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

Jeff Davis County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 3134 counties in 2020, at 59.7%. Douglas County had the lowest, at 2.6%. The median was 17.6% and the figure for the United States was 15.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest59.7Jeff Davis County

Lowest2.6Douglas County

Median17.63134 counties

United States15.7History

Map of counties, 2020

%, 2020. 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, 2020

%. 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	2020 (%)	Change on 2019
1	Jeff Davis County	59.7	+20.7 pts
2	Coahoma County	53.1	+4 pts
3	Ziebach County	52.8	-10.6 pts
4	Issaquena County	52.6	+8.2 pts
5	Corson County	52.1	-0.7 pts
6	Tensas Parish	51.4	+3.4 pts
7	Humphreys County	51.2	-4.1 pts
8	East Carroll Parish	50.9	-1.1 pts
9	Mitchell County	50.1	+7.8 pts
10	Pemiscot County	49.9	+9.2 pts
11	Jefferson County	49.7	+6.5 pts
12	Todd County	49.1	-0.3 pts
13	Clay County	47.5	+4.9 pts
14	Madison Parish	47.4	-6.7 pts
15	Scotland County	45.6	-0.7 pts
16	Edgecombe County	45.4	+12.1 pts
16	Lee County	45.4	+3.3 pts
18	Holmes County	45.2	0 pts
18	Jefferson Davis County	45.2	+8.8 pts
18	Sharkey County	45.2	-5.6 pts
21	Allendale County	45.1	-1.8 pts
22	Brooks County	45	+0.6 pts
22	Terrell County	45	+5.2 pts
24	Quitman County	44.9	-6.9 pts
25	Apache County	44.4	-0.3 pts
26	Perry County	44.2	-2 pts
27	Owsley County	44	+0.4 pts
28	Buffalo County	43.8	-2.5 pts
29	Greene County	43.5	-2.3 pts
29	Mellette County	43.5	+1.6 pts
31	Clay County	43.3	+1.4 pts
32	Claiborne County	42.6	-6.3 pts
33	Kusilvak Census Area	42.5	+7 pts
34	Dallas County	42.3	+1.3 pts
35	Sumter County	42	-3.3 pts
36	Oglala Lakota County	41.7	-2.3 pts
36	Tunica County	41.7	-1.5 pts
38	Bolivar County	41.3	-7.7 pts
39	Catahoula Parish	41.2	+6.9 pts
39	Hancock County	41.2	-2.3 pts
39	Sunflower County	41.2	-6 pts
42	Wolfe County	41	-3 pts
43	Floyd County	40.9	+6.7 pts
43	McCreary County	40.9	-2.7 pts
45	Lee County	40.7	-3.6 pts
45	Morehouse Parish	40.7	+0.8 pts
47	Quitman County	40.3	+4.3 pts
48	Adams County	40.1	-0.7 pts
49	Lake County	40	0 pts
50	Ware County	39.8	-2.1 pts
51	Washington County	39.7	-8.3 pts
52	Hinds County	39.6	+9.7 pts
52	St. Francis County	39.6	-2.7 pts
54	Baker County	39.5	-0.3 pts
54	Zapata County	39.5	-4.2 pts
56	Tallahatchie County	39.4	-5 pts
57	Macon County	39.3	+0.1 pts
57	McKinley County	39.3	+0.3 pts
59	Robeson County	39.2	-8.9 pts
60	Warren County	39.1	-1.2 pts
61	Hancock County	39	+3.2 pts
61	Zavala County	39	-1.4 pts
63	Randolph County	38.9	+1.4 pts
64	Concordia Parish	38.8	-0.6 pts
65	Bullock County	38.7	-1.2 pts
65	Richmond County	38.7	+4.3 pts
67	Magoffin County	38.6	-0.5 pts
68	Claiborne Parish	38.4	-1 pts
68	Fulton County	38.4	+0.6 pts
70	Bell County	38.3	-2.8 pts
71	Dougherty County	38.1	-1.4 pts
71	Lowndes County	38.1	+2 pts
71	Socorro County	38.1	+0.5 pts
74	Bienville Parish	38	+5.1 pts
74	Elbert County	38	+8.5 pts
74	Macon County	38	-3 pts
77	Turner County	37.9	-5.1 pts
78	McDowell County	37.8	-6.4 pts
78	Washington County	37.8	+1.4 pts
80	Pike County	37.6	+1.1 pts
81	Barbour County	37.5	-3.5 pts
82	Bibb County	37.4	+1 pts
82	Danville city	37.4	+0.3 pts
82	Franklin Parish	37.4	-1 pts
85	Martin County	37.2	-1.1 pts
85	Union Parish	37.2	+5.9 pts
87	Noxubee County	37.1	-4.2 pts
87	Wilkinson County	37.1	-1.8 pts
89	Breathitt County	37	-0.7 pts
89	Butts County	37	+16 pts
89	Phillips County	37	-12.9 pts
92	Bethel Census Area	36.8	+5.2 pts
92	Decatur County	36.8	+1.2 pts
92	Red River Parish	36.8	+3.1 pts
95	Chicot County	36.7	-8.4 pts
95	Hall County	36.7	-3.8 pts
95	Menominee County	36.7	-7.3 pts
98	Alexander County	36.5	-2.4 pts
98	Harlan County	36.5	-2.4 pts
98	Monroe County	36.5	-4.3 pts
101	Bennett County	36.4	-8 pts
101	Catron County	36.4	-1.9 pts
101	Petersburg city	36.4	+1.8 pts
101	Sumter County	36.4	-2 pts
105	Walthall County	36.3	+3.1 pts
106	Early County	36.2	-4.6 pts
106	Yazoo County	36.2	-7.8 pts
108	Knox County	36.1	-3.2 pts
109	Crisp County	36	-7.9 pts
110	Calhoun County	35.9	-3.1 pts
110	Jackson County	35.9	-7.9 pts
110	Kemper County	35.9	-4.4 pts
110	Leflore County	35.9	-14.9 pts
110	Talbot County	35.9	+2.8 pts
115	Washington Parish	35.8	+2.2 pts
115	Wayne County	35.8	+2.5 pts
117	Jenkins County	35.7	-1.3 pts
118	Big Horn County	35.6	+3.3 pts
119	Bladen County	35.5	+5.6 pts
119	Dallas County	35.5	+7.5 pts
119	Elliott County	35.5	+4 pts
119	Knott County	35.5	+1.4 pts
123	Menifee County	35.4	-3.1 pts
124	Starr County	35.3	-7.9 pts
125	Dooly County	35.2	-6.3 pts
126	Conecuh County	35.1	+0.4 pts
127	Crittenden County	35	+2.9 pts
128	Gadsden County	34.9	+3.7 pts
128	Quay County	34.9	+0.7 pts
128	Searcy County	34.9	+0.8 pts
128	St. Helena Parish	34.9	+5.3 pts
132	Sumter County	34.8	+12.7 pts
133	Harmon County	34.7	+0.9 pts
134	Cameron County	34.6	-1.7 pts
134	Luna County	34.6	+1.4 pts
136	Benson County	34.5	+0.6 pts
136	Hamilton County	34.5	-17 pts
136	Menard County	34.5	-0.9 pts
136	Richland Parish	34.5	-3.2 pts
136	Williamsburg County	34.5	-3.2 pts
141	Dimmit County	34.4	-0.4 pts
142	Emanuel County	34.3	+3.7 pts
142	Marshall County	34.3	+3.8 pts
144	Bamberg County	34.2	+0.3 pts
144	Richmond County	34.2	-8.5 pts
144	Seminole County	34.2	-2 pts
147	Evangeline Parish	34.1	+1.1 pts
147	Lee County	34.1	-8.7 pts
147	Winston County	34.1	-3.3 pts
150	Desha County	34	-4.6 pts
150	Willacy County	34	-4.1 pts
152	Iberia Parish	33.9	+3.1 pts
152	Marlboro County	33.9	+3.2 pts
154	Atkinson County	33.8	-3 pts
154	Jackson County	33.8	-2.2 pts
156	Barnwell County	33.7	-4.8 pts
156	Hickman County	33.7	+5.9 pts
156	Wheeler County	33.7	+0.1 pts
159	Clay County	33.6	-1.1 pts
159	Metcalfe County	33.6	+1.3 pts
161	Leake County	33.5	-2.7 pts
161	Sierra County	33.5	-6.2 pts
163	Ouachita Parish	33.4	-4 pts
164	Adair County	33.3	+3.5 pts
164	Bath County	33.3	+3.9 pts
164	Cross County	33.3	+7 pts
164	Meriwether County	33.3	+2.2 pts
164	Warren County	33.3	0 pts
164	Warren County	33.3	+0.6 pts
170	Clay County	33.2	+2.7 pts
170	Taliaferro County	33.2	-2.1 pts
170	Toombs County	33.2	+3.5 pts
173	Acadia Parish	33.1	+6.6 pts
173	Hudspeth County	33.1	-8.1 pts
173	Jefferson County	33.1	-2.5 pts
173	Woodruff County	33.1	-5 pts
177	Dewey County	33	+0.3 pts
177	Putnam County	33	-2 pts
179	Casey County	32.9	0 pts
179	Jim Wells County	32.9	+3.9 pts
179	Sioux County	32.9	-2.5 pts
179	Wayne County	32.9	-0.4 pts
183	Clarke County	32.8	-0.4 pts
183	Forrest County	32.8	+3.9 pts
183	Telfair County	32.8	-1.2 pts
183	Wilson County	32.8	+0.6 pts
187	Ben Hill County	32.7	+0.7 pts
187	Coffee County	32.7	+4.4 pts
187	Kimble County	32.7	+0.1 pts
190	Lake County	32.6	-0.6 pts
190	Ozark County	32.6	-3.9 pts
192	Brooks County	32.5	-2.8 pts
192	Hidalgo County	32.5	-4.9 pts
192	Marion County	32.5	-8.5 pts
192	Shannon County	32.5	-2.7 pts
192	Taylor County	32.5	+0.4 pts
197	Cibola County	32.4	-0.1 pts
197	Golden Valley County	32.4	-0.5 pts
197	Presidio County	32.4	+3.3 pts
197	Webster County	32.4	-1.7 pts
201	Dallas County	32.3	+0.6 pts
201	Huerfano County	32.3	-3.1 pts
201	Madison County	32.3	+3.4 pts
201	Martin County	32.3	-1.2 pts
201	McCormick County	32.3	-0.3 pts
206	Costilla County	32.2	-6.7 pts
206	Lyman County	32.2	+1.9 pts
208	Duval County	32.1	-1.4 pts
208	Lewis County	32.1	+1 pts
208	Monroe County	32.1	+1.3 pts
208	Real County	32.1	-0.6 pts
212	Geneva County	32	+10.7 pts
212	McIntosh County	32	+0.5 pts
212	Mississippi County	32	-2.4 pts
212	Reynolds County	32	-3.3 pts
212	Wilkinson County	32	+2.6 pts
217	Jasper County	31.9	+3.1 pts
217	Lanier County	31.9	+3.3 pts
217	Piute County	31.9	+1 pts
217	Wilkes County	31.9	+0.7 pts
221	Candler County	31.8	-2.5 pts
221	Dillon County	31.8	-3.4 pts
221	Edwards County	31.8	-2.7 pts
221	Emporia city	31.8	-2.1 pts
221	Leslie County	31.8	-6.7 pts
221	Marion County	31.8	-0.6 pts
221	Northampton County	31.8	-5.4 pts
221	Wilcox County	31.8	-7.1 pts
229	Clinton County	31.7	-0.9 pts
229	Cottle County	31.7	-0.8 pts
229	Iberville Parish	31.7	+4 pts
229	Russell County	31.7	+6.3 pts
233	Burke County	31.6	-4.7 pts
233	Lee County	31.6	-3.2 pts
233	Natchitoches Parish	31.6	+7.7 pts
233	Pulaski County	31.6	-2.4 pts
233	Ripley County	31.6	+1.4 pts
233	Stewart County	31.6	-4.8 pts
239	Bertie County	31.5	-0.9 pts
239	Chickasaw County	31.5	-1.3 pts
239	Navajo County	31.5	-3.5 pts
242	Hendry County	31.4	+3.1 pts
243	Adair County	31.3	-1.9 pts
243	Oregon County	31.3	-0.5 pts
243	Simpson County	31.3	+3 pts
243	St. Bernard Parish	31.3	+3.5 pts
247	Covington County	31.2	-2.1 pts
247	Echols County	31.2	+0.2 pts
247	Martinsville city	31.2	-0.4 pts
247	Montgomery County	31.2	-5.8 pts

Showing the top 250 of 3134. 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. 9 counties with data in other periods have no value for 2020 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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2020. 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), 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2020.

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), 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2020 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_us_counties_by_child_2020,
  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), 2020}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2020. 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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2020.
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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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Questions

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

Jeff Davis County, with 59.7% in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Douglas County, with 2.6% in 2020.

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. 9 counties have no value for 2020 and are not ranked.