County: 20.3 %Wright County: 28.1 %St. Louis city: 33 %
  • Under 14
  • 14 to 18
  • 18 to 21
  • 21 to 23
  • 23 to 28
  • 28 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

Pemiscot County: 35.5 %Pemiscot County35.5Ozark County: 33.5 %Ozark County33.5Ripley County: 33 %Ripley County33St. Louis city: 33 %St. Louis city33Shannon County: 32.5 %Shannon County32.5Carter County: 32.3 %Carter County32.3Dunklin County: 32 %Dunklin County32Oregon County: 31.7 %Oregon County31.7Texas County: 31.6 %Texas County31.6Reynolds County: 31.5 %Reynolds County31.5Wayne County: 30.9 %Wayne County30.9Hickory County: 30.1 %Hickory County30.1New Madrid County: 29.5 %New Madrid County29.5Barry County: 29.3 %Barry County29.3Mississippi County: 29.3 %Mississippi County29.3St. Clair County: 28.9 %St. Clair County28.9Knox County: 28.8 %Knox County28.8Douglas County: 28.7 %Douglas County28.7Butler County: 28.5 %Butler County28.5Iron County: 28.1 %Iron County28.1Wright County: 28.1 %Wright County28.1Cedar County: 27 %Cedar County27Benton County: 26.9 %Benton County26.9Vernon County: 26.5 %Vernon County26.5Washington County: 26.5 %Washington County26.5McDonald County: 25.5 %McDonald County25.5Howell County: 25 %Howell County25Morgan County: 25 %Morgan County25Dallas County: 24.7 %Dallas County24.7Dent County: 24.6 %Dent County24.6Grundy County: 24.4 %Grundy County24.4Stone County: 24.2 %Stone County24.2Webster County: 23.9 %Webster County23.9Harrison County: 23.8 %Harrison County23.8Audrain County: 23.1 %Audrain County23.1Scott County: 23.1 %Scott County23.1St. Francois County: 23 %St. Francois County23Buchanan County: 22.8 %Buchanan County22.8Crawford County: 22.8 %Crawford County22.8Dade County: 22.6 %Dade County22.6Pemiscot County: 35.5 %Pemiscot County35.5Ozark County: 33.5 %Ozark County33.5Ripley County: 33 %Ripley County33St. Louis city: 33 %St. Louis city33Shannon County: 32.5 %Shannon County32.5Carter County: 32.3 %Carter County32.3Dunklin County: 32 %Dunklin County32Oregon County: 31.7 %Oregon County31.7Texas County: 31.6 %Texas County31.6Reynolds County: 31.5 %Reynolds County31.5Wayne County: 30.9 %Wayne County30.9Hickory County: 30.1 %Hickory County30.1New Madrid County: 29.5 %New Madrid County29.5Barry County: 29.3 %Barry County29.3Mississippi County: 29.3 %Mississippi County29.3St. Clair County: 28.9 %St. Clair County28.9Knox County: 28.8 %Knox County28.8Douglas County: 28.7 %Douglas County28.7Butler County: 28.5 %Butler County28.5Iron County: 28.1 %Iron County28.1Wright County: 28.1 %Wright County28.1Cedar County: 27 %Cedar County27Benton County: 26.9 %Benton County26.9Vernon County: 26.5 %Vernon County26.5Washington County: 26.5 %Washington County26.5McDonald County: 25.5 %McDonald County25.5Howell County: 25 %Howell County25Morgan County: 25 %Morgan County25Dallas County: 24.7 %Dallas County24.7Dent County: 24.6 %Dent County24.6Grundy County: 24.4 %Grundy County24.4Stone County: 24.2 %Stone County24.2Webster County: 23.9 %Webster County23.9Harrison County: 23.8 %Harrison County23.8Audrain County: 23.1 %Audrain County23.1Scott County: 23.1 %Scott County23.1St. Francois County: 23 %St. Francois County23Buchanan County: 22.8 %Buchanan County22.8Crawford County: 22.8 %Crawford County22.8Dade County: 22.6 %Dade County22.6
%. 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
1Pemiscot County35.5-14.4 pts
2Ozark County33.5+0.9 pts
3Ripley County33+1.4 pts
3St. Louis city33+4.1 pts
5Shannon County32.50 pts
6Carter County32.3+2.5 pts
7Dunklin County32+2.2 pts
8Oregon County31.7+0.4 pts
9Texas County31.6+2.9 pts
10Reynolds County31.5-0.5 pts
11Wayne County30.9-4.9 pts
12Hickory County30.1+1.2 pts
13New Madrid County29.5+4 pts
14Barry County29.3+6 pts
14Mississippi County29.3-2.7 pts
16St. Clair County28.9+0.5 pts
17Knox County28.8-0.8 pts
18Douglas County28.7+1 pts
19Butler County28.5+1.8 pts
20Iron County28.1-0.5 pts
20Wright County28.1-1.1 pts
22Cedar County27-0.9 pts
23Benton County26.9-0.6 pts
24Vernon County26.5+4.9 pts
24Washington County26.5+1.4 pts
26McDonald County25.5+0.5 pts
27Howell County25+0.3 pts
27Morgan County25+2.6 pts
29Dallas County24.7-10.8 pts
30Dent County24.6+2.4 pts
31Grundy County24.4+0.2 pts
32Stone County24.2+0.8 pts
33Webster County23.9-1 pts
34Harrison County23.8-3.9 pts
35Audrain County23.1-4.3 pts
35Scott County23.1+0.2 pts
37St. Francois County23+4.2 pts
38Buchanan County22.8+5.5 pts
38Crawford County22.8+0.5 pts
40Dade County22.6+0.4 pts
41Bollinger County22.5-0.2 pts
42Taney County22.4-1.7 pts
43Schuyler County22-3.8 pts
44Phelps County21.8+4.1 pts
45Laclede County21.7+1.3 pts
45Stoddard County21.7+0.2 pts
47Linn County21.6+1.7 pts
47Pike County21.6+1.8 pts
49Newton County21.5+3.9 pts
50Clark County21.4+1.4 pts
50Madison County21.4-2.2 pts
52Daviess County21.2-1.7 pts
53Shelby County21.1+0.6 pts
54Putnam County20.9-0.2 pts
55Barton County20.8-2.1 pts
55Pettis County20.8-2.5 pts
57Camden County20.6-0.8 pts
57Monroe County20.6+0.7 pts
59Macon County20.5+2.2 pts
59Scotland County20.5-3.4 pts
61Worth County20.3+2.3 pts
62Adair County20.1+1.3 pts
63Lawrence County20-1.8 pts
63Randolph County20+5.6 pts
63Sullivan County20+0.6 pts
66Henry County19.9+0.1 pts
66Holt County19.9+2.5 pts
66Miller County19.9+0.8 pts
66Polk County19.9-1.3 pts
70Gentry County19.8+1.8 pts
71Carroll County19.3+1.2 pts
71Jasper County19.3+0.4 pts
73Montgomery County19.2+2.5 pts
74Mercer County19.1+1.5 pts
75Bates County18.8-0.4 pts
76Lewis County18.7+0.6 pts
77Saline County18.1+3.3 pts
78Livingston County17.7+0.4 pts
79Atchison County17.6+1.4 pts
79Caldwell County17.6+1.4 pts
81Marion County17.50 pts
82Jackson County17.3+0.7 pts
83Maries County16.9-0.7 pts
84Cooper County16.7-1.1 pts
85Gasconade County16.1+2 pts
86Howard County15.7+0.1 pts
87Chariton County15.1+0.2 pts
87Moniteau County15.1-1.2 pts
89Lafayette County14.9+0.6 pts
90Greene County14.8+0.4 pts
91Cole County14.7+4 pts
92Ray County14.4+1.8 pts
93Callaway County14.3-0.1 pts
93Ste. Genevieve County14.3+3 pts
95Pulaski County14.2-0.1 pts
96Boone County13.5+1 pts
96Cape Girardeau County13.5-0.4 pts
96DeKalb County13.5+1 pts
99Perry County13.4-0.5 pts
100Johnson County13.3+0.8 pts
101St. Louis County13.2+1.6 pts
102Clinton County13.1+1.6 pts
102Ralls County13.1+1.6 pts
104Warren County12.3+0.1 pts
105Franklin County12.1+1 pts
105Lincoln County12.1+0.4 pts
105Nodaway County12.1-1.4 pts
108Jefferson County11+0.4 pts
109Andrew County10.7-0.1 pts
110Clay County10.2+1.3 pts
111Christian County10.1-1.2 pts
112Osage County9.9+0.8 pts
113Cass County9.6+0.6 pts
114Platte County8.1+1.8 pts
115St. Charles County6+0.6 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/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 Missouri 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 Missouri 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/missouri-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 Missouri 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/missouri-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 Missouri 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/missouri-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_missouri_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 Missouri 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/missouri-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 Missouri 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/missouri-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-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)?

Pemiscot County, with 35.5% in 2021, 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% 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 Missouri: more rankings