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

US counties by poverty rate

Issaquena County had the highest poverty rate of 3134 counties in 2021, at 43.9%. Douglas County had the lowest, at 2.9%. The median was 13.6% and the figure for the United States was 12.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest43.9Issaquena County
Lowest2.9Douglas County
Median13.63134 counties
United States12.8History

Top 40 counties, 2021

CSVChart (SVG)

Issaquena CountyIssaquena County: 43.9 %43.9Oglala Lakota CountyOglala Lakota County: 43.5 %43.5Sioux CountySioux County: 42.8 %42.8Corson CountyCorson County: 41.9 %41.9Martin CountyMartin County: 40.5 %40.5East Carroll ParishEast Carroll Parish: 39.9 %39.9Todd CountyTodd County: 39.8 %39.8Sunflower CountySunflower County: 38.7 %38.7Ziebach CountyZiebach County: 38.1 %38.1Coahoma CountyCoahoma County: 37.9 %37.9Crowley CountyCrowley County: 37.8 %37.8Holmes CountyHolmes County: 37.8 %37.8Buffalo CountyBuffalo County: 35.9 %35.9Clay CountyClay County: 35.9 %35.9Phillips CountyPhillips County: 35.7 %35.7Leflore CountyLeflore County: 35.6 %35.6Owsley CountyOwsley County: 35.6 %35.6Allendale CountyAllendale County: 35.4 %35.4Madison ParishMadison Parish: 35.3 %35.3Knox CountyKnox County: 35.1 %35.1Sharkey CountySharkey County: 35.1 %35.1Sumter CountySumter County: 35.1 %35.1Lee CountyLee County: 34.9 %34.9Willacy CountyWillacy County: 34.3 %34.3Bolivar CountyBolivar County: 34.2 %34.2Calhoun CountyCalhoun County: 34 %34Quitman CountyQuitman County: 33.8 %33.8Concordia ParishConcordia Parish: 33.7 %33.7Perry CountyPerry County: 33.7 %33.7Tallahatchie CountyTallahatchie County: 33.7 %33.7Lee CountyLee County: 33.5 %33.5McCreary CountyMcCreary County: 33.5 %33.5Lake CountyLake County: 33.4 %33.4Claiborne CountyClaiborne County: 33.3 %33.3Humphreys CountyHumphreys County: 33.3 %33.3Greene CountyGreene County: 33.2 %33.2Harlan CountyHarlan County: 33.2 %33.2Magoffin CountyMagoffin County: 33.2 %33.2Wheeler CountyWheeler County: 33.2 %33.2Wilcox CountyWilcox County: 32.4 %32.4
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Issaquena County43.9+0.6 pts
2Oglala Lakota County43.5+5.4 pts
3Sioux County42.8+14.5 pts
4Corson County41.9+4.8 pts
5Martin County40.5+8.6 pts
6East Carroll Parish39.9+2.3 pts
7Todd County39.8-2.7 pts
8Sunflower County38.7+3.9 pts
9Ziebach County38.1-5.8 pts
10Coahoma County37.9-1.7 pts
11Crowley County37.8+0.6 pts
11Holmes County37.8+3.3 pts
13Buffalo County35.9+3.1 pts
13Clay County35.9-1.4 pts
15Phillips County35.7+13.6 pts
16Leflore County35.6+10.3 pts
16Owsley County35.6+5 pts
18Allendale County35.4+3.8 pts
19Madison Parish35.3+1.7 pts
20Knox County35.1+7.3 pts
20Sharkey County35.1+4.8 pts
20Sumter County35.1+5.9 pts
23Lee County34.9-1.9 pts
24Willacy County34.3+9.6 pts
25Bolivar County34.2+6.1 pts
26Calhoun County34-0.4 pts
27Quitman County33.8+3.9 pts
28Concordia Parish33.7+5.1 pts
28Perry County33.7+3 pts
28Tallahatchie County33.7+1.7 pts
31Lee County33.5+1.4 pts
31McCreary County33.5-2.7 pts
33Lake County33.4-3 pts
34Claiborne County33.3-0.8 pts
34Humphreys County33.30 pts
36Greene County33.2+5.3 pts
36Harlan County33.2+5.2 pts
36Magoffin County33.2+2.3 pts
36Wheeler County33.2-2.4 pts
40Wilcox County32.4+10.2 pts
40Wilkinson County32.4+4 pts
42St. Francis County32.2+2.1 pts
43Bell County32.1+2.3 pts
43Bullock County32.1+1.3 pts
43Tensas Parish32.1+1.3 pts
46Knott County32+4.3 pts
47Jefferson County31.7+0.9 pts
47McDowell County31.7-0.1 pts
49Starr County31.6+6.4 pts
50Stewart County31.4+0.1 pts
51Yazoo County31.3+0.3 pts
52Mingo County31.1+6.2 pts
53Bennett County31+2.7 pts
53Breathitt County31+3.1 pts
55Morehouse Parish30.9+7.6 pts
56Avoyelles Parish30.5+8.9 pts
56Hancock County30.5-0.2 pts
58Kusilvak Census Area30.4+2.5 pts
59Macon County30.3-0.8 pts
59McKinley County30.3-1.7 pts
61Telfair County30.2+0.3 pts
62Pike County30.1+6.4 pts
63Bent County30+3.4 pts
63Duval County30+10 pts
63Mellette County30+0.1 pts
66Perry County29.9+7.9 pts
67Claiborne Parish29.8-2.1 pts
67Leslie County29.8+4 pts
69Dallas County29.5+2.8 pts
70Marion County29.2+7.4 pts
71Letcher County29.1+4.7 pts
72Wolfe County29-0.7 pts
73Zapata County28.9+4.3 pts
74Hidalgo County28.8+4.9 pts
75Brooks County28.6-0.1 pts
75La Salle County28.6+4.6 pts
77Apache County28.4-4 pts
78Lowndes County28.3+6.4 pts
79Jackson County28.1-0.6 pts
79Randolph County28.1+0.7 pts
79Washington County28.1+0.4 pts
82Floyd County28-0.3 pts
82Tattnall County28+7.3 pts
84Chicot County27.9+1.1 pts
84Robeson County27.9+1.3 pts
84Sumter County27.9+3.6 pts
87Harmon County27.8+4.5 pts
87Menifee County27.8+5.1 pts
89Chaves County27.6+8.4 pts
89Desha County27.6+4.8 pts
89Hancock County27.6-1 pts
89Luna County27.6+5.3 pts
89Pike County27.6+1.1 pts
89Whitley County27.6+5.9 pts
89Wilcox County27.6-0.3 pts
96Macon County27.5-0.4 pts
97Jenkins County27.4-0.6 pts
98Halifax County27.3+3.4 pts
99Rolette County27.2+5.9 pts
100Bee County27.1+4 pts
101Russell County27+8.9 pts
102Noxubee County26.8+0.6 pts
102Okfuskee County26.8+5.1 pts
102San Juan County26.8+8.2 pts
102Winn Parish26.8+4.2 pts
106Catahoula Parish26.7-1.7 pts
106Frio County26.7+4.4 pts
106Johnson County26.7+0.8 pts
106Sierra County26.7+4.6 pts
110Elliott County26.6-2.2 pts
110Terrell County26.6-1.2 pts
110Tunica County26.6-0.1 pts
113Orangeburg County26.5+7.4 pts
114Bronx County26.4+2 pts
114Cibola County26.4+1.3 pts
116Benson County26.3+2.1 pts
116Evangeline Parish26.3+1.8 pts
116Morgan County26.3+1.8 pts
116Putnam County26.3+2 pts
116St. Landry Parish26.3+3.7 pts
121Richmond County26.2+4.7 pts
121Turner County26.2+4 pts
123Caddo County26.1+7.8 pts
123Dillon County26.1+3.9 pts
123Dougherty County26.1-1.3 pts
123Early County26.1+2.1 pts
123Kemper County26.1+0.9 pts
128Bienville Parish26+3.2 pts
128Coffee County26+2.9 pts
130Baker County25.9+2.2 pts
130Bamberg County25.9+4.9 pts
130Lee County25.9+2.9 pts
133Adams County25.8-1.4 pts
133Gadsden County25.8+3.9 pts
133Guadalupe County25.8+3 pts
136Big Horn County25.7-3.2 pts
136Dimmit County25.7+0.2 pts
136Hamilton County25.7+1.5 pts
139Carter County25.6+7.1 pts
139Dodge County25.6+4.2 pts
139Radford city25.6+1 pts
139Warren County25.6+2.2 pts
143DeSoto County25.5+4.7 pts
143Ouachita Parish25.5+1.8 pts
145Lincoln Parish25.4+3.7 pts
145Zavala County25.4-1.8 pts
147Gilmer County25.3+2.3 pts
147Monroe County25.3+1.5 pts
147Roosevelt County25.3+1.5 pts
147St. Helena Parish25.3+2.6 pts
151Hinds County25.2-0.7 pts
151Jackson County25.2+1.2 pts
151Jefferson Davis County25.20 pts
151Orleans Parish25.2+4.1 pts
151Webster County25.2+1.5 pts
151Woodruff County25.2+2.6 pts
157Lee County25.1-0.9 pts
158Harrisonburg city25+2.8 pts
158Richland Parish25+2.5 pts
158Wyoming County25+3.7 pts
161Garza County24.8+4.2 pts
161Lawrence County24.8+2.5 pts
161Navajo County24.8+1.5 pts
161Summers County24.8+3.7 pts
165Boone County24.7+6.9 pts
165Mitchell County24.7-13.5 pts
165Wayne County24.7+5 pts
168Bethel Census Area24.6-0.7 pts
168Cameron County24.6+0.2 pts
168Charlton County24.6-0.9 pts
168Glacier County24.6+0.3 pts
168Kleberg County24.6+3.8 pts
168Marengo County24.6+6.3 pts
174Bibb County24.5-3.5 pts
174Hertford County24.5+3.8 pts
174Quitman County24.5+1.4 pts
174Washington Parish24.5+2 pts
178Baldwin County24.4+1.8 pts
178Greensville County24.4+2.9 pts
178Lowndes County24.4+4.1 pts
178Scotland County24.4-5.3 pts
182Clay County24.3+0.2 pts
182San Juan County24.3+2.8 pts
182Ware County24.3-1.7 pts
185Adair County24.2+2.1 pts
185Crisp County24.2-0.3 pts
185Danville city24.2+2.1 pts
185Jefferson County24.2+6.4 pts
185Johnson County24.2+1.7 pts
185Menominee County24.2+1.6 pts
185Miller County24.2+4.4 pts
192Emanuel County24.1-2.3 pts
192Hall County24.1+5.5 pts
192Hidalgo County24.1+4.3 pts
192Marlboro County24.1-1.9 pts
196Franklin Parish24-0.1 pts
196Hudspeth County24-0.2 pts
196Iberia Parish24+1.5 pts
196Webster Parish24+4.3 pts
200Adair County23.9+6 pts
200Buchanan County23.9+0.2 pts
200Clinch County23.9+3.5 pts
200Evans County23.9+4.3 pts
200Mississippi County23.9+2.9 pts
200Pike County23.9+4.2 pts
200Scioto County23.9+1.1 pts
200Walker County23.9+5.9 pts
200Wayne County23.9+0.3 pts
209Atkinson County23.8+2.2 pts
209Calhoun County23.8+3.8 pts
209Decatur County23.8-1.8 pts
209Escambia County23.8+3.4 pts
209Jasper County23.8+6.5 pts
214Dewey County23.7-1.2 pts
214Johnson County23.7+5.1 pts
214Lafayette County23.7+3.9 pts
214Pemiscot County23.7-11.6 pts
214Walthall County23.7+0.2 pts
214Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area23.7+3.2 pts
220Caddo Parish23.6+2.7 pts
220Northampton County23.6+1.9 pts
220Red River Parish23.6-0.1 pts
220Somerset County23.6+1.4 pts
224Brooks County23.5+2.9 pts
224Hampton County23.5+3.9 pts
224Le Flore County23.5+5.4 pts
224Logan County23.5+1.2 pts
228Bacon County23.4+2.3 pts
228Columbus County23.4+2.1 pts
228Dixie County23.4+0.2 pts
228Fulton County23.4-1.8 pts
228Ripley County23.4+2.1 pts
233Choctaw County23.3+2.9 pts
233Greene County23.3+2 pts
233Montgomery County23.3+4 pts
233Seminole County23.3+0.4 pts
233Talbot County23.3+2.5 pts
238Columbia County23.2+4.9 pts
238Crosby County23.2+3.4 pts
238Jim Hogg County23.2+3.1 pts
238Mississippi County23.2+4.1 pts
242Costilla County23.1+1.3 pts
242Liberty County23.1+1.9 pts
244Barbour County23-2.5 pts
244Barnwell County23+1.4 pts
244Crittenden County23+0.1 pts
244Greer County23+0.1 pts
244Marion County23+3 pts
244Taliaferro County23-0.2 pts
250Baltimore city22.9+2.9 pts

Showing the top 250 of 3134. 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. 9 counties with data in other periods have no value for 2021 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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 US counties by poverty rate using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"poverty_rate","level":"province","within":"United States","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=poverty_rate&level=province&within=United%20States&limit=10

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

Which county has the highest poverty rate?

Issaquena County, with 43.9% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate?

Douglas County, with 2.9% 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 of all ages in poverty, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-08. 9 counties have no value for 2021 and are not ranked.

Poverty rate (US official measure): other rankings

US counties: more rankings