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 2021, at 27.1%. Utah had the lowest, at 8.5%. The median was 15.8% and the figure for the United States was 16.9%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest27.1Mississippi
Lowest8.5Utah
Median15.851 states
United States16.9History

Map of states, 2021

Alabama: 22.7 %Alaska: 13.5 %Arizona: 17.8 %Arkansas: 21.8 %California: 15.8 %Colorado: 11.8 %Connecticut: 12.9 %Delaware: 16.2 %District of Columbia: 25.5 %Florida: 18.4 %Georgia: 20.5 %Hawaii: 12.9 %Idaho: 12.5 %Illinois: 15.9 %Indiana: 15.7 %Iowa: 12.4 %Kansas: 13.5 %Kentucky: 21.2 %Louisiana: 26.9 %Maine: 13.8 %Maryland: 14 %Massachusetts: 12.8 %Michigan: 17.6 %Minnesota: 10.8 %Mississippi: 27.1 %Missouri: 16.5 %Montana: 14.9 %Nebraska: 12.1 %Nevada: 18.8 %New Hampshire: 9.3 %New Jersey: 13.9 %New Mexico: 23.1 %New York: 18.8 %North Carolina: 18.2 %North Dakota: 11.5 %Ohio: 18.2 %Oklahoma: 20.5 %Oregon: 13.8 %Pennsylvania: 16.3 %Rhode Island: 17 %South Carolina: 19.7 %South Dakota: 14.4 %Tennessee: 18.4 %Texas: 19.5 %Utah: 8.5 %Vermont: 11.2 %Virginia: 13.3 %Washington: 12 %West Virginia: 21.4 %Wisconsin: 13.6 %Wyoming: 12.1 %
  • Under 12
  • 12 to 14
  • 14 to 16
  • 16 to 18
  • 18 to 21
  • 21 and over
%, 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. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2021

Mississippi: 27.1 %Mississippi27.1Louisiana: 26.9 %Louisiana26.9District of Columbia: 25.5 %District of Columbia25.5New Mexico: 23.1 %New Mexico23.1Alabama: 22.7 %Alabama22.7Arkansas: 21.8 %Arkansas21.8West Virginia: 21.4 %West Virginia21.4Kentucky: 21.2 %Kentucky21.2Georgia: 20.5 %Georgia20.5Oklahoma: 20.5 %Oklahoma20.5South Carolina: 19.7 %South Carolina19.7Texas: 19.5 %Texas19.5Nevada: 18.8 %Nevada18.8New York: 18.8 %New York18.8Florida: 18.4 %Florida18.4Tennessee: 18.4 %Tennessee18.4North Carolina: 18.2 %North Carolina18.2Ohio: 18.2 %Ohio18.2Arizona: 17.8 %Arizona17.8Michigan: 17.6 %Michigan17.6Rhode Island: 17 %Rhode Island17Missouri: 16.5 %Missouri16.5Pennsylvania: 16.3 %Pennsylvania16.3Delaware: 16.2 %Delaware16.2Illinois: 15.9 %Illinois15.9California: 15.8 %California15.8Indiana: 15.7 %Indiana15.7Montana: 14.9 %Montana14.9South Dakota: 14.4 %South Dakota14.4Maryland: 14 %Maryland14New Jersey: 13.9 %New Jersey13.9Maine: 13.8 %Maine13.8Oregon: 13.8 %Oregon13.8Wisconsin: 13.6 %Wisconsin13.6Alaska: 13.5 %Alaska13.5Kansas: 13.5 %Kansas13.5Virginia: 13.3 %Virginia13.3Connecticut: 12.9 %Connecticut12.9Hawaii: 12.9 %Hawaii12.9Massachusetts: 12.8 %Massachusetts12.8Idaho: 12.5 %Idaho12.5Iowa: 12.4 %Iowa12.4Nebraska: 12.1 %Nebraska12.1Wyoming: 12.1 %Wyoming12.1Washington: 12 %Washington12Colorado: 11.8 %Colorado11.8North Dakota: 11.5 %North Dakota11.5Vermont: 11.2 %Vermont11.2Minnesota: 10.8 %Minnesota10.8New Hampshire: 9.3 %New Hampshire9.3Utah: 8.5 %Utah8.5Mississippi: 27.1 %Mississippi27.1Louisiana: 26.9 %Louisiana26.9District of Columbia: 25.5 %District of Columbia25.5New Mexico: 23.1 %New Mexico23.1Alabama: 22.7 %Alabama22.7Arkansas: 21.8 %Arkansas21.8West Virginia: 21.4 %West Virginia21.4Kentucky: 21.2 %Kentucky21.2Georgia: 20.5 %Georgia20.5Oklahoma: 20.5 %Oklahoma20.5South Carolina: 19.7 %South Carolina19.7Texas: 19.5 %Texas19.5Nevada: 18.8 %Nevada18.8New York: 18.8 %New York18.8Florida: 18.4 %Florida18.4Tennessee: 18.4 %Tennessee18.4North Carolina: 18.2 %North Carolina18.2Ohio: 18.2 %Ohio18.2Arizona: 17.8 %Arizona17.8Michigan: 17.6 %Michigan17.6Rhode Island: 17 %Rhode Island17Missouri: 16.5 %Missouri16.5Pennsylvania: 16.3 %Pennsylvania16.3Delaware: 16.2 %Delaware16.2Illinois: 15.9 %Illinois15.9California: 15.8 %California15.8Indiana: 15.7 %Indiana15.7Montana: 14.9 %Montana14.9South Dakota: 14.4 %South Dakota14.4Maryland: 14 %Maryland14New Jersey: 13.9 %New Jersey13.9Maine: 13.8 %Maine13.8Oregon: 13.8 %Oregon13.8Wisconsin: 13.6 %Wisconsin13.6Alaska: 13.5 %Alaska13.5Kansas: 13.5 %Kansas13.5Virginia: 13.3 %Virginia13.3Connecticut: 12.9 %Connecticut12.9Hawaii: 12.9 %Hawaii12.9Massachusetts: 12.8 %Massachusetts12.8Idaho: 12.5 %Idaho12.5Iowa: 12.4 %Iowa12.4Nebraska: 12.1 %Nebraska12.1Wyoming: 12.1 %Wyoming12.1Washington: 12 %Washington12Colorado: 11.8 %Colorado11.8North Dakota: 11.5 %North Dakota11.5Vermont: 11.2 %Vermont11.2Minnesota: 10.8 %Minnesota10.8New Hampshire: 9.3 %New Hampshire9.3Utah: 8.5 %Utah8.5
%. 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

RankStates2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Mississippi27.1+1.1 pts
2Louisiana26.9+2.6 pts
3District of Columbia25.5+3.2 pts
4New Mexico23.1+1.5 pts
5Alabama22.7+1.8 pts
6Arkansas21.8+1 pts
7West Virginia21.4+1.1 pts
8Kentucky21.2+1.8 pts
9Georgia20.5+1 pts
9Oklahoma20.5+1.9 pts
11South Carolina19.7+1 pts
12Texas19.5+0.7 pts
13Nevada18.8+2.1 pts
13New York18.8+2.1 pts
15Florida18.4+1.2 pts
15Tennessee18.40 pts
17North Carolina18.2+0.3 pts
17Ohio18.2+1.6 pts
19Arizona17.8+0.2 pts
20Michigan17.6+0.8 pts
21Rhode Island17+2.5 pts
22Missouri16.5+1 pts
23Pennsylvania16.3+2 pts
24Delaware16.2+1.1 pts
25Illinois15.9+2 pts
26California15.8+1.2 pts
27Indiana15.7+0.8 pts
28Montana14.9+0.3 pts
29South Dakota14.4+0.5 pts
30Maryland14+2.8 pts
31New Jersey13.9+1.3 pts
32Maine13.8+1 pts
32Oregon13.8+1.6 pts
34Wisconsin13.6+1.2 pts
35Alaska13.5+1.2 pts
35Kansas13.5+0.5 pts
37Virginia13.3+1.1 pts
38Connecticut12.9+1.1 pts
38Hawaii12.9+2.5 pts
40Massachusetts12.8+1.9 pts
41Idaho12.5+0.9 pts
42Iowa12.4+0.4 pts
43Nebraska12.1+2 pts
43Wyoming12.1+1.8 pts
45Washington12+1 pts
46Colorado11.8+1.2 pts
47North Dakota11.5+0.6 pts
48Vermont11.2+1.2 pts
49Minnesota10.8+1.3 pts
50New Hampshire9.3+0.9 pts
51Utah8.5+1 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/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 states 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 states 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-states?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 states 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-states?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 states 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-states?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_us_states_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 states 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-states?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 states 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-states?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-states?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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Questions

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

Mississippi, with 27.1% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Utah, with 8.5% 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.

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

US states: more rankings