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 2022, at 40.4%. St. Charles County had the lowest, at 5.9%. The median was 19.8% and the figure for Missouri was 16.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest40.4Pemiscot County
Lowest5.9St. Charles County
Median19.8115 counties
Missouri16.8History

Map of counties, 2022

Adair County: 24 %Andrew County: 10.2 %Atchison County: 17 %Audrain County: 25.9 %Barry County: 23.6 %Barton County: 21 %Bates County: 20.5 %Benton County: 25.1 %Bollinger County: 23.4 %Boone County: 12.7 %Buchanan County: 21.4 %Butler County: 26.5 %Caldwell County: 18.2 %Callaway County: 14.9 %Camden County: 19.9 %Cape Girardeau County: 16.4 %Carroll County: 19.8 %Carter County: 31.5 %Cass County: 10.4 %Cedar County: 24.1 %Chariton County: 16.2 %Christian County: 9.8 %Clark County: 19.2 %Clay County: 8.8 %Clinton County: 14.6 %Cole County: 13.4 %Cooper County: 15.1 %Crawford County: 20.6 %Dade County: 22.9 %Dallas County: 22.4 %Daviess County: 22.8 %DeKalb County: 12.5 %Dent County: 24.2 %Douglas County: 25.1 %Dunklin County: 34.6 %Franklin County: 10.2 %Gasconade County: 18.9 %Gentry County: 17.6 %Greene County: 17.1 %Grundy County: 22.2 %Harrison County: 23.3 %Henry County: 19.7 %Hickory County: 32.1 %Holt County: 16.9 %Howard County: 16.6 %Howell County: 25.1 %Iron County: 26.1 %Jackson County: 19.8 %Jasper County: 24.8 %Jefferson County: 10.3 %Johnson County: 12.2 %Knox County: 26.6 %Laclede County: 20.1 %Lafayette County: 13.8 %Lawrence County: 17.7 %Lewis County: 19.4 %Lincoln County: 10.9 %Linn County: 19.2 %Livingston County: 16.7 %McDonald County: 22.7 %Macon County: 18.8 %Madison County: 26.4 %Maries County: 20.3 %Marion County: 15.8 %Mercer County: 19.3 %Miller County: 17.7 %Mississippi County: 35.2 %Moniteau County: 15.3 %Monroe County: 18.7 %Montgomery County: 18.9 %Morgan County: 25.3 %New Madrid County: 24.8 %Newton County: 19.6 %Nodaway County: 15.4 %Oregon County: 31.3 %Osage County: 8.7 %Ozark County: 31.4 %Pemiscot County: 40.4 %Perry County: 14.1 %Pettis County: 18.4 %Phelps County: 18.3 %Pike County: 20.1 %Platte County: 9 %Polk County: 22.3 %Pulaski County: 14 %Putnam County: 21.9 %Ralls County: 13.1 %Randolph County: 20.9 %Ray County: 16.7 %Reynolds County: 29.8 %Ripley County: 32.3 %St. Charles County: 5.9 %St. Clair County: 28.9 %Ste. Genevieve County: 13.1 %St. Francois County: 22.7 %St. Louis County: 14.3 %Saline County: 19.2 %Schuyler County: 23.3 %Scotland County: 16.3 %Scott County: 23.3 %Shannon County: 35.9 %Shelby County: 20.8 %Stoddard County: 19.6 %Stone County: 20 %Sullivan County: 19.6 %Taney County: 18.9 %Texas County: 25.3 %Vernon County: 22.9 %Warren County: 11.3 %Washington County: 25.5 %Wayne County: 36.4 %Webster County: 23.5 %Worth County: 21.9 %Wright County: 31.6 %St. Louis city: 33.3 %
  • Under 14
  • 14 to 18
  • 18 to 20
  • 20 to 23
  • 23 to 26
  • 26 and over
%, 2022. 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, 2022

Pemiscot County: 40.4 %Pemiscot County40.4Wayne County: 36.4 %Wayne County36.4Shannon County: 35.9 %Shannon County35.9Mississippi County: 35.2 %Mississippi County35.2Dunklin County: 34.6 %Dunklin County34.6St. Louis city: 33.3 %St. Louis city33.3Ripley County: 32.3 %Ripley County32.3Hickory County: 32.1 %Hickory County32.1Wright County: 31.6 %Wright County31.6Carter County: 31.5 %Carter County31.5Ozark County: 31.4 %Ozark County31.4Oregon County: 31.3 %Oregon County31.3Reynolds County: 29.8 %Reynolds County29.8St. Clair County: 28.9 %St. Clair County28.9Knox County: 26.6 %Knox County26.6Butler County: 26.5 %Butler County26.5Madison County: 26.4 %Madison County26.4Iron County: 26.1 %Iron County26.1Audrain County: 25.9 %Audrain County25.9Washington County: 25.5 %Washington County25.5Morgan County: 25.3 %Morgan County25.3Texas County: 25.3 %Texas County25.3Benton County: 25.1 %Benton County25.1Douglas County: 25.1 %Douglas County25.1Howell County: 25.1 %Howell County25.1Jasper County: 24.8 %Jasper County24.8New Madrid County: 24.8 %New Madrid County24.8Dent County: 24.2 %Dent County24.2Cedar County: 24.1 %Cedar County24.1Adair County: 24 %Adair County24Barry County: 23.6 %Barry County23.6Webster County: 23.5 %Webster County23.5Bollinger County: 23.4 %Bollinger County23.4Harrison County: 23.3 %Harrison County23.3Schuyler County: 23.3 %Schuyler County23.3Scott County: 23.3 %Scott County23.3Dade County: 22.9 %Dade County22.9Vernon County: 22.9 %Vernon County22.9Daviess County: 22.8 %Daviess County22.8McDonald County: 22.7 %McDonald County22.7Pemiscot County: 40.4 %Pemiscot County40.4Wayne County: 36.4 %Wayne County36.4Shannon County: 35.9 %Shannon County35.9Mississippi County: 35.2 %Mississippi County35.2Dunklin County: 34.6 %Dunklin County34.6St. Louis city: 33.3 %St. Louis city33.3Ripley County: 32.3 %Ripley County32.3Hickory County: 32.1 %Hickory County32.1Wright County: 31.6 %Wright County31.6Carter County: 31.5 %Carter County31.5Ozark County: 31.4 %Ozark County31.4Oregon County: 31.3 %Oregon County31.3Reynolds County: 29.8 %Reynolds County29.8St. Clair County: 28.9 %St. Clair County28.9Knox County: 26.6 %Knox County26.6Butler County: 26.5 %Butler County26.5Madison County: 26.4 %Madison County26.4Iron County: 26.1 %Iron County26.1Audrain County: 25.9 %Audrain County25.9Washington County: 25.5 %Washington County25.5Morgan County: 25.3 %Morgan County25.3Texas County: 25.3 %Texas County25.3Benton County: 25.1 %Benton County25.1Douglas County: 25.1 %Douglas County25.1Howell County: 25.1 %Howell County25.1Jasper County: 24.8 %Jasper County24.8New Madrid County: 24.8 %New Madrid County24.8Dent County: 24.2 %Dent County24.2Cedar County: 24.1 %Cedar County24.1Adair County: 24 %Adair County24Barry County: 23.6 %Barry County23.6Webster County: 23.5 %Webster County23.5Bollinger County: 23.4 %Bollinger County23.4Harrison County: 23.3 %Harrison County23.3Schuyler County: 23.3 %Schuyler County23.3Scott County: 23.3 %Scott County23.3Dade County: 22.9 %Dade County22.9Vernon County: 22.9 %Vernon County22.9Daviess County: 22.8 %Daviess County22.8McDonald County: 22.7 %McDonald County22.7
%. 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

RankCounties2022 (%)Change on 2021
1Pemiscot County40.4+4.9 pts
2Wayne County36.4+5.5 pts
3Shannon County35.9+3.4 pts
4Mississippi County35.2+5.9 pts
5Dunklin County34.6+2.6 pts
6St. Louis city33.3+0.3 pts
7Ripley County32.3-0.7 pts
8Hickory County32.1+2 pts
9Wright County31.6+3.5 pts
10Carter County31.5-0.8 pts
11Ozark County31.4-2.1 pts
12Oregon County31.3-0.4 pts
13Reynolds County29.8-1.7 pts
14St. Clair County28.90 pts
15Knox County26.6-2.2 pts
16Butler County26.5-2 pts
17Madison County26.4+5 pts
18Iron County26.1-2 pts
19Audrain County25.9+2.8 pts
20Washington County25.5-1 pts
21Morgan County25.3+0.3 pts
21Texas County25.3-6.3 pts
23Benton County25.1-1.8 pts
23Douglas County25.1-3.6 pts
23Howell County25.1+0.1 pts
26Jasper County24.8+5.5 pts
26New Madrid County24.8-4.7 pts
28Dent County24.2-0.4 pts
29Cedar County24.1-2.9 pts
30Adair County24+3.9 pts
31Barry County23.6-5.7 pts
32Webster County23.5-0.4 pts
33Bollinger County23.4+0.9 pts
34Harrison County23.3-0.5 pts
34Schuyler County23.3+1.3 pts
34Scott County23.3+0.2 pts
37Dade County22.9+0.3 pts
37Vernon County22.9-3.6 pts
39Daviess County22.8+1.6 pts
40McDonald County22.7-2.8 pts
40St. Francois County22.7-0.3 pts
42Dallas County22.4-2.3 pts
43Polk County22.3+2.4 pts
44Grundy County22.2-2.2 pts
45Putnam County21.9+1 pts
45Worth County21.9+1.6 pts
47Buchanan County21.4-1.4 pts
48Barton County21+0.2 pts
49Randolph County20.9+0.9 pts
50Shelby County20.8-0.3 pts
51Crawford County20.6-2.2 pts
52Bates County20.5+1.7 pts
53Maries County20.3+3.4 pts
54Laclede County20.1-1.6 pts
54Pike County20.1-1.5 pts
56Stone County20-4.2 pts
57Camden County19.9-0.7 pts
58Carroll County19.8+0.5 pts
58Jackson County19.8+2.5 pts
60Henry County19.7-0.2 pts
61Newton County19.6-1.9 pts
61Stoddard County19.6-2.1 pts
61Sullivan County19.6-0.4 pts
64Lewis County19.4+0.7 pts
65Mercer County19.3+0.2 pts
66Clark County19.2-2.2 pts
66Linn County19.2-2.4 pts
66Saline County19.2+1.1 pts
69Gasconade County18.9+2.8 pts
69Montgomery County18.9-0.3 pts
69Taney County18.9-3.5 pts
72Macon County18.8-1.7 pts
73Monroe County18.7-1.9 pts
74Pettis County18.4-2.4 pts
75Phelps County18.3-3.5 pts
76Caldwell County18.2+0.6 pts
77Lawrence County17.7-2.3 pts
77Miller County17.7-2.2 pts
79Gentry County17.6-2.2 pts
80Greene County17.1+2.3 pts
81Atchison County17-0.6 pts
82Holt County16.9-3 pts
83Livingston County16.7-1 pts
83Ray County16.7+2.3 pts
85Howard County16.6+0.9 pts
86Cape Girardeau County16.4+2.9 pts
87Scotland County16.3-4.2 pts
88Chariton County16.2+1.1 pts
89Marion County15.8-1.7 pts
90Nodaway County15.4+3.3 pts
91Moniteau County15.3+0.2 pts
92Cooper County15.1-1.6 pts
93Callaway County14.9+0.6 pts
94Clinton County14.6+1.5 pts
95St. Louis County14.3+1.1 pts
96Perry County14.1+0.7 pts
97Pulaski County14-0.2 pts
98Lafayette County13.8-1.1 pts
99Cole County13.4-1.3 pts
100Ralls County13.10 pts
100Ste. Genevieve County13.1-1.2 pts
102Boone County12.7-0.8 pts
103DeKalb County12.5-1 pts
104Johnson County12.2-1.1 pts
105Warren County11.3-1 pts
106Lincoln County10.9-1.2 pts
107Cass County10.4+0.8 pts
108Jefferson County10.3-0.7 pts
109Andrew County10.2-0.5 pts
109Franklin County10.2-1.9 pts
111Christian County9.8-0.3 pts
112Platte County9+0.9 pts
113Clay County8.8-1.4 pts
114Osage County8.7-1.2 pts
115St. Charles County5.9-0.1 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/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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), 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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), 2022. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2022. 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), 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2022.

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), 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_missouri_by_2022,
  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), 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2022. 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/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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), 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2022.
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/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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 40.4% in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

St. Charles County, with 5.9% in 2022.

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