US counties by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure)

Coahoma County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 3132 counties in 2016, at 66.3%. Douglas County had the lowest, at 2.9%. The median was 21.4% and the figure for the United States was 19.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest66.3Coahoma County

Lowest2.9Douglas County

Median21.43132 counties

United States19.5History

Map of counties, 2016

%, 2016. Hatched areas have no value for this period. 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

%. 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

Rank	Counties	2016 (%)	Change on 2015
1	Coahoma County	66.3	+17 pts
2	East Carroll Parish	58.8	+2.7 pts
3	Dallas County	58.3	+8.2 pts
4	Lowndes County	57.5	+10.8 pts
5	Forest County	57.1	+10.7 pts
6	Humphreys County	56.8	-3.4 pts
7	Madison Parish	56.4	+3.7 pts
8	Clay County	56	+4 pts
9	Owsley County	55.9	-5.7 pts
10	Starr County	54.8	+12.3 pts
11	Issaquena County	54	+8 pts
12	Todd County	53.4	+1.1 pts
13	Sharkey County	52.9	-0.8 pts
14	Lee County	52.6	+2.4 pts
15	Claiborne County	52.4	-1.6 pts
15	Clay County	52.4	-0.6 pts
17	Allendale County	51.7	+1.1 pts
18	Perry County	51.6	-2.8 pts
19	Holmes County	51.3	-2.3 pts
20	Phillips County	50.7	-5.7 pts
21	Quitman County	50.5	-6.3 pts
22	Tensas Parish	50.4	-2.2 pts
23	Taliaferro County	50	-4.4 pts
24	Washington County	49.4	-2 pts
25	Greene County	49.3	-5.4 pts
26	Lake County	49.1	+1.2 pts
27	Corson County	48.8	-11 pts
27	Wilcox County	48.8	-0.4 pts
27	Williamsburg County	48.8	+5.5 pts
30	Brooks County	48.7	+2.2 pts
31	Alexander County	48.6	-3.6 pts
32	Terrell County	48.4	-7.3 pts
33	Buffalo County	48.1	+4.6 pts
34	Tallahatchie County	47.9	+2.7 pts
35	Hancock County	47.8	+4.1 pts
36	Lee County	47.7	-1 pts
36	Noxubee County	47.7	+0.8 pts
38	Bell County	47.4	-9.4 pts
38	McCreary County	47.4	-4.5 pts
38	Willacy County	47.4	+4.4 pts
41	Zavala County	47.2	+5 pts
42	Tunica County	47.1	+0.9 pts
43	Knott County	47	+0.6 pts
44	Ziebach County	46.9	-7.1 pts
45	Sunflower County	46.8	-3.8 pts
46	Early County	46.7	+5.1 pts
46	Fulton County	46.7	-0.9 pts
46	Leflore County	46.7	-8.6 pts
46	Turner County	46.7	+1.9 pts
50	Knox County	46.5	+1.3 pts
50	McKinley County	46.5	+7.3 pts
52	Crisp County	46.4	-1 pts
53	Adams County	46.1	+2.3 pts
54	Macon County	46	+2.4 pts
55	Randolph County	45.9	+1.8 pts
56	Warren County	45.8	+1.9 pts
57	Bullock County	45.7	-5.5 pts
57	Catron County	45.7	+0.8 pts
59	Kusilvak Census Area	45.4	+2 pts
60	Macon County	45.2	-0.9 pts
61	Stewart County	45	-3.4 pts
62	Jefferson County	44.8	+0.2 pts
62	Jenkins County	44.8	-2.5 pts
62	Quitman County	44.8	-3.1 pts
65	Letcher County	44.7	+2.8 pts
66	Morehouse Parish	44.5	-5.5 pts
66	Sierra County	44.5	+0.9 pts
68	Franklin Parish	44.4	+3.7 pts
68	Screven County	44.4	+4.4 pts
70	Breathitt County	44.2	+1.3 pts
70	St. Francis County	44.2	-0.1 pts
72	Harlan County	44.1	-3.6 pts
72	McDowell County	44.1	-2.7 pts
72	Sumter County	44.1	-0.1 pts
75	Chicot County	44	+0.8 pts
75	Martin County	44	-1.3 pts
77	Conecuh County	43.9	+2.9 pts
77	Oglala Lakota County	43.9	-3.1 pts
79	Sumter County	43.8	-4.3 pts
79	Wilkinson County	43.8	+1.4 pts
81	Dougherty County	43.5	+1.4 pts
82	Claiborne Parish	43.4	+6.3 pts
82	Costilla County	43.4	+0.1 pts
82	Wolfe County	43.4	-7 pts
85	Webb County	43.3	+1.4 pts
86	Hidalgo County	43.2	+0.3 pts
86	Washington County	43.2	+2.3 pts
88	Webster County	43.1	+2.1 pts
89	Jefferson Davis County	43	-1.2 pts
89	Jim Hogg County	43	+9.1 pts
91	Bennett County	42.9	-4.1 pts
91	Pike County	42.9	-0.2 pts
93	Baker County	42.8	+0.9 pts
94	Bamberg County	42.7	-1.2 pts
95	Hancock County	42.6	-1.7 pts
95	Magoffin County	42.6	-2.5 pts
97	Decatur County	42.4	+2.5 pts
97	Menifee County	42.4	-1.1 pts
99	Bolivar County	42.2	-5.6 pts
100	Hall County	42.1	+2.3 pts
101	DeSoto County	42	+0.7 pts
102	St. Helena Parish	41.9	+7.9 pts
103	Tattnall County	41.8	+5.7 pts
104	Mellette County	41.7	-2.5 pts
104	Yazoo County	41.7	-1.7 pts
104	Zapata County	41.7	-3.5 pts
107	Atkinson County	41.6	+1.1 pts
107	Pike County	41.6	+9.6 pts
109	Monroe County	41.5	-5.2 pts
110	Wilcox County	41.4	+1 pts
111	Marion County	41.3	+0.2 pts
111	Pemiscot County	41.3	0 pts
113	Apache County	41.1	-3.6 pts
113	Menominee County	41.1	-9.8 pts
113	Mitchell County	41.1	+3 pts
116	Luna County	40.8	-0.4 pts
116	Marlboro County	40.8	+2.9 pts
118	Benson County	40.7	+1.7 pts
118	Jeff Davis County	40.7	+4.8 pts
118	Powell County	40.7	+1.4 pts
121	Lee County	40.6	+2 pts
122	Jackson County	40.5	-0.5 pts
123	Cameron County	40.4	-5.5 pts
124	Desha County	40.3	-5.4 pts
124	Emanuel County	40.3	+0.1 pts
124	Shannon County	40.3	-2.3 pts
124	Sioux County	40.3	-4.8 pts
128	Concordia Parish	40.2	-1.4 pts
128	Lafayette County	40.2	+3.9 pts
128	Lake County	40.2	-5 pts
131	Uvalde County	40.1	+6.7 pts
132	Madison County	40	+3.1 pts
133	Texas County	39.9	+6.5 pts
133	Wheeler County	39.9	-3.7 pts
135	Bronx County	39.8	-2.8 pts
135	Calhoun County	39.8	-2.6 pts
135	Treutlen County	39.8	-1.8 pts
138	Burke County	39.7	+1.8 pts
138	Crowley County	39.7	+1.2 pts
140	Barbour County	39.6	-5.6 pts
141	Warren County	39.5	+2.4 pts
142	Clarendon County	39.4	+1.3 pts
142	Dooly County	39.4	-6 pts
142	Seminole County	39.4	-3.3 pts
145	Edwards County	39.3	-0.3 pts
145	Kemper County	39.3	-3.8 pts
147	Ben Hill County	39.2	-7.7 pts
147	Jackson County	39.2	-6 pts
149	Caddo Parish	39.1	+4.3 pts
149	Estill County	39.1	+0.3 pts
151	Socorro County	39	-1.7 pts
152	Clarke County	38.9	+8 pts
152	Leslie County	38.9	-0.5 pts
152	Menard County	38.9	+0.7 pts
152	Richmond city	38.9	+2.6 pts
152	Richmond County	38.9	+1.2 pts
157	Ozark County	38.8	-2.5 pts
157	Perry County	38.8	+1.6 pts
157	Wheeler County	38.8	-0.4 pts
160	Candler County	38.7	-4.6 pts
160	Cocke County	38.7	-1.4 pts
160	Colleton County	38.7	+2 pts
160	Saguache County	38.7	-10.6 pts
160	San Augustine County	38.7	+1.4 pts
160	Scotland County	38.7	-5.7 pts
166	Brooks County	38.6	-0.3 pts
166	Cochran County	38.6	+3.9 pts
166	Copiah County	38.6	-0.5 pts
166	Emporia city	38.6	+0.3 pts
170	Catahoula Parish	38.5	+1.5 pts
170	Leake County	38.5	-0.4 pts
170	Telfair County	38.5	-3.7 pts
173	Crittenden County	38.4	+1.1 pts
173	Duval County	38.4	+1 pts
173	Floyd County	38.4	-4.7 pts
173	Washington Parish	38.4	+1.5 pts
177	Crosby County	38.3	+3.5 pts
177	Evangeline Parish	38.3	+6.2 pts
177	Quay County	38.3	+2.6 pts
177	Ripley County	38.3	-1 pts
177	Robeson County	38.3	-3.6 pts
177	St. Louis city	38.3	-1 pts
177	Talbot County	38.3	-3.5 pts
177	Walthall County	38.3	-3.8 pts
185	Bristol city	38.2	+4.8 pts
185	Dillon County	38.2	-4.6 pts
185	Kimble County	38.2	+1.2 pts
185	Richland Parish	38.2	+0.9 pts
185	Richmond County	38.2	-4.6 pts
185	St. Landry Parish	38.2	+1 pts
185	Tyrrell County	38.2	+2 pts
192	Adair County	38.1	-4.6 pts
192	Cumberland County	38.1	+1.9 pts
192	Dimmit County	38.1	+3.6 pts
192	Whitley County	38.1	-0.8 pts
196	Culberson County	38	+0.8 pts
196	Halifax County	38	-1.1 pts
196	Hidalgo County	38	+2.6 pts
199	Dunklin County	37.9	-1.1 pts
199	Hamilton County	37.9	-6.7 pts
199	La Paz County	37.9	+1 pts
199	Presidio County	37.9	+5.6 pts
203	Clay County	37.7	-4.4 pts
203	Jefferson County	37.7	-2 pts
203	Navajo County	37.7	+1 pts
203	Wayne County	37.7	-2.6 pts
207	Danville city	37.6	-1.8 pts
208	Laurens County	37.5	+1.5 pts
208	Lee County	37.5	+1.2 pts
208	Lewis County	37.5	+1.9 pts
208	Marion County	37.5	-2.6 pts
208	Oregon County	37.5	-2.3 pts
208	Ouachita Parish	37.5	+4.4 pts
208	Taylor County	37.5	-3.6 pts
215	Metcalfe County	37.4	-1 pts
215	Natchitoches Parish	37.4	+1.2 pts
217	Floyd County	37.3	+0.9 pts
217	Montgomery County	37.3	+2.5 pts
217	Searcy County	37.3	-1.8 pts
220	Huerfano County	37.2	-4.4 pts
220	Johnson County	37.2	+0.1 pts
220	Northampton County	37.2	-8.1 pts
220	Philadelphia County	37.2	-1.2 pts
220	Ware County	37.2	-8.4 pts
220	Woodruff County	37.2	-2.1 pts
226	Bibb County	37.1	-4.5 pts
226	Wayne County	37.1	-0.6 pts
228	Elliott County	37	-3.3 pts
228	Fresno County	37	+0.7 pts
228	McCurtain County	37	+4.7 pts
228	Panola County	37	-1.5 pts
228	Russell County	37	+1.2 pts
233	Doña Ana County	36.9	-1.9 pts
234	Forrest County	36.8	+4.6 pts
234	Fulton County	36.8	+2.6 pts
234	Marengo County	36.8	+2 pts
234	Mingo County	36.8	-1.9 pts
238	Adair County	36.7	-4.3 pts
238	Choctaw County	36.7	-3.5 pts
238	Clinton County	36.7	-2.9 pts
238	Petersburg city	36.7	-6.3 pts
238	Pike County	36.7	+0.7 pts
243	Butler County	36.6	+0.6 pts
243	Casey County	36.6	-1.6 pts
243	Jones County	36.6	+0.1 pts
243	McDuffie County	36.6	-3.9 pts
243	Northwest Arctic Borough	36.6	+1.7 pts
243	Pickens County	36.6	+1.3 pts
243	Washington County	36.6	+0.1 pts
250	Clay County	36.5	-0.9 pts

Showing the top 250 of 3132. The Excel download has every row.

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. 11 counties with data in other periods have no value for 2016 and are left out rather than filled from another source. 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 (US counties 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, US counties 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/us-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. US counties 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/us-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, US counties 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/us-counties?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_us_counties_by_child_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: US counties 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/us-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: US counties 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/us-counties?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-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)?

Coahoma County, with 66.3% in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Douglas County, with 2.9% 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. 11 counties have no value for 2016 and are not ranked.