Data / Rankings / Child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) / US states

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

Mississippi had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 51 states in 2014, at 30.7%. New Hampshire had the lowest, at 12.6%. The median was 20.1% and the figure for the United States was 21.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest30.7Mississippi
Lowest12.6New Hampshire
Median20.151 states
United States21.7History

Map of states, 2014

Alabama: 27.4 %Alaska: 15.5 %Arizona: 25.6 %Arkansas: 26.3 %California: 22.6 %Colorado: 15.6 %Connecticut: 14.9 %Delaware: 19.2 %District of Columbia: 28.9 %Florida: 24.2 %Georgia: 26.3 %Hawaii: 15.2 %Idaho: 19 %Illinois: 20.1 %Indiana: 21.2 %Iowa: 15.5 %Kansas: 17.6 %Kentucky: 25.9 %Louisiana: 28 %Maine: 19 %Maryland: 13.8 %Massachusetts: 15.3 %Michigan: 22.6 %Minnesota: 14.8 %Mississippi: 30.7 %Missouri: 21.3 %Montana: 19.2 %Nebraska: 16 %Nevada: 22.2 %New Hampshire: 12.6 %New Jersey: 15.8 %New Mexico: 28 %New York: 22.9 %North Carolina: 24.1 %North Dakota: 13.7 %Ohio: 22.7 %Oklahoma: 22.4 %Oregon: 21.3 %Pennsylvania: 19.2 %Rhode Island: 21.2 %South Carolina: 26.4 %South Dakota: 18.4 %Tennessee: 25.9 %Texas: 24.5 %Utah: 13.4 %Vermont: 15.4 %Virginia: 15.9 %Washington: 17.5 %West Virginia: 25 %Wisconsin: 18.4 %Wyoming: 13.7 %
  • Under 15
  • 15 to 18
  • 18 to 20
  • 20 to 23
  • 23 to 26
  • 26 and over
%, 2014. 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.

All states, 2014

Mississippi: 30.7 %Mississippi30.7District of Columbia: 28.9 %District of Columbia28.9Louisiana: 28 %Louisiana28New Mexico: 28 %New Mexico28Alabama: 27.4 %Alabama27.4South Carolina: 26.4 %South Carolina26.4Arkansas: 26.3 %Arkansas26.3Georgia: 26.3 %Georgia26.3Kentucky: 25.9 %Kentucky25.9Tennessee: 25.9 %Tennessee25.9Arizona: 25.6 %Arizona25.6West Virginia: 25 %West Virginia25Texas: 24.5 %Texas24.5Florida: 24.2 %Florida24.2North Carolina: 24.1 %North Carolina24.1New York: 22.9 %New York22.9Ohio: 22.7 %Ohio22.7California: 22.6 %California22.6Michigan: 22.6 %Michigan22.6Oklahoma: 22.4 %Oklahoma22.4Nevada: 22.2 %Nevada22.2Missouri: 21.3 %Missouri21.3Oregon: 21.3 %Oregon21.3Indiana: 21.2 %Indiana21.2Rhode Island: 21.2 %Rhode Island21.2Illinois: 20.1 %Illinois20.1Delaware: 19.2 %Delaware19.2Montana: 19.2 %Montana19.2Pennsylvania: 19.2 %Pennsylvania19.2Idaho: 19 %Idaho19Maine: 19 %Maine19South Dakota: 18.4 %South Dakota18.4Wisconsin: 18.4 %Wisconsin18.4Kansas: 17.6 %Kansas17.6Washington: 17.5 %Washington17.5Nebraska: 16 %Nebraska16Virginia: 15.9 %Virginia15.9New Jersey: 15.8 %New Jersey15.8Colorado: 15.6 %Colorado15.6Alaska: 15.5 %Alaska15.5Iowa: 15.5 %Iowa15.5Vermont: 15.4 %Vermont15.4Massachusetts: 15.3 %Massachusetts15.3Hawaii: 15.2 %Hawaii15.2Connecticut: 14.9 %Connecticut14.9Minnesota: 14.8 %Minnesota14.8Maryland: 13.8 %Maryland13.8North Dakota: 13.7 %North Dakota13.7Wyoming: 13.7 %Wyoming13.7Utah: 13.4 %Utah13.4New Hampshire: 12.6 %New Hampshire12.6Mississippi: 30.7 %Mississippi30.7District of Columbia: 28.9 %District of Columbia28.9Louisiana: 28 %Louisiana28New Mexico: 28 %New Mexico28Alabama: 27.4 %Alabama27.4South Carolina: 26.4 %South Carolina26.4Arkansas: 26.3 %Arkansas26.3Georgia: 26.3 %Georgia26.3Kentucky: 25.9 %Kentucky25.9Tennessee: 25.9 %Tennessee25.9Arizona: 25.6 %Arizona25.6West Virginia: 25 %West Virginia25Texas: 24.5 %Texas24.5Florida: 24.2 %Florida24.2North Carolina: 24.1 %North Carolina24.1New York: 22.9 %New York22.9Ohio: 22.7 %Ohio22.7California: 22.6 %California22.6Michigan: 22.6 %Michigan22.6Oklahoma: 22.4 %Oklahoma22.4Nevada: 22.2 %Nevada22.2Missouri: 21.3 %Missouri21.3Oregon: 21.3 %Oregon21.3Indiana: 21.2 %Indiana21.2Rhode Island: 21.2 %Rhode Island21.2Illinois: 20.1 %Illinois20.1Delaware: 19.2 %Delaware19.2Montana: 19.2 %Montana19.2Pennsylvania: 19.2 %Pennsylvania19.2Idaho: 19 %Idaho19Maine: 19 %Maine19South Dakota: 18.4 %South Dakota18.4Wisconsin: 18.4 %Wisconsin18.4Kansas: 17.6 %Kansas17.6Washington: 17.5 %Washington17.5Nebraska: 16 %Nebraska16Virginia: 15.9 %Virginia15.9New Jersey: 15.8 %New Jersey15.8Colorado: 15.6 %Colorado15.6Alaska: 15.5 %Alaska15.5Iowa: 15.5 %Iowa15.5Vermont: 15.4 %Vermont15.4Massachusetts: 15.3 %Massachusetts15.3Hawaii: 15.2 %Hawaii15.2Connecticut: 14.9 %Connecticut14.9Minnesota: 14.8 %Minnesota14.8Maryland: 13.8 %Maryland13.8North Dakota: 13.7 %North Dakota13.7Wyoming: 13.7 %Wyoming13.7Utah: 13.4 %Utah13.4New Hampshire: 12.6 %New Hampshire12.6
%. 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

RankStates2014 (%)Change on 2013
1Mississippi30.7-3.3 pts
2District of Columbia28.9-0.4 pts
3Louisiana28-0.4 pts
3New Mexico28-2.1 pts
5Alabama27.40 pts
6South Carolina26.4-0.9 pts
7Arkansas26.3-2 pts
7Georgia26.3-0.4 pts
9Kentucky25.9+0.4 pts
9Tennessee25.9-0.6 pts
11Arizona25.6-1 pts
12West Virginia25-1.3 pts
13Texas24.5-0.5 pts
14Florida24.2-0.6 pts
15North Carolina24.1-1 pts
16New York22.90 pts
17Ohio22.70 pts
18California22.6-0.9 pts
18Michigan22.6-1.1 pts
20Oklahoma22.4-1.4 pts
21Nevada22.2-0.5 pts
22Missouri21.3-0.9 pts
22Oregon21.3-0.3 pts
24Indiana21.2-0.7 pts
24Rhode Island21.2-0.8 pts
26Illinois20.1-0.5 pts
27Delaware19.2+0.1 pts
27Montana19.2-1.6 pts
27Pennsylvania19.20 pts
30Idaho19-0.2 pts
30Maine19+0.8 pts
32South Dakota18.4-0.2 pts
32Wisconsin18.40 pts
34Kansas17.6-0.8 pts
35Washington17.5-1.1 pts
36Nebraska16-1.1 pts
37Virginia15.9+0.2 pts
38New Jersey15.8-0.7 pts
39Colorado15.6-1.2 pts
40Alaska15.5+1.9 pts
40Iowa15.5-0.5 pts
42Vermont15.4+0.2 pts
43Massachusetts15.3-0.9 pts
44Hawaii15.2+0.8 pts
45Connecticut14.9+0.4 pts
46Minnesota14.8+0.8 pts
47Maryland13.8-0.1 pts
48North Dakota13.7+1.3 pts
48Wyoming13.7+0.2 pts
50Utah13.4-1.2 pts
51New Hampshire12.6+1.7 pts

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 states 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/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.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 states by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2014) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, US states by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2014. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-states?period=2014. 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 states by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2014. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-states?period=2014.

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 states by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2014 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-states?period=2014 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_us_states_by_child_2014,
  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 states by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2014}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-states?period=2014. 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/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.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 states by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2014
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-states?period=2014
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-states?period=2014.
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/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Mississippi, with 30.7% in 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

New Hampshire, with 12.6% in 2014.

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.

Child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure): other rankings

US states: more rankings