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

Issaquena County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 3143 counties in 2023, at 63.2%. Douglas County had the lowest, at 3.1%. The median was 17.9% and the figure for the United States was 16%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest63.2Issaquena County

Lowest3.1Douglas County

Median17.93143 counties

United States16History

Map of counties, 2023

%, 2023. 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, 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. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

Rank	Counties	2023 (%)	Change on 2022
1	Issaquena County	63.2	-25.5 pts
2	Ziebach County	55.7	+9.7 pts
3	Clay County	53.6	+7.5 pts
4	Martin County	53.2	+13 pts
5	East Carroll Parish	52.8	+4.6 pts
6	Sharkey County	51.5	-2.8 pts
7	Perry County	50.3	-10.9 pts
8	Wilcox County	48.5	+2.9 pts
9	Madison Parish	48.1	-0.6 pts
10	Humphreys County	47.1	-2.7 pts
10	Tensas Parish	47.1	-7.9 pts
12	Washington County	46.9	+7.3 pts
13	Greene County	46.8	+0.3 pts
14	Dallas County	46.5	-0.3 pts
15	Catahoula Parish	46.1	+9.2 pts
15	Lee County	46.1	+1.2 pts
17	Barnwell County	45.8	+12.3 pts
18	Holmes County	45.7	+1.3 pts
19	Quitman County	45.6	-1.8 pts
19	St. Francis County	45.6	+0.8 pts
21	Menominee County	45.5	+4.7 pts
22	Bolivar County	45.4	+6.2 pts
22	Sumter County	45.4	+2.7 pts
24	Lake County	45.2	+2.3 pts
24	Phillips County	45.2	-8.1 pts
26	Talbot County	45.1	+9.6 pts
27	Brooks County	45	-2.1 pts
27	Morehouse Parish	45	+5.3 pts
29	Sumter County	44.7	+11.2 pts
30	Allendale County	44.6	-6.6 pts
31	Hancock County	44.1	+6.2 pts
32	Zapata County	43.9	-3.2 pts
33	Jefferson County	43.3	+18.8 pts
33	Knox County	43.3	+2.8 pts
35	Conecuh County	43.1	-0.8 pts
36	Scotland County	42.9	+8.6 pts
37	Duval County	42.8	+4.1 pts
38	Coahoma County	42.6	-7.8 pts
39	Zavala County	42.5	+0.6 pts
40	Telfair County	42.2	+7.2 pts
41	Lowndes County	42.1	-4 pts
41	Winston County	42.1	+11.2 pts
43	Owsley County	42	-2 pts
44	Macon County	41.9	+9.1 pts
45	McKinley County	41.8	-0.4 pts
46	Claiborne County	41.7	-1.4 pts
46	McCreary County	41.7	-1.3 pts
48	Halifax County	41.6	+13.6 pts
49	Tunica County	41.5	-0.7 pts
50	Terrell County	40.9	-6.8 pts
51	Randolph County	40.8	+1 pts
52	Oglala Lakota County	40.7	-5.9 pts
53	Macon County	40.6	-5.9 pts
53	Quitman County	40.6	+6.1 pts
55	Hudspeth County	40.5	-8.1 pts
56	Corson County	40.4	-13.5 pts
56	Jefferson County	40.4	-8.5 pts
58	Calhoun County	40.3	+2 pts
58	Tallahatchie County	40.3	-0.2 pts
60	Marion County	40.1	+10.1 pts
61	Bullock County	39.8	+0.8 pts
62	Crisp County	39.7	+2.2 pts
62	Taliaferro County	39.7	+9 pts
64	Sunflower County	39.6	-2.5 pts
65	Wolfe County	39.5	-3.3 pts
66	Warren County	39.4	+1.9 pts
67	Sioux County	39.3	+3.1 pts
68	Taylor County	39.2	+5.7 pts
69	Baker County	39.1	+0.1 pts
70	Clay County	39	+0.4 pts
70	Edgecombe County	39	+7.2 pts
72	Leflore County	38.9	-7.3 pts
73	Alexander County	38.8	+1.6 pts
74	Bell County	38.4	-1.8 pts
75	Early County	38.3	+2.5 pts
75	Jefferson Davis County	38.3	-15 pts
77	Buffalo County	38.1	-6.7 pts
77	Monroe County	38.1	+1.5 pts
79	Robeson County	37.9	+2.9 pts
79	Todd County	37.9	-7.7 pts
81	Luna County	37.6	+3.3 pts
82	Claiborne Parish	37.5	+1.6 pts
83	Butler County	37.4	+4.4 pts
84	Avoyelles Parish	37.3	+4.5 pts
84	Breathitt County	37.3	-4.2 pts
84	Hidalgo County	37.3	+0.2 pts
87	Chicot County	37.2	-0.1 pts
87	Costilla County	37.2	+2.5 pts
87	Stewart County	37.2	-0.6 pts
90	Noxubee County	37.1	-3.4 pts
90	Richland Parish	37.1	+6.6 pts
90	Turner County	37.1	+1.5 pts
93	Perry County	37	+7.1 pts
93	Starr County	37	-3 pts
95	Dougherty County	36.9	-4.4 pts
95	McDowell County	36.9	-9.3 pts
97	Hall County	36.8	-1.8 pts
97	Harmon County	36.8	+0.4 pts
97	Webster County	36.8	+1.4 pts
100	Vance County	36.7	+5.2 pts
101	Jim Hogg County	36.6	-5.8 pts
101	Lauderdale County	36.6	+11.4 pts
101	Metcalfe County	36.6	+3.3 pts
101	Wheeler County	36.6	+5.2 pts
101	Wilkinson County	36.6	-2.9 pts
106	Kusilvak Census Area	36.5	+3.2 pts
106	Lee County	36.5	-8.9 pts
108	Bamberg County	36.3	-3 pts
108	Dimmit County	36.3	+1.3 pts
108	Franklin Parish	36.3	+0.9 pts
111	Bethel Census Area	36.2	+9.2 pts
111	Frio County	36.2	+3.7 pts
111	Jenkins County	36.2	+1.4 pts
114	Golden Valley County	36.1	+6.7 pts
115	Hancock County	36	-0.8 pts
115	Jackson County	36	+0.5 pts
117	Kemper County	35.9	-7.6 pts
117	Marion County	35.9	-12 pts
117	Menifee County	35.9	-2.2 pts
117	Panola County	35.9	+2.6 pts
117	Pemiscot County	35.9	-4.5 pts
122	Choctaw County	35.8	+4.6 pts
122	Washington County	35.8	+0.5 pts
124	Apache County	35.7	+1.5 pts
124	Wayne County	35.7	-2.8 pts
126	Bennett County	35.6	-5.1 pts
126	Desha County	35.6	-5.1 pts
126	Marlboro County	35.6	-0.2 pts
129	Bronx County	35.5	+0.2 pts
129	Brooks County	35.5	+0.1 pts
131	Colquitt County	35.4	+4 pts
131	Pulaski County	35.4	-4.4 pts
131	Sierra County	35.4	+3.6 pts
134	Ben Hill County	35.2	-1.2 pts
134	Fulton County	35.2	-3.7 pts
134	Jefferson County	35.2	+5.3 pts
134	Presidio County	35.2	-3.1 pts
138	Harlan County	35.1	+0.6 pts
138	St. Helena Parish	35.1	-9.5 pts
140	Webster County	35	+5.7 pts
141	Cottle County	34.9	+3.2 pts
141	Willacy County	34.9	-1.5 pts
143	Barbour County	34.8	-2.9 pts
143	Magoffin County	34.8	-2.1 pts
143	Union County	34.8	+9 pts
143	Woodruff County	34.8	+2.6 pts
147	Concordia Parish	34.7	-7.8 pts
147	Edwards County	34.7	-1.5 pts
147	Kimble County	34.7	+2.9 pts
150	Dillon County	34.6	-5.1 pts
150	Evans County	34.6	+3.9 pts
152	Franklin County	34.4	+10.1 pts
152	Menard County	34.4	-0.3 pts
152	Red River Parish	34.4	-2.2 pts
155	Atkinson County	34.3	+4.1 pts
155	Emanuel County	34.3	+6.3 pts
157	Bienville Parish	34.2	-2.6 pts
157	Real County	34.2	-1.5 pts
157	Yazoo County	34.2	-15.2 pts
160	Catron County	34.1	-1.6 pts
160	Pike County	34.1	-2.2 pts
160	Seminole County	34.1	-1.2 pts
163	Wilcox County	34	+3.1 pts
164	Cameron County	33.9	+3.8 pts
165	Cochran County	33.8	-4.8 pts
165	Lee County	33.8	-8 pts
167	Colleton County	33.6	+3 pts
167	Culberson County	33.6	-0.1 pts
169	Appling County	33.5	+4.5 pts
169	Bertie County	33.5	-1.4 pts
169	Mitchell County	33.5	+0.7 pts
172	Emporia city	33.4	+0.2 pts
172	Lauderdale County	33.4	-1.4 pts
174	Clinton County	33.3	-0.5 pts
174	Marion County	33.3	+1.7 pts
174	Shannon County	33.3	-2.6 pts
174	Toombs County	33.3	+5.3 pts
174	Treutlen County	33.3	+2.5 pts
174	Whitley County	33.3	-1.3 pts
180	Iberia Parish	33.2	0 pts
180	Montgomery County	33.2	-0.1 pts
182	Fairfield County	33.1	+2.7 pts
182	Marengo County	33.1	-1 pts
184	Anson County	33	+0.4 pts
184	Crosby County	33	-0.8 pts
184	Lake County	33	+0.7 pts
184	Mellette County	33	-9.2 pts
184	Wilkinson County	33	+6.7 pts
189	Dixie County	32.7	+2.2 pts
189	Hidalgo County	32.7	-4.7 pts
189	Jefferson County	32.7	-1.1 pts
189	Quay County	32.7	+2.1 pts
189	Sequoyah County	32.7	+3.5 pts
194	McCormick County	32.6	-2.4 pts
194	Orleans Parish	32.6	-0.6 pts
196	Hopewell city	32.5	+6.4 pts
196	Pike County	32.5	-4.3 pts
198	Socorro County	32.4	-0.4 pts
198	Uvalde County	32.4	-6.3 pts
200	Adams County	32.3	-12.4 pts
200	Screven County	32.3	+2.5 pts
200	Torrance County	32.3	+3.1 pts
200	Wilkes County	32.3	+4.1 pts
204	Charlotte County	32.2	+7.5 pts
204	Hale County	32.2	-0.3 pts
204	Hamilton County	32.2	-2.9 pts
204	Wayne County	32.2	-4.2 pts
208	Hampton County	32.1	+2.3 pts
208	Warren County	32.1	+1.8 pts
210	Bibb County	32	+0.8 pts
210	Cumberland County	32	-0.9 pts
210	Hertford County	32	-3.1 pts
210	Jackson County	32	+4.4 pts
210	Jefferson County	32	-1.4 pts
210	Knox County	32	+4.8 pts
210	Lenoir County	32	+0.3 pts
210	Richmond County	32	+5.6 pts
218	Floyd County	31.9	+0.1 pts
218	McIntosh County	31.9	+1.1 pts
218	Pulaski County	31.9	+6.4 pts
221	Collingsworth County	31.8	+5.7 pts
221	Crowley County	31.8	+0.4 pts
221	Northampton County	31.8	+2.5 pts
221	San Augustine County	31.8	-0.3 pts
225	Caddo Parish	31.7	+0.2 pts
226	Dooly County	31.6	-0.7 pts
226	Echols County	31.6	+1.4 pts
226	Iberville Parish	31.6	+2.8 pts
226	Knott County	31.6	-10.6 pts
226	La Salle County	31.6	-4.8 pts
226	Webb County	31.6	+4.4 pts
226	Williamsburg County	31.6	-2.9 pts
233	Acadia Parish	31.5	-1.1 pts
233	Johnson County	31.5	-1.2 pts
233	Petersburg city	31.5	-1.8 pts
236	Candler County	31.4	+0.5 pts
236	Mingo County	31.4	-7.6 pts
238	Dillingham Census Area	31.3	+4.5 pts
238	Worth County	31.3	-1.1 pts
240	Hyde County	31.2	+2.9 pts
240	Lincoln County	31.2	+9.1 pts
240	Tattnall County	31.2	+2.6 pts
243	Bacon County	31.1	-0.5 pts
243	Choctaw County	31.1	+0.6 pts
243	Clay County	31.1	-2.7 pts
243	Mississippi County	31.1	+0.7 pts
243	St. Mary Parish	31.1	-3.5 pts
243	Washington Parish	31.1	+1.1 pts
249	Bristol city	31	+3.7 pts
249	Burke County	31	+1.5 pts

Showing the top 250 of 3143. 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. 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 (US counties 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, US counties 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/us-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. US counties 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/us-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, US counties 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/us-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_us_counties_by_child_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: US counties 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/us-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: US counties 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/us-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-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)?

Issaquena County, with 63.2% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Douglas County, with 3.1% 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.