Data / Rankings / Poverty rate (US official measure) / US counties

US counties by poverty rate

Oglala Lakota County had the highest poverty rate of 3132 counties in 2018, at 54%. Douglas County had the lowest, at 2.6%. The median was 14.1% and the figure for the United States was 13.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest54Oglala Lakota County
Lowest2.6Douglas County
Median14.13132 counties
United States13.1History

Top 40 counties, 2018

CSVChart (SVG)

Oglala Lakota CountyOglala Lakota County: 54 %54Todd CountyTodd County: 48.4 %48.4Buffalo CountyBuffalo County: 45.7 %45.7East Carroll ParishEast Carroll Parish: 45.7 %45.7Crowley CountyCrowley County: 44.3 %44.3Ziebach CountyZiebach County: 43.9 %43.9Lee CountyLee County: 43 %43Bullock CountyBullock County: 42.5 %42.5Madison ParishMadison Parish: 41.7 %41.7Issaquena CountyIssaquena County: 40.5 %40.5Wheeler CountyWheeler County: 39.6 %39.6Owsley CountyOwsley County: 39.2 %39.2Martin CountyMartin County: 39.1 %39.1Clay CountyClay County: 38.2 %38.2Stewart CountyStewart County: 37.9 %37.9Quitman CountyQuitman County: 37.6 %37.6Allendale CountyAllendale County: 37.3 %37.3Apache CountyApache County: 37.3 %37.3Calhoun CountyCalhoun County: 37.2 %37.2Yazoo CountyYazoo County: 37.1 %37.1Humphreys CountyHumphreys County: 37 %37Lake CountyLake County: 36.5 %36.5Claiborne CountyClaiborne County: 36.3 %36.3Coahoma CountyCoahoma County: 35.9 %35.9St. Francis CountySt. Francis County: 35.6 %35.6Jefferson CountyJefferson County: 35.5 %35.5McDowell CountyMcDowell County: 35.4 %35.4Phillips CountyPhillips County: 35.4 %35.4Perry CountyPerry County: 35.3 %35.3Mellette CountyMellette County: 35.2 %35.2Kusilvak Census AreaKusilvak Census Area: 35.1 %35.1Leflore CountyLeflore County: 35.1 %35.1Willacy CountyWillacy County: 35 %35Sumter CountySumter County: 34.7 %34.7Lee CountyLee County: 34.4 %34.4Floyd CountyFloyd County: 34.2 %34.2Bent CountyBent County: 33.9 %33.9McCreary CountyMcCreary County: 33.7 %33.7Corson CountyCorson County: 33.6 %33.6Sharkey CountySharkey County: 33.6 %33.6
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankCounties2018 (%)Change on 2017
1Oglala Lakota County54+12.5 pts
2Todd County48.4-2 pts
3Buffalo County45.7+2.4 pts
3East Carroll Parish45.7-1 pts
5Crowley County44.3-3.1 pts
6Ziebach County43.9-12.8 pts
7Lee County43+5.7 pts
8Bullock County42.5+8.1 pts
9Madison Parish41.7+2.8 pts
10Issaquena County40.5+2.4 pts
11Wheeler County39.6+2.2 pts
12Owsley County39.2+2.4 pts
13Martin County39.1+3.3 pts
14Clay County38.2-3.5 pts
15Stewart County37.9+1.7 pts
16Quitman County37.6-3.3 pts
17Allendale County37.3+0.6 pts
17Apache County37.3+4.2 pts
19Calhoun County37.2+2.1 pts
20Yazoo County37.1+3.2 pts
21Humphreys County37-1.4 pts
22Lake County36.5-3.4 pts
23Claiborne County36.3-6.3 pts
24Coahoma County35.9+1.1 pts
25St. Francis County35.6+1.9 pts
26Jefferson County35.5+1.4 pts
27McDowell County35.4+3.7 pts
27Phillips County35.4-4.4 pts
29Perry County35.3-1.9 pts
30Mellette County35.2-2.8 pts
31Kusilvak Census Area35.1-2.4 pts
31Leflore County35.1-7.1 pts
33Willacy County350 pts
34Sumter County34.7-1.2 pts
35Lee County34.4+0.7 pts
36Floyd County34.2+2 pts
37Bent County33.9+1.9 pts
38McCreary County33.7-0.7 pts
39Corson County33.6-8.8 pts
39Sharkey County33.6-1.9 pts
41Harlan County33.4-8.1 pts
41Tallahatchie County33.4-1.8 pts
41Wilcox County33.4+1.4 pts
44Holmes County33.2-7.6 pts
44Starr County33.2+1.2 pts
46Sioux County32.9-3 pts
47Natchitoches Parish32.8+2.5 pts
48Bethel Census Area32.7+4 pts
48Claiborne Parish32.7-6.8 pts
48Jackson County32.7-3.5 pts
48St. Landry Parish32.7+7.1 pts
52Sunflower County32.6-3.6 pts
52Washington County32.6-0.1 pts
54Bennett County32.5-2.4 pts
54Breathitt County32.5-3.7 pts
56McKinley County32.3-5.5 pts
57Dillon County32.1+2.3 pts
57Knott County32.1-2.5 pts
57Zapata County32.1+2.1 pts
60Zavala County32+0.4 pts
61Knox County31.9-0.3 pts
61Telfair County31.9-2.7 pts
63Jenkins County31.8-1 pts
64Tensas Parish31.6-3.3 pts
65Chicot County31.4+1.3 pts
65Dallas County31.4+3.5 pts
65Wolfe County31.4+1.5 pts
68Bell County31.3-5.4 pts
69Carter County31.1+2.9 pts
69Letcher County31.1+0.3 pts
71Brooks County31-4 pts
72Barbour County30.9-2.5 pts
73Benson County30.8+2.4 pts
73Leslie County30.8-0.2 pts
73Randolph County30.8-2.8 pts
73Wilcox County30.8+0.1 pts
77Athens County30.7+1.9 pts
77Hancock County30.7+0.4 pts
79Pike County30.6+2.6 pts
80Macon County30.5+0.9 pts
81Radford city30.4+1.8 pts
82Wilkinson County30.3-2.8 pts
83Fulton County30.2+1.2 pts
83Macon County30.2-0.4 pts
85Greene County30.1-3.1 pts
86Hidalgo County30+0.5 pts
86Johnson County30+1 pts
86Marlboro County30+2 pts
89Hancock County29.9+1.5 pts
90Clay County29.8-3.3 pts
91La Salle County29.6+0.4 pts
91Socorro County29.6+1.3 pts
93Dougherty County29.5+1.3 pts
94Adams County29.4-3.1 pts
94Bolivar County29.4-3 pts
96Mitchell County29.3+1.8 pts
97Bladen County29.1+8.4 pts
97Dooly County29.1+1.5 pts
97Pemiscot County29.1+2.7 pts
100Noxubee County29-5.5 pts
101Perry County28.9+3 pts
102Cibola County28.6-1.5 pts
103Navajo County28.5+2.1 pts
104Magoffin County28.4-3.7 pts
105San Miguel County28.2-1 pts
106Lee County28.1+2.3 pts
106Wayne County28.1+3.2 pts
108Harrisonburg city28+4.7 pts
109Cameron County27.9+0.2 pts
109Turner County27.9+0.3 pts
111Terrell County27.8-5.2 pts
112Alexander County27.6-2.7 pts
112Buchanan County27.6-0.3 pts
112Hamilton County27.6+3.6 pts
115Frio County27.5-0.4 pts
115Kemper County27.5-2.3 pts
115Lincoln County27.5+4.1 pts
118Avoyelles Parish27.4+2.8 pts
118Crisp County27.4-2.3 pts
118Morehouse Parish27.4-0.6 pts
121Bronx County27.3-0.6 pts
121Evangeline Parish27.3+3.7 pts
121Franklin Parish27.3-0.6 pts
121Morgan County27.3-2.8 pts
121Oktibbeha County27.3+1.8 pts
126Concordia Parish27.2-0.5 pts
126Luna County27.2-1.1 pts
126Marion County27.2+2.5 pts
129Clarke County27+0.4 pts
129Glacier County27+0.8 pts
129Hardee County27+3.7 pts
129Mingo County27-4 pts
133Bienville Parish26.9+1.5 pts
133Neshoba County26.9+4.5 pts
133Scotland County26.9+0.5 pts
133Summers County26.9-1.9 pts
137Mississippi County26.8-1.7 pts
138Bamberg County26.7+0.2 pts
138Bee County26.7+0.1 pts
138Bledsoe County26.7+3.6 pts
138Greensville County26.7+2.8 pts
142Concho County26.6+11.2 pts
142Evans County26.6-1.4 pts
144Copiah County26.5+4 pts
144Covington County26.5+3.5 pts
144Dodge County26.5+4.7 pts
144Early County26.5-0.2 pts
144Jackson County26.5-4.9 pts
144Menominee County26.5-1.1 pts
144Tunica County26.5-2.6 pts
151Clarendon County26.4+3.2 pts
151Menifee County26.4+1 pts
153Treutlen County26.3-1.1 pts
153Vance County26.3+2.9 pts
155Ben Hill County26.2+1.7 pts
155Richland Parish26.2-1.6 pts
157Atkinson County26.1+1.9 pts
157DeSoto County26.10 pts
157Dunklin County26.1+1.5 pts
157Houston County26.1+3.8 pts
157Okfuskee County26.1+1.9 pts
157Walker County26.1+3 pts
163Casey County26+0.9 pts
163Catahoula Parish26-1.8 pts
163Greer County26+0.1 pts
163Jefferson Davis County26-2.7 pts
163Monroe County26-1.3 pts
163Webster Parish26+5.7 pts
163Williamsburg County26-0.8 pts
170Lowndes County25.9+0.6 pts
170Maverick County25.9-1.1 pts
170Orangeburg County25.9+1.5 pts
170Screven County25.9+5.4 pts
170Washington County25.9-0.8 pts
175Clinch County25.8-1.8 pts
175Dewey County25.8-9.1 pts
175Hampton County25.8+0.7 pts
175Lincoln Parish25.8-2.1 pts
179Clinton County25.7-0.7 pts
179Hidalgo County25.7+0.9 pts
179Jackson County25.7-3.5 pts
179Mississippi County25.7+1.4 pts
179Sierra County25.7-0.9 pts
179Sumter County25.7+0.2 pts
179Warren County25.7-2.2 pts
179Webb County25.7-1.6 pts
179Whitley County25.7-0.8 pts
188Big Horn County25.6-1.2 pts
188Charlton County25.60 pts
188Danville city25.6+1.2 pts
188Hale County25.6+0.5 pts
188Jackson County25.6+3.4 pts
188Tattnall County25.6-1.7 pts
194Duval County25.5-3.1 pts
194Lauderdale County25.5+5 pts
194Lawrence County25.5-7.3 pts
194Marion County25.5-2 pts
194Quitman County25.5-0.6 pts
194Scott County25.5+3.6 pts
200Leake County25.4+3.7 pts
200Roosevelt County25.4-0.7 pts
200Seminole County25.4-3.8 pts
200Whitman County25.4+4 pts
200Wise County25.4+2.1 pts
205Columbus County25.3+2.2 pts
205Estill County25.3+0.5 pts
207Acadia Parish25.2+2.1 pts
207Costilla County25.2-2.1 pts
207Dickenson County25.2+0.2 pts
207Elliott County25.2-4.5 pts
207Jim Hogg County25.2-2.1 pts
207Lewis County25.2-0.4 pts
207Torrance County25.2-1.5 pts
207Tyrrell County25.2+0.8 pts
215Clay County25.1-2.2 pts
215Emanuel County25.1-2.5 pts
215Lowndes County25.1-0.8 pts
218Johnson County25+1.7 pts
218Kleberg County25-0.5 pts
220Doña Ana County24.9-1.4 pts
220Lauderdale County24.9+4.1 pts
220Toombs County24.9+2.6 pts
223Gilmer County24.8-1.8 pts
223Lee County24.8-3.4 pts
223Talbot County24.8+2.6 pts
226Bibb County24.7-0.3 pts
226Dixie County24.7+0.3 pts
226Jefferson County24.7+1.7 pts
226Martinsville city24.7+2.2 pts
226Rolette County24.7-2.4 pts
231Adair County24.6-2.6 pts
231Candler County24.6-0.1 pts
231Dimmit County24.6-6.6 pts
231Garza County24.6-0.7 pts
231Hughes County24.6+1 pts
231Laurens County24.6+2 pts
231Logan County24.6-4.6 pts
231Saguache County24.6+0.2 pts
231Taliaferro County24.6-1.9 pts
231Texas County24.6+3.4 pts
231Washington Parish24.6+1.5 pts
242Brooks County24.5+0.8 pts
242Butler County24.5+3.2 pts
242Cook County24.5+3.2 pts
242Robeson County24.5-4.5 pts
246Conecuh County24.4+0.7 pts
246Echols County24.4-2.1 pts
246Meriwether County24.4+4.5 pts
246Santa Cruz County24.4+0.8 pts
246West Feliciana Parish24.4+3.4 pts

Showing the top 250 of 3132. The CSV download has every row.

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. 11 counties with data in other periods have no value for 2018 and are left out rather than filled from another source. 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/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

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Rank US counties by poverty rate using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which county has the highest poverty rate?

Oglala Lakota County, with 54% in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate?

Douglas County, with 2.6% 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 of all ages in poverty, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-08. 11 counties have no value for 2018 and are not ranked.

Poverty rate (US official measure): other rankings

US counties: more rankings