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

Sunflower County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 3134 counties in 2021, at 58.5%. Douglas County had the lowest, at 2.8%. The median was 19.1% and the figure for the United States was 16.9%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest58.5Sunflower County

Lowest2.8Douglas County

Median19.13134 counties

United States16.9History

Map of counties, 2021

%, 2021. 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, 2021

%. 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	2021 (%)	Change on 2020
1	Sunflower County	58.5	+17.3 pts
2	Issaquena County	58.4	+5.8 pts
3	Jeff Davis County	57.1	-2.6 pts
4	Concordia Parish	55.7	+16.9 pts
5	Coahoma County	54.1	+1 pts
6	Corson County	53.1	+1 pts
6	Sharkey County	53.1	+7.9 pts
8	Greene County	51.8	+8.3 pts
9	Sioux County	50.7	+17.8 pts
10	East Carroll Parish	50.5	-0.4 pts
11	Perry County	50.3	+6.1 pts
12	Sierra County	50.2	+16.7 pts
13	Quitman County	49.7	+4.8 pts
14	Wilcox County	49.4	+20 pts
15	Holmes County	48.3	+3.1 pts
16	Madison Parish	48.1	+0.7 pts
16	Sumter County	48.1	+6.1 pts
16	Todd County	48.1	-1 pts
19	Leflore County	47.9	+12 pts
20	Tensas Parish	47.7	-3.7 pts
21	Humphreys County	47.6	-3.6 pts
22	Allendale County	47.2	+2.1 pts
23	Magoffin County	47	+8.4 pts
24	Bolivar County	46.6	+5.3 pts
25	Phillips County	45.9	+8.9 pts
26	Ziebach County	45.8	-7 pts
27	Brooks County	45.6	+0.6 pts
28	Dallas County	45.4	+3.1 pts
28	Lee County	45.4	0 pts
30	Clay County	45.3	-2.2 pts
31	Avoyelles Parish	45	+14 pts
32	Zapata County	44.6	+5.1 pts
33	Buffalo County	44.4	+0.6 pts
34	Martin County	44.3	+7.1 pts
35	Hancock County	44	+2.8 pts
36	Jefferson County	43.9	-5.8 pts
36	Lee County	43.9	+3.2 pts
38	Harlan County	43.8	+7.3 pts
39	Owsley County	43.5	-0.5 pts
40	Bennett County	43.3	+6.9 pts
40	Duval County	43.3	+11.2 pts
42	Lowndes County	43	+4.9 pts
43	Macon County	42.9	+3.6 pts
43	Morehouse Parish	42.9	+2.2 pts
45	Tallahatchie County	42.8	+3.4 pts
46	Breathitt County	42.6	+5.6 pts
46	Hancock County	42.6	+3.6 pts
46	Wolfe County	42.6	+1.6 pts
49	Gadsden County	42.4	+7.5 pts
50	Hall County	42.3	+5.6 pts
50	Terrell County	42.3	-2.7 pts
52	Knox County	42.2	+6.1 pts
52	St. Francis County	42.2	+2.6 pts
54	Alexander County	42	+5.5 pts
54	Menifee County	42	+6.6 pts
54	Tunica County	42	+0.3 pts
57	Orangeburg County	41.9	+12.2 pts
58	Bullock County	41.7	+3 pts
59	Baker County	41.5	+2 pts
59	Early County	41.5	+5.3 pts
61	Oglala Lakota County	41.4	-0.3 pts
62	Menominee County	41.2	+4.5 pts
62	Randolph County	41.2	+2.3 pts
64	Putnam County	41.1	+8.1 pts
64	Quitman County	41.1	+0.8 pts
66	Kusilvak Census Area	40.6	-1.9 pts
66	Starr County	40.6	+5.3 pts
68	Noxubee County	40.5	+3.4 pts
69	McCreary County	40.3	-0.6 pts
70	McDowell County	40.2	+2.4 pts
70	Mellette County	40.2	-3.3 pts
70	Richmond County	40.2	+6 pts
70	Washington County	40.2	+0.5 pts
74	Warren County	40.1	+1 pts
75	Claiborne County	39.9	-2.7 pts
75	Jefferson Davis County	39.9	-5.3 pts
77	Sumter County	39.7	+3.3 pts
78	Dillon County	39.6	+7.8 pts
78	Pike County	39.6	+11.9 pts
80	Marion County	39.5	+7 pts
80	Turner County	39.5	+1.6 pts
80	Wilkinson County	39.5	+2.4 pts
83	Bell County	39.4	+1.1 pts
83	Pike County	39.4	+1.8 pts
83	Willacy County	39.4	+5.4 pts
86	Catahoula Parish	39.2	-2 pts
87	Calhoun County	39.1	+3.2 pts
88	Bibb County	39	+1.6 pts
88	Knott County	39	+3.5 pts
90	Lake County	38.9	-1.1 pts
90	Talbot County	38.9	+3 pts
90	Yazoo County	38.9	+2.7 pts
93	Harmon County	38.8	+4.1 pts
93	Washington County	38.8	+1 pts
93	Zavala County	38.8	-0.2 pts
96	Atkinson County	38.7	+4.9 pts
97	Clay County	38.6	-4.7 pts
97	Crisp County	38.6	+2.6 pts
99	Bienville Parish	38.5	+0.5 pts
99	Meriwether County	38.5	+5.2 pts
101	Dougherty County	38.4	+0.3 pts
102	Telfair County	38.3	+5.5 pts
103	Kemper County	38	+2.1 pts
103	McKinley County	38	-1.3 pts
105	St. Helena Parish	37.9	+3 pts
106	Danville city	37.8	+0.4 pts
107	Iberia Parish	37.7	+3.8 pts
108	Hidalgo County	37.6	+5.1 pts
108	Macon County	37.6	-0.4 pts
110	Desha County	37.5	+3.5 pts
110	Perry County	37.5	+8 pts
110	Taliaferro County	37.5	+4.3 pts
113	Luna County	37.4	+2.8 pts
114	Letcher County	37.3	+8.5 pts
115	Fulton County	37.2	-1.2 pts
115	Jenkins County	37.2	+1.5 pts
117	Evans County	37.1	+7.6 pts
117	Jim Hogg County	37.1	+6.6 pts
117	Leake County	37.1	+3.6 pts
120	Benson County	37	+2.5 pts
120	Chicot County	37	+0.3 pts
122	Seminole County	36.9	+2.7 pts
123	Catron County	36.8	+0.4 pts
123	Jackson County	36.8	+0.9 pts
123	Orleans Parish	36.8	+6.9 pts
123	Socorro County	36.8	-1.3 pts
127	Claiborne Parish	36.7	-1.7 pts
127	Crosby County	36.7	+6.4 pts
127	DeSoto County	36.7	+9.1 pts
127	Galax city	36.7	+8.2 pts
131	Adams County	36.6	-3.5 pts
131	Franklin Parish	36.6	-0.8 pts
131	Jefferson County	36.6	+11.4 pts
134	Dimmit County	36.5	+2.1 pts
134	Monroe County	36.5	0 pts
136	Northampton County	36.4	+4.6 pts
136	Stewart County	36.4	+4.8 pts
138	Leslie County	36.3	+4.5 pts
138	Webster County	36.3	+3.9 pts
140	Caddo County	36.1	+13.6 pts
140	Jackson County	36.1	+2.3 pts
142	Brooks County	36	+3.5 pts
142	Costilla County	36	+3.8 pts
142	Grenada County	36	+5.7 pts
142	Robeson County	36	-3.2 pts
146	Halifax County	35.9	+4.9 pts
147	Miller County	35.8	+6.8 pts
147	Mingo County	35.8	+5.5 pts
149	Bacon County	35.7	+6.7 pts
149	Chaves County	35.7	+9.5 pts
149	Decatur County	35.7	-1.1 pts
149	Hamilton County	35.7	+1.2 pts
149	McCormick County	35.7	+3.4 pts
149	Wilkinson County	35.7	+3.7 pts
155	Petersburg city	35.6	-0.8 pts
155	Pulaski County	35.6	+4 pts
157	Floyd County	35.5	-5.4 pts
157	Pemiscot County	35.5	-14.4 pts
157	Wilcox County	35.5	+3.7 pts
160	Washington Parish	35.4	-0.4 pts
161	Adair County	35.1	+1.8 pts
161	Barbour County	35.1	-2.4 pts
161	Evangeline Parish	35.1	+1 pts
161	Hampton County	35.1	+5.4 pts
161	Hertford County	35.1	+7.1 pts
161	Red River Parish	35.1	-1.7 pts
167	Coffee County	35	+2.3 pts
167	Franklin County	35	+4.2 pts
167	Presidio County	35	+2.6 pts
167	Scotland County	35	-10.6 pts
167	Walthall County	35	-1.3 pts
172	Forest County	34.8	+4.9 pts
172	Hudspeth County	34.8	+1.7 pts
172	Warren County	34.8	+1.5 pts
172	Wheeler County	34.8	+1.1 pts
176	Apache County	34.7	-9.7 pts
176	Saguache County	34.7	+5.6 pts
176	Spalding County	34.7	+9.1 pts
176	Stone County	34.7	+5.6 pts
176	Taylor County	34.7	+2.2 pts
176	Yalobusha County	34.7	+4.2 pts
182	Bamberg County	34.4	+0.2 pts
182	Ben Hill County	34.4	+1.7 pts
182	St. Landry Parish	34.4	+4.7 pts
182	Vance County	34.4	+4.4 pts
182	Ware County	34.4	-5.4 pts
182	Webster Parish	34.4	+6.3 pts
188	Bronx County	34.3	+3.7 pts
188	Marion County	34.3	+3.2 pts
188	Richland Parish	34.3	-0.2 pts
188	Treutlen County	34.3	+3.1 pts
188	Winn Parish	34.3	+6.2 pts
193	Buchanan County	34.2	+4.3 pts
193	Butler County	34.2	+3.4 pts
193	Lawrence County	34.2	+4.5 pts
193	Marengo County	34.2	+4 pts
193	McIntosh County	34.2	+2.2 pts
198	Columbia County	34.1	+8.6 pts
198	Johnson County	34.1	+7.2 pts
198	Panola County	34.1	+3.4 pts
201	Candler County	34	+2.2 pts
201	Cibola County	34	+1.6 pts
201	Cottle County	34	+2.3 pts
201	Hinds County	34	-5.6 pts
201	Lee County	34	+2.4 pts
201	Mitchell County	34	-16.1 pts
201	Wayne County	34	+1.1 pts
208	Columbus County	33.9	+7.3 pts
208	Conecuh County	33.9	-1.2 pts
208	Lee County	33.9	-0.2 pts
211	Baltimore city	33.8	+7 pts
211	Dooly County	33.8	-1.4 pts
211	Emporia city	33.8	+2 pts
211	Navajo County	33.8	+2.3 pts
211	Richmond County	33.8	-4.9 pts
211	Tattnall County	33.8	+5.7 pts
217	Frio County	33.7	+4.9 pts
217	Quay County	33.7	-1.2 pts
217	Woodruff County	33.7	+0.6 pts
220	Caddo Parish	33.6	+7.9 pts
220	Haskell County	33.6	+7.8 pts
220	Wilkes County	33.6	+1.7 pts
223	Charlton County	33.5	+2.9 pts
223	Clay County	33.5	-0.1 pts
223	Clinton County	33.5	+1.8 pts
223	Montgomery County	33.5	+5.1 pts
223	Ozark County	33.5	+0.9 pts
223	Whitley County	33.5	+4.8 pts
229	Franklin city	33.4	+2.9 pts
229	Williamsburg County	33.4	-1.1 pts
231	Hardin County	33.3	+5.5 pts
231	Lowndes County	33.3	+6 pts
233	Emanuel County	33.2	-1.1 pts
233	Monroe County	33.2	+3.3 pts
233	Washington County	33.2	+4.4 pts
236	Toombs County	33.1	-0.1 pts
237	Cocke County	33	+2.7 pts
237	Edgecombe County	33	-12.4 pts
237	Okfuskee County	33	+7.7 pts
237	Ripley County	33	+1.4 pts
237	St. Louis city	33	+4.1 pts
237	Wayne County	33	+3.2 pts
237	Wheeler County	33	+7.1 pts
244	Big Horn County	32.9	-2.7 pts
244	Marion County	32.9	+1.1 pts
244	Menard County	32.9	-1.6 pts
244	Winston County	32.9	-1.2 pts
248	Levy County	32.8	+5.6 pts
248	Marlboro County	32.8	-1.1 pts
250	Dixie County	32.7	+1.6 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 2021 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2021. 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), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2021.

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), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_us_counties_by_child_2021,
  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), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2021. 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2021.
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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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)?

Sunflower County, with 58.5% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Douglas County, with 2.8% in 2021.

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 2021 and are not ranked.