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

Bullock County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 3132 counties in 2018, at 68.3%. Douglas County had the lowest, at 2.5%. The median was 20.1% and the figure for the United States was 18%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest68.3Bullock County

Lowest2.5Douglas County

Median20.13132 counties

United States18History

Map of counties, 2018

%, 2018. 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, 2018

%. 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	2018 (%)	Change on 2017
1	Bullock County	68.3	+20 pts
2	East Carroll Parish	61.5	-0.8 pts
3	Oglala Lakota County	56.6	+10.8 pts
4	Humphreys County	56.3	+0.1 pts
4	Madison Parish	56.3	+4.1 pts
6	Quitman County	55	-2.5 pts
7	Todd County	53	-2.8 pts
8	Perry County	52.8	+1.5 pts
9	Washington County	52	+6.7 pts
10	Allendale County	51.6	+3 pts
11	Buffalo County	51.3	+2.7 pts
12	Lee County	50.9	+6 pts
13	Issaquena County	50.8	+0.8 pts
13	Jefferson County	50.8	+5.2 pts
15	Wilcox County	50.6	+3.6 pts
16	Coahoma County	50.3	-0.1 pts
17	Sharkey County	49.1	-1.9 pts
17	Zapata County	49.1	+3.5 pts
19	Leflore County	49	-11.2 pts
20	Brooks County	48.6	-3.9 pts
21	Dillon County	48.5	+6.4 pts
22	Sumter County	48.1	+2 pts
23	Dallas County	48	+4.8 pts
24	Phillips County	47.9	-11.5 pts
25	Owsley County	47.8	-1.4 pts
26	Tensas Parish	47.7	-7.4 pts
27	Kusilvak Census Area	47.4	+2.1 pts
28	Apache County	47.3	+4 pts
29	Clay County	47.2	-8.5 pts
30	St. Landry Parish	46.6	+10.9 pts
31	Pike County	46.2	+8.4 pts
32	Fulton County	46.1	+3.3 pts
33	St. Francis County	46	+4 pts
34	Claiborne County	45.9	-7.6 pts
35	Holmes County	45.5	-7 pts
36	Starr County	45.3	+5.1 pts
37	Clay County	44.8	-6.5 pts
38	Bennett County	44.7	-6.9 pts
38	Hancock County	44.7	-0.7 pts
40	Alexander County	44.5	-6 pts
40	Knox County	44.5	+7.1 pts
40	Pemiscot County	44.5	+1.1 pts
40	Terrell County	44.5	-4.9 pts
40	Willacy County	44.5	+0.1 pts
40	Zavala County	44.5	+1.2 pts
46	Floyd County	44.3	+5.3 pts
46	Randolph County	44.3	-4.8 pts
48	Bladen County	44.2	+15.8 pts
49	Chicot County	44.1	+1.9 pts
49	Martin County	44.1	-1.8 pts
51	Greene County	44	-5.4 pts
52	Barbour County	43.9	-6.4 pts
53	Dougherty County	43.7	+2.2 pts
53	Lee County	43.7	-4.3 pts
55	Harlan County	43.6	-5.6 pts
55	Wolfe County	43.6	+0.3 pts
57	Bell County	43.5	-2 pts
57	Tunica County	43.5	-1.1 pts
59	Breathitt County	43.4	-1.1 pts
60	Menominee County	43.3	-1.1 pts
61	Baker County	43.2	+3.2 pts
61	Calhoun County	43.2	+3 pts
63	Crisp County	43	-0.7 pts
64	Lee County	42.8	+5.8 pts
64	Marlboro County	42.8	+3.4 pts
64	McKinley County	42.8	-3.1 pts
64	Ziebach County	42.8	-31.9 pts
68	Jenkins County	42.6	-1.7 pts
69	McDowell County	42.5	-3.8 pts
69	Sierra County	42.5	-0.3 pts
71	Sunflower County	42.3	-5.5 pts
72	Atkinson County	42.2	+5.7 pts
72	Turner County	42.2	+0.2 pts
74	Scotland County	41.8	+2.5 pts
74	Taliaferro County	41.8	-2.3 pts
76	Franklin Parish	41.7	+1 pts
76	Warren County	41.7	-1.4 pts
78	Jackson County	41.6	-6.7 pts
79	Corson County	41.4	-13.9 pts
79	Knott County	41.4	-0.6 pts
81	Bethel Census Area	41.2	+5.7 pts
81	Lake County	41.2	-5.1 pts
81	Screven County	41.2	+7.4 pts
81	Yazoo County	41.2	-0.5 pts
85	Claiborne Parish	41.1	-6.5 pts
85	Hancock County	41.1	-0.5 pts
85	Morehouse Parish	41.1	+0.8 pts
88	Ben Hill County	40.9	+2.1 pts
89	Houston County	40.8	+9 pts
89	Menard County	40.8	+4.5 pts
89	Noxubee County	40.8	-5 pts
92	Toombs County	40.6	+7.1 pts
93	Quitman County	40.5	-2.5 pts
93	Tallahatchie County	40.5	-1.2 pts
95	Adams County	40.4	-4 pts
95	Benson County	40.4	+0.9 pts
95	Early County	40.4	-0.2 pts
95	Hidalgo County	40.4	-0.9 pts
99	Cameron County	40.2	+1.8 pts
99	Catron County	40.2	-5.2 pts
99	Navajo County	40.2	+3.3 pts
102	Conecuh County	40.1	-2.8 pts
102	Cottle County	40.1	+0.7 pts
102	Seminole County	40.1	-4.7 pts
105	Wright County	39.9	+3.9 pts
106	Stewart County	39.8	+1.2 pts
107	Leake County	39.7	+6.2 pts
107	Macon County	39.7	-5 pts
109	Lowndes County	39.6	-0.4 pts
109	Mitchell County	39.6	+1.7 pts
109	Washington County	39.6	+5.7 pts
112	Sumter County	39.5	+1.2 pts
112	Talbot County	39.5	+2.3 pts
114	Kemper County	39.4	-1.2 pts
114	McCreary County	39.4	-6.2 pts
116	Iberia Parish	39.3	+4.8 pts
116	Wilkinson County	39.3	+7.6 pts
118	Macon County	39.2	+0.5 pts
118	Menifee County	39.2	+0.1 pts
120	Bamberg County	39.1	+2.9 pts
121	Bolivar County	38.9	-2.6 pts
121	Monroe County	38.9	-2.6 pts
121	Petersburg city	38.9	+4.4 pts
124	Hall County	38.8	-2.6 pts
124	Leslie County	38.8	+1.5 pts
124	Mellette County	38.8	-10.2 pts
127	Concordia Parish	38.7	+0.1 pts
127	Evans County	38.7	-2.6 pts
127	Washington County	38.7	-2 pts
127	Wilkinson County	38.7	-1.8 pts
131	Jim Hogg County	38.6	-1.6 pts
132	Casey County	38.5	+5.3 pts
132	Highlands County	38.5	+4.5 pts
134	St. Louis city	38.4	+5.8 pts
135	Dooly County	38.2	+1.8 pts
135	Gadsden County	38.2	+0.6 pts
135	Hardee County	38.2	+5.5 pts
138	Danville city	38.1	-0.4 pts
138	Dunklin County	38.1	+2.5 pts
140	Jefferson County	37.9	+5.2 pts
141	Luna County	37.8	-2.3 pts
142	Lenoir County	37.7	0 pts
142	Oregon County	37.7	+0.6 pts
142	Quay County	37.7	+0.2 pts
142	Williamsburg County	37.7	-3.1 pts
146	Bronx County	37.6	-1.7 pts
146	Jefferson Davis County	37.6	-2.5 pts
146	Magoffin County	37.6	-1.7 pts
146	McIntosh County	37.6	+6.2 pts
146	Neshoba County	37.6	+6.6 pts
146	Sioux County	37.6	-5.1 pts
152	Clinton County	37.5	+2.1 pts
153	Emporia city	37.4	+0.7 pts
153	Fayette County	37.4	+9.8 pts
153	Huerfano County	37.4	-0.4 pts
153	Shannon County	37.4	-15.7 pts
157	Edwards County	37.3	-0.9 pts
158	Crosby County	37.1	-0.7 pts
158	Marion County	37.1	-2.3 pts
160	Catahoula Parish	37	-2 pts
160	Edgecombe County	37	-1.5 pts
160	Metcalfe County	37	+2.3 pts
160	Perry County	37	+3.6 pts
160	Saguache County	37	-3.7 pts
165	Avoyelles Parish	36.9	+3.9 pts
165	Costilla County	36.9	-5.9 pts
165	Richland Parish	36.9	-7.5 pts
168	Scott County	36.8	+7.8 pts
168	Walthall County	36.8	-0.4 pts
168	Webster County	36.8	-5.1 pts
171	Hampton County	36.7	+2.1 pts
171	Marion County	36.7	-2 pts
171	Telfair County	36.7	-6.1 pts
171	Washington Parish	36.7	+3.6 pts
171	Wheeler County	36.7	-3.2 pts
176	Bibb County	36.6	-0.1 pts
176	Cook County	36.6	+4.9 pts
176	Franklin County	36.6	+2.6 pts
176	Hidalgo County	36.6	+0.3 pts
176	Pulaski County	36.6	+5.5 pts
181	Jackson County	36.5	-2.4 pts
181	Mingo County	36.5	-2 pts
181	Orangeburg County	36.5	+1.3 pts
181	Summers County	36.5	-6.5 pts
185	Lake County	36.4	-2.4 pts
185	Woodruff County	36.4	-2.9 pts
187	Bienville Parish	36.3	-0.5 pts
187	Butler County	36.3	+3.3 pts
187	Clarendon County	36.3	+1.5 pts
187	De Baca County	36.3	+2.4 pts
187	Echols County	36.3	+0.8 pts
192	Columbus County	36.2	+1.5 pts
193	Copiah County	36.1	+1.5 pts
193	Desha County	36.1	-4.4 pts
193	Duval County	36.1	-4 pts
196	Covington County	36	+1.3 pts
196	Letcher County	36	-2.3 pts
196	Montgomery County	36	+2.3 pts
196	Santa Cruz County	36	+0.8 pts
196	Socorro County	36	-4.2 pts
196	Wayne County	36	+0.6 pts
202	Hamilton County	35.9	-3.3 pts
202	Kimble County	35.9	-0.9 pts
202	Mississippi County	35.9	+2.9 pts
205	Dimmit County	35.8	-6.8 pts
205	Vance County	35.8	-2.2 pts
205	Wayne County	35.8	+0.5 pts
208	Cocke County	35.7	-1.6 pts
208	Decatur County	35.7	+0.6 pts
208	Marion County	35.7	+2.7 pts
208	McIntosh County	35.7	+1.4 pts
212	Caddo Parish	35.6	-3.5 pts
212	Clay County	35.6	-2.1 pts
212	Hale County	35.6	+0.1 pts
212	Meriwether County	35.6	+2.3 pts
212	Real County	35.6	-1 pts
212	Robeson County	35.6	-8.8 pts
212	Ware County	35.6	+0.5 pts
219	La Salle County	35.5	-0.6 pts
219	Taylor County	35.5	+0.8 pts
221	Acadia Parish	35.4	+1.1 pts
221	Garland County	35.4	+10.2 pts
221	Glacier County	35.4	+2.7 pts
221	Greene County	35.4	+5.2 pts
221	Torrance County	35.4	-1 pts
226	Candler County	35.3	-0.5 pts
226	Carter County	35.3	+0.3 pts
226	Mississippi County	35.3	-2.5 pts
226	St. Helena Parish	35.3	-1.3 pts
226	Warren County	35.3	+6.6 pts
226	Wilcox County	35.3	-0.2 pts
232	Claiborne County	35.2	+4 pts
232	Jefferson County	35.2	-0.8 pts
232	Poinsett County	35.2	+3.3 pts
232	Presidio County	35.2	+2.9 pts
236	Tyrrell County	35.1	+0.1 pts
237	Adair County	35	+1.5 pts
237	Bledsoe County	35	+4.9 pts
237	Maverick County	35	+1.7 pts
237	Uvalde County	35	+1.6 pts
237	Wheeler County	35	-5.2 pts
242	Adair County	34.9	-2.6 pts
242	Mercer County	34.9	+4.9 pts
242	Searcy County	34.9	-0.3 pts
245	Clinch County	34.8	+0.4 pts
245	Lafayette County	34.8	-1.1 pts
245	Texas County	34.8	+3.6 pts
248	Alpine County	34.7	-0.6 pts
248	Aransas County	34.7	+2.5 pts
248	Galax city	34.7	-0.7 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 2018 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/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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), 2018) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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), 2018. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2018. 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), 2018. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2018.

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), 2018 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_us_counties_by_child_2018,
  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), 2018}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2018. 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/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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), 2018
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2018.
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/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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Rank US counties by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) using official data, and cite the source.

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Questions

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

Bullock County, with 68.3% in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Douglas County, with 2.5% in 2018.

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 2018 and are not ranked.