Counties in Georgia by poverty rate
Stewart County had the highest poverty rate of 159 counties in 2016, at 39.2%. Forsyth County had the lowest, at 5.7%. The median was 21% and the figure for Georgia was 16.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.
Top 40 counties, 2016
Full ranking
| Rank | Counties | 2016 (%) | Change on 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stewart County | 39.2 | -2.8 pts |
| 2 | Wheeler County | 39.1 | -0.2 pts |
| 3 | Clay County | 35.2 | +0.9 pts |
| 4 | Jenkins County | 34.2 | -1.7 pts |
| 5 | Hancock County | 33.5 | -1.2 pts |
| 6 | Calhoun County | 33 | -4.5 pts |
| 7 | Macon County | 32.1 | -1.4 pts |
| 8 | Early County | 31.4 | +4.9 pts |
| 9 | Terrell County | 31.1 | -5.4 pts |
| 10 | Wilcox County | 31 | +0.6 pts |
| 11 | Telfair County | 30.8 | -3.9 pts |
| 12 | Dougherty County | 30.5 | +1.1 pts |
| 12 | Randolph County | 30.5 | +3.6 pts |
| 14 | Turner County | 30.4 | +2 pts |
| 15 | Crisp County | 30.3 | -2 pts |
| 16 | Decatur County | 29.9 | +2.6 pts |
| 16 | Mitchell County | 29.9 | +1.9 pts |
| 18 | Tattnall County | 29.8 | +2.3 pts |
| 19 | Johnson County | 29.4 | -0.8 pts |
| 20 | Sumter County | 28.9 | -1.9 pts |
| 21 | Taliaferro County | 28.8 | -4.7 pts |
| 22 | Dooly County | 28.5 | -5.3 pts |
| 23 | Warren County | 28.2 | +0.5 pts |
| 24 | Clarke County | 27.9 | -10.2 pts |
| 25 | Baker County | 27.8 | -0.9 pts |
| 26 | Screven County | 27.6 | +0.6 pts |
| 27 | Emanuel County | 27.4 | +0.4 pts |
| 28 | Charlton County | 27.2 | -5.3 pts |
| 29 | Quitman County | 27.1 | -1.8 pts |
| 29 | Treutlen County | 27.1 | -1.6 pts |
| 31 | Washington County | 26.9 | +0.6 pts |
| 32 | Burke County | 26.7 | +1.6 pts |
| 33 | Atkinson County | 26.4 | -0.5 pts |
| 33 | Ben Hill County | 26.4 | -6.1 pts |
| 35 | Bibb County | 26.3 | -0.4 pts |
| 36 | Baldwin County | 26 | 0 pts |
| 36 | Clinch County | 26 | -2.2 pts |
| 38 | Laurens County | 25.6 | +0.1 pts |
| 38 | Richmond County | 25.6 | +1.3 pts |
| 40 | Ware County | 25.5 | -2.9 pts |
| 41 | Dodge County | 25.2 | +0.4 pts |
| 41 | Jefferson County | 25.2 | -2.5 pts |
| 43 | Cook County | 25.1 | +1 pts |
| 44 | Candler County | 25 | -3.1 pts |
| 44 | Colquitt County | 25 | +0.9 pts |
| 44 | Pulaski County | 25 | +0.6 pts |
| 47 | Brooks County | 24.9 | -0.5 pts |
| 48 | Taylor County | 24.7 | -2.6 pts |
| 49 | Evans County | 24.4 | -3 pts |
| 50 | Bulloch County | 24 | -5.9 pts |
| 51 | Jeff Davis County | 23.9 | +2.2 pts |
| 52 | Irwin County | 23.6 | -1.1 pts |
| 53 | Talbot County | 23.5 | -2.1 pts |
| 53 | Twiggs County | 23.5 | -2.8 pts |
| 55 | Marion County | 23.4 | -2.1 pts |
| 55 | Seminole County | 23.4 | -2.4 pts |
| 55 | Toombs County | 23.4 | -1.7 pts |
| 58 | Echols County | 23.2 | -2.7 pts |
| 59 | Miller County | 23.1 | -2 pts |
| 60 | Coffee County | 23 | +0.4 pts |
| 61 | Bacon County | 22.9 | -1 pts |
| 61 | Wilkes County | 22.9 | 0 pts |
| 63 | Lanier County | 22.8 | +1 pts |
| 63 | McDuffie County | 22.8 | -4.6 pts |
| 65 | Montgomery County | 22.7 | -1.6 pts |
| 66 | Spalding County | 22.4 | +0.2 pts |
| 67 | Berrien County | 22.3 | -3.2 pts |
| 67 | Elbert County | 22.3 | -1.4 pts |
| 69 | Wayne County | 22.2 | +1.4 pts |
| 70 | Lowndes County | 22.1 | -4.4 pts |
| 70 | Tift County | 22.1 | -5 pts |
| 72 | Bleckley County | 21.7 | +2.4 pts |
| 73 | Chattahoochee County | 21.5 | +0.5 pts |
| 73 | Muscogee County | 21.5 | -0.7 pts |
| 75 | Franklin County | 21.4 | -0.5 pts |
| 75 | Peach County | 21.4 | -0.6 pts |
| 77 | Meriwether County | 21.2 | -0.9 pts |
| 78 | Thomas County | 21.1 | -0.6 pts |
| 78 | Worth County | 21.1 | -0.6 pts |
| 80 | Grady County | 21 | -8.3 pts |
| 81 | Wilkinson County | 20.9 | 0 pts |
| 82 | Brantley County | 20.8 | -0.8 pts |
| 82 | Clayton County | 20.8 | -2.5 pts |
| 82 | Stephens County | 20.8 | -0.4 pts |
| 82 | Webster County | 20.8 | -2.8 pts |
| 86 | McIntosh County | 20.6 | -3.4 pts |
| 87 | Troup County | 20.3 | +1 pts |
| 88 | Chattooga County | 20.1 | -0.3 pts |
| 89 | Upson County | 19.8 | -2.9 pts |
| 90 | Appling County | 19.7 | -2.8 pts |
| 90 | Heard County | 19.7 | +0.6 pts |
| 92 | Crawford County | 19.3 | -1.3 pts |
| 93 | Glynn County | 19.1 | +0.9 pts |
| 93 | Lincoln County | 19.1 | -2.3 pts |
| 95 | Long County | 18.6 | -0.5 pts |
| 95 | Polk County | 18.6 | -2.2 pts |
| 95 | Walker County | 18.6 | -0.2 pts |
| 98 | Glascock County | 18.5 | +0.7 pts |
| 98 | Haralson County | 18.5 | -0.7 pts |
| 98 | Schley County | 18.5 | -1 pts |
| 101 | Putnam County | 18.4 | +0.3 pts |
| 102 | Greene County | 18.2 | -3 pts |
| 102 | Lamar County | 18.2 | -2.8 pts |
| 104 | Murray County | 18.1 | +0.3 pts |
| 105 | DeKalb County | 17.5 | -0.3 pts |
| 105 | Newton County | 17.5 | +2.6 pts |
| 107 | Hart County | 17.3 | -1.3 pts |
| 107 | Pierce County | 17.3 | -4.8 pts |
| 109 | Rabun County | 17.1 | +1 pts |
| 110 | Butts County | 17 | -2 pts |
| 111 | Jasper County | 16.9 | -0.5 pts |
| 112 | Chatham County | 16.6 | -1.2 pts |
| 113 | Lumpkin County | 16.2 | -0.3 pts |
| 114 | Gordon County | 16.1 | -2 pts |
| 114 | Whitfield County | 16.1 | +0.8 pts |
| 116 | Fulton County | 16 | 0 pts |
| 117 | Floyd County | 15.8 | -3.8 pts |
| 118 | Dade County | 15.6 | -0.6 pts |
| 118 | Habersham County | 15.6 | -1 pts |
| 120 | Banks County | 15.5 | -0.3 pts |
| 121 | Oglethorpe County | 15.4 | -1.5 pts |
| 121 | Union County | 15.4 | +1.1 pts |
| 123 | Liberty County | 15.3 | -5 pts |
| 124 | Gilmer County | 15.2 | -1.7 pts |
| 125 | Bartow County | 15.1 | +1.5 pts |
| 125 | Towns County | 15.1 | -1.6 pts |
| 127 | Camden County | 15 | +1.4 pts |
| 128 | Carroll County | 14.9 | -5.5 pts |
| 128 | Houston County | 14.9 | -0.3 pts |
| 128 | Madison County | 14.9 | -0.2 pts |
| 131 | Rockdale County | 14.7 | -1.2 pts |
| 132 | White County | 14.3 | -0.9 pts |
| 133 | Fannin County | 14.1 | -3.3 pts |
| 134 | Hall County | 13.7 | -3.2 pts |
| 135 | Morgan County | 13.1 | -1.2 pts |
| 136 | Barrow County | 12.9 | -2.7 pts |
| 136 | Catoosa County | 12.9 | -0.2 pts |
| 136 | Douglas County | 12.9 | -1.2 pts |
| 139 | Walton County | 12.8 | +0.1 pts |
| 140 | Jackson County | 12.7 | -0.3 pts |
| 141 | Jones County | 12.3 | -1.9 pts |
| 142 | Monroe County | 12.2 | -2 pts |
| 143 | Pike County | 11.7 | 0 pts |
| 144 | Gwinnett County | 11.3 | -1.3 pts |
| 144 | Pickens County | 11.3 | -1.3 pts |
| 146 | Lee County | 11.2 | +0.5 pts |
| 147 | Effingham County | 10.3 | -1.1 pts |
| 148 | Dawson County | 10.2 | -1.9 pts |
| 149 | Cobb County | 10 | -1.4 pts |
| 150 | Coweta County | 9.9 | -1 pts |
| 151 | Bryan County | 9.6 | -3.5 pts |
| 151 | Henry County | 9.6 | -0.3 pts |
| 153 | Harris County | 8.7 | -1.2 pts |
| 154 | Paulding County | 8.6 | -0.2 pts |
| 155 | Cherokee County | 7.5 | -1.9 pts |
| 156 | Columbia County | 7.2 | -2.1 pts |
| 157 | Oconee County | 6.8 | 0 pts |
| 158 | Fayette County | 6 | -1 pts |
| 159 | Forsyth County | 5.7 | -0.6 pts |
Other periods
About this ranking
People living in families or alone with income below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status can be determined. United States: Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), all ages.
Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_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 of all ages in poverty, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
Use this data in your AI agent
Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:
Rank Counties in Georgia by poverty rate using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"poverty_rate","level":"province","within":"Georgia","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=poverty_rate&level=province&within=Georgia&limit=10
Questions
Which county has the highest poverty rate?
Stewart County, with 39.2% in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Which county has the lowest poverty rate?
Forsyth County, with 5.7% in 2016.
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 of all ages in poverty, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
Poverty rate (US official measure): other rankings
- US states
- US counties
- Counties in Texas
- Counties in Virginia
- Counties in Kentucky
- Counties in Missouri
- Counties in Kansas
- Counties in Illinois
- Counties in North Carolina
- Counties in Iowa
- Counties in Tennessee
- Counties in Nebraska
Counties in Georgia: more rankings
- Asian population share
- Bachelor's degree or higher, population 25 and over
- Live births, July to June
- Black or African American population share
- Crude birth rate, July to June
- Crude death rate, July to June
- Deaths, July to June
- Foreign-born population share
- Real GDP growth
- GDP per capita, US dollars
- Gross domestic product (GDP), US dollars
- Hispanic or Latino population share
- Homeownership rate (US, housing units)
- Median age
- Median gross rent (monthly)
- Median home value