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 2023, at 35.9%. St. Charles County had the lowest, at 5.6%. The median was 18.7% and the figure for Missouri was 14.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest35.9Pemiscot County
Lowest5.6St. Charles County
Median18.7115 counties
Missouri14.7History

Map of counties, 2023

Adair County: 16.9 %Andrew County: 9.7 %Atchison County: 14.6 %Audrain County: 19.1 %Barry County: 20.2 %Barton County: 22 %Bates County: 16.4 %Benton County: 24 %Bollinger County: 20.7 %Boone County: 12.1 %Buchanan County: 19 %Butler County: 24.6 %Caldwell County: 15 %Callaway County: 15.6 %Camden County: 17 %Cape Girardeau County: 13.6 %Carroll County: 17.4 %Carter County: 30 %Cass County: 8.6 %Cedar County: 21.3 %Chariton County: 13.2 %Christian County: 9.1 %Clark County: 20.7 %Clay County: 8.9 %Clinton County: 10.9 %Cole County: 11.3 %Cooper County: 13.3 %Crawford County: 21.1 %Dade County: 20.7 %Dallas County: 22.1 %Daviess County: 18 %DeKalb County: 12.4 %Dent County: 22.9 %Douglas County: 24 %Dunklin County: 29.1 %Franklin County: 10.6 %Gasconade County: 13.7 %Gentry County: 19.6 %Greene County: 16 %Grundy County: 21.4 %Harrison County: 20.5 %Henry County: 22.4 %Hickory County: 28.2 %Holt County: 14.8 %Howard County: 14.4 %Howell County: 20.3 %Iron County: 25.6 %Jackson County: 14.7 %Jasper County: 18.1 %Jefferson County: 10.9 %Johnson County: 13.2 %Knox County: 26.1 %Laclede County: 20 %Lafayette County: 13.8 %Lawrence County: 20.1 %Lewis County: 18.7 %Lincoln County: 10 %Linn County: 20.5 %Livingston County: 18 %McDonald County: 23.7 %Macon County: 16.6 %Madison County: 20.7 %Maries County: 16 %Marion County: 14.9 %Mercer County: 19 %Miller County: 17.6 %Mississippi County: 28.1 %Moniteau County: 14 %Monroe County: 15.3 %Montgomery County: 19.5 %Morgan County: 20.4 %New Madrid County: 26 %Newton County: 16.6 %Nodaway County: 13 %Oregon County: 27.6 %Osage County: 11.6 %Ozark County: 30.9 %Pemiscot County: 35.9 %Perry County: 13 %Pettis County: 16.2 %Phelps County: 17 %Pike County: 18.7 %Platte County: 6.3 %Polk County: 18.1 %Pulaski County: 11.9 %Putnam County: 20.8 %Ralls County: 14.9 %Randolph County: 18.3 %Ray County: 12.8 %Reynolds County: 30.2 %Ripley County: 27.7 %St. Charles County: 5.6 %St. Clair County: 27.8 %Ste. Genevieve County: 12.1 %St. Francois County: 15.9 %St. Louis County: 12.6 %Saline County: 21.6 %Schuyler County: 23.3 %Scotland County: 16 %Scott County: 21.9 %Shannon County: 33.3 %Shelby County: 19.1 %Stoddard County: 17.9 %Stone County: 20.1 %Sullivan County: 18.7 %Taney County: 18.5 %Texas County: 25.7 %Vernon County: 21.3 %Warren County: 10.9 %Washington County: 25.4 %Wayne County: 32.2 %Webster County: 19.7 %Worth County: 20.8 %Wright County: 24.9 %St. Louis city: 27.1 %
  • Under 13
  • 13 to 16
  • 16 to 19
  • 19 to 21
  • 21 to 25
  • 25 and over
%, 2023. 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, 2023

Pemiscot County: 35.9 %Pemiscot County35.9Shannon County: 33.3 %Shannon County33.3Wayne County: 32.2 %Wayne County32.2Ozark County: 30.9 %Ozark County30.9Reynolds County: 30.2 %Reynolds County30.2Carter County: 30 %Carter County30Dunklin County: 29.1 %Dunklin County29.1Hickory County: 28.2 %Hickory County28.2Mississippi County: 28.1 %Mississippi County28.1St. Clair County: 27.8 %St. Clair County27.8Ripley County: 27.7 %Ripley County27.7Oregon County: 27.6 %Oregon County27.6St. Louis city: 27.1 %St. Louis city27.1Knox County: 26.1 %Knox County26.1New Madrid County: 26 %New Madrid County26Texas County: 25.7 %Texas County25.7Iron County: 25.6 %Iron County25.6Washington County: 25.4 %Washington County25.4Wright County: 24.9 %Wright County24.9Butler County: 24.6 %Butler County24.6Benton County: 24 %Benton County24Douglas County: 24 %Douglas County24McDonald County: 23.7 %McDonald County23.7Schuyler County: 23.3 %Schuyler County23.3Dent County: 22.9 %Dent County22.9Henry County: 22.4 %Henry County22.4Dallas County: 22.1 %Dallas County22.1Barton County: 22 %Barton County22Scott County: 21.9 %Scott County21.9Saline County: 21.6 %Saline County21.6Grundy County: 21.4 %Grundy County21.4Cedar County: 21.3 %Cedar County21.3Vernon County: 21.3 %Vernon County21.3Crawford County: 21.1 %Crawford County21.1Putnam County: 20.8 %Putnam County20.8Worth County: 20.8 %Worth County20.8Bollinger County: 20.7 %Bollinger County20.7Clark County: 20.7 %Clark County20.7Dade County: 20.7 %Dade County20.7Madison County: 20.7 %Madison County20.7Pemiscot County: 35.9 %Pemiscot County35.9Shannon County: 33.3 %Shannon County33.3Wayne County: 32.2 %Wayne County32.2Ozark County: 30.9 %Ozark County30.9Reynolds County: 30.2 %Reynolds County30.2Carter County: 30 %Carter County30Dunklin County: 29.1 %Dunklin County29.1Hickory County: 28.2 %Hickory County28.2Mississippi County: 28.1 %Mississippi County28.1St. Clair County: 27.8 %St. Clair County27.8Ripley County: 27.7 %Ripley County27.7Oregon County: 27.6 %Oregon County27.6St. Louis city: 27.1 %St. Louis city27.1Knox County: 26.1 %Knox County26.1New Madrid County: 26 %New Madrid County26Texas County: 25.7 %Texas County25.7Iron County: 25.6 %Iron County25.6Washington County: 25.4 %Washington County25.4Wright County: 24.9 %Wright County24.9Butler County: 24.6 %Butler County24.6Benton County: 24 %Benton County24Douglas County: 24 %Douglas County24McDonald County: 23.7 %McDonald County23.7Schuyler County: 23.3 %Schuyler County23.3Dent County: 22.9 %Dent County22.9Henry County: 22.4 %Henry County22.4Dallas County: 22.1 %Dallas County22.1Barton County: 22 %Barton County22Scott County: 21.9 %Scott County21.9Saline County: 21.6 %Saline County21.6Grundy County: 21.4 %Grundy County21.4Cedar County: 21.3 %Cedar County21.3Vernon County: 21.3 %Vernon County21.3Crawford County: 21.1 %Crawford County21.1Putnam County: 20.8 %Putnam County20.8Worth County: 20.8 %Worth County20.8Bollinger County: 20.7 %Bollinger County20.7Clark County: 20.7 %Clark County20.7Dade County: 20.7 %Dade County20.7Madison County: 20.7 %Madison County20.7
%. 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

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Pemiscot County35.9-4.5 pts
2Shannon County33.3-2.6 pts
3Wayne County32.2-4.2 pts
4Ozark County30.9-0.5 pts
5Reynolds County30.2+0.4 pts
6Carter County30-1.5 pts
7Dunklin County29.1-5.5 pts
8Hickory County28.2-3.9 pts
9Mississippi County28.1-7.1 pts
10St. Clair County27.8-1.1 pts
11Ripley County27.7-4.6 pts
12Oregon County27.6-3.7 pts
13St. Louis city27.1-6.2 pts
14Knox County26.1-0.5 pts
15New Madrid County26+1.2 pts
16Texas County25.7+0.4 pts
17Iron County25.6-0.5 pts
18Washington County25.4-0.1 pts
19Wright County24.9-6.7 pts
20Butler County24.6-1.9 pts
21Benton County24-1.1 pts
21Douglas County24-1.1 pts
23McDonald County23.7+1 pts
24Schuyler County23.30 pts
25Dent County22.9-1.3 pts
26Henry County22.4+2.7 pts
27Dallas County22.1-0.3 pts
28Barton County22+1 pts
29Scott County21.9-1.4 pts
30Saline County21.6+2.4 pts
31Grundy County21.4-0.8 pts
32Cedar County21.3-2.8 pts
32Vernon County21.3-1.6 pts
34Crawford County21.1+0.5 pts
35Putnam County20.8-1.1 pts
35Worth County20.8-1.1 pts
37Bollinger County20.7-2.7 pts
37Clark County20.7+1.5 pts
37Dade County20.7-2.2 pts
37Madison County20.7-5.7 pts
41Harrison County20.5-2.8 pts
41Linn County20.5+1.3 pts
43Morgan County20.4-4.9 pts
44Howell County20.3-4.8 pts
45Barry County20.2-3.4 pts
46Lawrence County20.1+2.4 pts
46Stone County20.1+0.1 pts
48Laclede County20-0.1 pts
49Webster County19.7-3.8 pts
50Gentry County19.6+2 pts
51Montgomery County19.5+0.6 pts
52Audrain County19.1-6.8 pts
52Shelby County19.1-1.7 pts
54Buchanan County19-2.4 pts
54Mercer County19-0.3 pts
56Lewis County18.7-0.7 pts
56Pike County18.7-1.4 pts
56Sullivan County18.7-0.9 pts
59Taney County18.5-0.4 pts
60Randolph County18.3-2.6 pts
61Jasper County18.1-6.7 pts
61Polk County18.1-4.2 pts
63Daviess County18-4.8 pts
63Livingston County18+1.3 pts
65Stoddard County17.9-1.7 pts
66Miller County17.6-0.1 pts
67Carroll County17.4-2.4 pts
68Camden County17-2.9 pts
68Phelps County17-1.3 pts
70Adair County16.9-7.1 pts
71Macon County16.6-2.2 pts
71Newton County16.6-3 pts
73Bates County16.4-4.1 pts
74Pettis County16.2-2.2 pts
75Greene County16-1.1 pts
75Maries County16-4.3 pts
75Scotland County16-0.3 pts
78St. Francois County15.9-6.8 pts
79Callaway County15.6+0.7 pts
80Monroe County15.3-3.4 pts
81Caldwell County15-3.2 pts
82Marion County14.9-0.9 pts
82Ralls County14.9+1.8 pts
84Holt County14.8-2.1 pts
85Jackson County14.7-5.1 pts
86Atchison County14.6-2.4 pts
87Howard County14.4-2.2 pts
88Moniteau County14-1.3 pts
89Lafayette County13.80 pts
90Gasconade County13.7-5.2 pts
91Cape Girardeau County13.6-2.8 pts
92Cooper County13.3-1.8 pts
93Chariton County13.2-3 pts
93Johnson County13.2+1 pts
95Nodaway County13-2.4 pts
95Perry County13-1.1 pts
97Ray County12.8-3.9 pts
98St. Louis County12.6-1.7 pts
99DeKalb County12.4-0.1 pts
100Boone County12.1-0.6 pts
100Ste. Genevieve County12.1-1 pts
102Pulaski County11.9-2.1 pts
103Osage County11.6+2.9 pts
104Cole County11.3-2.1 pts
105Clinton County10.9-3.7 pts
105Jefferson County10.9+0.6 pts
105Warren County10.9-0.4 pts
108Franklin County10.6+0.4 pts
109Lincoln County10-0.9 pts
110Andrew County9.7-0.5 pts
111Christian County9.1-0.7 pts
112Clay County8.9+0.1 pts
113Cass County8.6-1.8 pts
114Platte County6.3-2.7 pts
115St. Charles County5.6-0.3 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2023. 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), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2023.

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), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_missouri_by_2023,
  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), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2023. 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/missouri-counties?period=2023.
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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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 35.9% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

St. Charles County, with 5.6% in 2023.

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