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 2018, at 28.2%. Utah had the lowest, at 9.7%. The median was 16.7% and the figure for the United States was 18%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest28.2Mississippi
Lowest9.7Utah
Median16.751 states
United States18History

Map of states, 2018

Alabama: 23.9 %Alaska: 14.5 %Arizona: 20.4 %Arkansas: 23.8 %California: 17.4 %Colorado: 12.1 %Connecticut: 13.8 %Delaware: 17.6 %District of Columbia: 24.5 %Florida: 20 %Georgia: 21 %Hawaii: 11.8 %Idaho: 14.2 %Illinois: 16.2 %Indiana: 17.5 %Iowa: 13.5 %Kansas: 14.8 %Kentucky: 22.3 %Louisiana: 26.5 %Maine: 14.8 %Maryland: 12.1 %Massachusetts: 12.4 %Michigan: 19.3 %Minnesota: 11.5 %Mississippi: 28.2 %Missouri: 18.3 %Montana: 16.4 %Nebraska: 12.9 %Nevada: 18.4 %New Hampshire: 10.1 %New Jersey: 13.5 %New Mexico: 25.3 %New York: 18.8 %North Carolina: 20.2 %North Dakota: 11 %Ohio: 19.2 %Oklahoma: 21.4 %Oregon: 15.7 %Pennsylvania: 16.7 %Rhode Island: 18 %South Carolina: 22.1 %South Dakota: 16.1 %Tennessee: 21.8 %Texas: 21.1 %Utah: 9.7 %Vermont: 12.2 %Virginia: 13.8 %Washington: 12.6 %West Virginia: 23.2 %Wisconsin: 14.1 %Wyoming: 13.1 %
  • Under 12
  • 12 to 14
  • 14 to 17
  • 17 to 19
  • 19 to 22
  • 22 and over
%, 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. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2018

Mississippi: 28.2 %Mississippi28.2Louisiana: 26.5 %Louisiana26.5New Mexico: 25.3 %New Mexico25.3District of Columbia: 24.5 %District of Columbia24.5Alabama: 23.9 %Alabama23.9Arkansas: 23.8 %Arkansas23.8West Virginia: 23.2 %West Virginia23.2Kentucky: 22.3 %Kentucky22.3South Carolina: 22.1 %South Carolina22.1Tennessee: 21.8 %Tennessee21.8Oklahoma: 21.4 %Oklahoma21.4Texas: 21.1 %Texas21.1Georgia: 21 %Georgia21Arizona: 20.4 %Arizona20.4North Carolina: 20.2 %North Carolina20.2Florida: 20 %Florida20Michigan: 19.3 %Michigan19.3Ohio: 19.2 %Ohio19.2New York: 18.8 %New York18.8Nevada: 18.4 %Nevada18.4Missouri: 18.3 %Missouri18.3Rhode Island: 18 %Rhode Island18Delaware: 17.6 %Delaware17.6Indiana: 17.5 %Indiana17.5California: 17.4 %California17.4Pennsylvania: 16.7 %Pennsylvania16.7Montana: 16.4 %Montana16.4Illinois: 16.2 %Illinois16.2South Dakota: 16.1 %South Dakota16.1Oregon: 15.7 %Oregon15.7Kansas: 14.8 %Kansas14.8Maine: 14.8 %Maine14.8Alaska: 14.5 %Alaska14.5Idaho: 14.2 %Idaho14.2Wisconsin: 14.1 %Wisconsin14.1Connecticut: 13.8 %Connecticut13.8Virginia: 13.8 %Virginia13.8Iowa: 13.5 %Iowa13.5New Jersey: 13.5 %New Jersey13.5Wyoming: 13.1 %Wyoming13.1Nebraska: 12.9 %Nebraska12.9Washington: 12.6 %Washington12.6Massachusetts: 12.4 %Massachusetts12.4Vermont: 12.2 %Vermont12.2Colorado: 12.1 %Colorado12.1Maryland: 12.1 %Maryland12.1Hawaii: 11.8 %Hawaii11.8Minnesota: 11.5 %Minnesota11.5North Dakota: 11 %North Dakota11New Hampshire: 10.1 %New Hampshire10.1Utah: 9.7 %Utah9.7Mississippi: 28.2 %Mississippi28.2Louisiana: 26.5 %Louisiana26.5New Mexico: 25.3 %New Mexico25.3District of Columbia: 24.5 %District of Columbia24.5Alabama: 23.9 %Alabama23.9Arkansas: 23.8 %Arkansas23.8West Virginia: 23.2 %West Virginia23.2Kentucky: 22.3 %Kentucky22.3South Carolina: 22.1 %South Carolina22.1Tennessee: 21.8 %Tennessee21.8Oklahoma: 21.4 %Oklahoma21.4Texas: 21.1 %Texas21.1Georgia: 21 %Georgia21Arizona: 20.4 %Arizona20.4North Carolina: 20.2 %North Carolina20.2Florida: 20 %Florida20Michigan: 19.3 %Michigan19.3Ohio: 19.2 %Ohio19.2New York: 18.8 %New York18.8Nevada: 18.4 %Nevada18.4Missouri: 18.3 %Missouri18.3Rhode Island: 18 %Rhode Island18Delaware: 17.6 %Delaware17.6Indiana: 17.5 %Indiana17.5California: 17.4 %California17.4Pennsylvania: 16.7 %Pennsylvania16.7Montana: 16.4 %Montana16.4Illinois: 16.2 %Illinois16.2South Dakota: 16.1 %South Dakota16.1Oregon: 15.7 %Oregon15.7Kansas: 14.8 %Kansas14.8Maine: 14.8 %Maine14.8Alaska: 14.5 %Alaska14.5Idaho: 14.2 %Idaho14.2Wisconsin: 14.1 %Wisconsin14.1Connecticut: 13.8 %Connecticut13.8Virginia: 13.8 %Virginia13.8Iowa: 13.5 %Iowa13.5New Jersey: 13.5 %New Jersey13.5Wyoming: 13.1 %Wyoming13.1Nebraska: 12.9 %Nebraska12.9Washington: 12.6 %Washington12.6Massachusetts: 12.4 %Massachusetts12.4Vermont: 12.2 %Vermont12.2Colorado: 12.1 %Colorado12.1Maryland: 12.1 %Maryland12.1Hawaii: 11.8 %Hawaii11.8Minnesota: 11.5 %Minnesota11.5North Dakota: 11 %North Dakota11New Hampshire: 10.1 %New Hampshire10.1Utah: 9.7 %Utah9.7
%. 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

RankStates2018 (%)Change on 2017
1Mississippi28.2+0.6 pts
2Louisiana26.5-1.2 pts
3New Mexico25.3-0.6 pts
4District of Columbia24.5-1.7 pts
5Alabama23.9-0.5 pts
6Arkansas23.8+1.3 pts
7West Virginia23.2-1.2 pts
8Kentucky22.3+0.2 pts
9South Carolina22.1-0.2 pts
10Tennessee21.8+0.7 pts
11Oklahoma21.4+0.1 pts
12Texas21.1+0.1 pts
13Georgia21-0.5 pts
14Arizona20.4-0.6 pts
15North Carolina20.2-0.8 pts
16Florida20-0.6 pts
17Michigan19.3-0.3 pts
18Ohio19.2-0.6 pts
19New York18.8-1.1 pts
20Nevada18.4-0.8 pts
21Missouri18.3-0.2 pts
22Rhode Island18-0.2 pts
23Delaware17.6-0.1 pts
24Indiana17.5-0.3 pts
25California17.4-0.7 pts
26Pennsylvania16.7-0.2 pts
27Montana16.4+0.5 pts
28Illinois16.2-0.8 pts
29South Dakota16.1-0.2 pts
30Oregon15.7-0.8 pts
31Kansas14.8+0.1 pts
31Maine14.8+0.6 pts
33Alaska14.50 pts
34Idaho14.2-0.6 pts
35Wisconsin14.1-0.5 pts
36Connecticut13.8+0.8 pts
36Virginia13.8-0.2 pts
38Iowa13.5+0.9 pts
38New Jersey13.5-0.3 pts
40Wyoming13.1+0.2 pts
41Nebraska12.9-0.8 pts
42Washington12.6-1.6 pts
43Massachusetts12.4-1.1 pts
44Vermont12.2-0.6 pts
45Colorado12.1-0.1 pts
45Maryland12.1-0.3 pts
47Hawaii11.8-0.1 pts
48Minnesota11.5-0.2 pts
49North Dakota11-0.4 pts
50New Hampshire10.1+0.1 pts
51Utah9.7-0.9 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/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 states 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 states 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-states?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 states 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-states?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 states 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-states?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_us_states_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 states 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-states?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 states 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-states?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-states?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 states by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

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

Mississippi, with 28.2% in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Utah, with 9.7% 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.

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

US states: more rankings