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

US counties by poverty rate

Issaquena County had the highest poverty rate of 3143 counties in 2023, at 49.6%. Lincoln County had the lowest, at 3.3%. The median was 13.6% and the figure for the United States was 12.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest49.6Issaquena County
Lowest3.3Lincoln County
Median13.63143 counties
United States12.5History

Top 40 counties, 2023

CSVChart (SVG)

Issaquena CountyIssaquena County: 49.6 %49.6Martin CountyMartin County: 48.1 %48.1East Carroll ParishEast Carroll Parish: 46.5 %46.5Ziebach CountyZiebach County: 46.2 %46.2Bolivar CountyBolivar County: 38.7 %38.7Lee CountyLee County: 38.7 %38.7Crowley CountyCrowley County: 37.5 %37.5Clay CountyClay County: 37.2 %37.2Oglala Lakota CountyOglala Lakota County: 37.1 %37.1Wheeler CountyWheeler County: 36.3 %36.3McDowell CountyMcDowell County: 36.2 %36.2McCreary CountyMcCreary County: 35.9 %35.9Holmes CountyHolmes County: 35.6 %35.6Todd CountyTodd County: 35.6 %35.6Calhoun CountyCalhoun County: 35.5 %35.5Washington CountyWashington County: 35.5 %35.5Knox CountyKnox County: 35 %35Sioux CountySioux County: 34.9 %34.9Sharkey CountySharkey County: 34.5 %34.5McKinley CountyMcKinley County: 34.3 %34.3St. Francis CountySt. Francis County: 34.3 %34.3Phillips CountyPhillips County: 34.2 %34.2Madison ParishMadison Parish: 34.1 %34.1Lake CountyLake County: 34 %34Perry CountyPerry County: 33.8 %33.8Corson CountyCorson County: 33.7 %33.7Bullock CountyBullock County: 33.6 %33.6Sumter CountySumter County: 33.5 %33.5Buffalo CountyBuffalo County: 33.1 %33.1Owsley CountyOwsley County: 33.1 %33.1Humphreys CountyHumphreys County: 32.8 %32.8Claiborne CountyClaiborne County: 32.7 %32.7Wilcox CountyWilcox County: 32.7 %32.7Allendale CountyAllendale County: 32.6 %32.6Stewart CountyStewart County: 32.5 %32.5Sunflower CountySunflower County: 32.5 %32.5Wilkinson CountyWilkinson County: 32.2 %32.2Quitman CountyQuitman County: 32.1 %32.1Hudspeth CountyHudspeth County: 32 %32Macon CountyMacon County: 31.6 %31.6
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Issaquena County49.6+7.3 pts
2Martin County48.1+11.9 pts
3East Carroll Parish46.5+5 pts
4Ziebach County46.2+7.3 pts
5Bolivar County38.7+9.6 pts
5Lee County38.7+3.6 pts
7Crowley County37.5+1.9 pts
8Clay County37.2+2.1 pts
9Oglala Lakota County37.1-5.2 pts
10Wheeler County36.3+5.2 pts
11McDowell County36.2-1.4 pts
12McCreary County35.9+1.3 pts
13Holmes County35.6+1.1 pts
13Todd County35.6-3.9 pts
15Calhoun County35.5+1.6 pts
15Washington County35.5+8.2 pts
17Knox County35+1.9 pts
18Sioux County34.9+1.9 pts
19Sharkey County34.5-0.6 pts
20McKinley County34.3+2.4 pts
20St. Francis County34.3-0.1 pts
22Phillips County34.2-0.7 pts
23Madison Parish34.1-2.9 pts
24Lake County34-0.2 pts
25Perry County33.8-2.1 pts
26Corson County33.7-8.7 pts
27Bullock County33.6+2.1 pts
28Sumter County33.5+2.4 pts
29Buffalo County33.1-6.6 pts
29Owsley County33.1+0.2 pts
31Humphreys County32.8+0.5 pts
32Claiborne County32.7-0.5 pts
32Wilcox County32.7+3 pts
34Allendale County32.6-4.1 pts
35Stewart County32.5+6.6 pts
35Sunflower County32.5+0.2 pts
37Wilkinson County32.2+0.9 pts
38Quitman County32.1+0.7 pts
39Hudspeth County32-3.7 pts
40Macon County31.6+7.8 pts
41Dallas County31.4-1.5 pts
42Morehouse Parish31.3+4.5 pts
43Tallahatchie County31.2+0.1 pts
44Lee County31.1-5.3 pts
45Greene County31+1 pts
46Yazoo County30.9-6.2 pts
47Coahoma County30.8-5.1 pts
47Kusilvak Census Area30.8+1 pts
47Tensas Parish30.8-4.2 pts
50Zapata County30.4-2.4 pts
51Breathitt County30.3+0.2 pts
51Hancock County30.3+3.8 pts
53Jefferson County30.2-3.9 pts
54Telfair County30.1-0.5 pts
55Catahoula Parish30+4.7 pts
56Jackson County29.8+1 pts
57Brooks County29.7+1.7 pts
57Chicot County29.7+2.7 pts
57Harlan County29.7+2.8 pts
57Perry County29.7+2.7 pts
61Apache County29.6+1.4 pts
62Lowndes County29.40 pts
63Bethel Census Area29.3+7.4 pts
64Claiborne Parish29.2+0.3 pts
64Magoffin County29.2-0.6 pts
66Duval County29.1+2.1 pts
67Bell County28.9-1.5 pts
67Jenkins County28.9+1 pts
67Noxubee County28.9+0.9 pts
67Zavala County28.9-0.2 pts
71Leflore County28.8-5.6 pts
71Macon County28.8-3.6 pts
71Mingo County28.8-1.9 pts
71Starr County28.8-4 pts
75Bent County28.6+1.6 pts
75Scotland County28.6+4.5 pts
75Wolfe County28.6-3.4 pts
78Lincoln Parish28.4-4 pts
78Wilcox County28.4+2 pts
80Terrell County28.1-1.1 pts
81Glacier County28+2.2 pts
82Willacy County27.8-1.2 pts
83Bamberg County27.7-0.7 pts
83Bennett County27.7-3 pts
83Bronx County27.7+0.1 pts
83Robeson County27.7+1.6 pts
87Tunica County27.6-0.3 pts
88Menominee County27.4+3.2 pts
88Pemiscot County27.4-2.6 pts
88Winston County27.4+5.5 pts
91Dimmit County27.3+2.2 pts
91Greensville County27.3+6.2 pts
91Talbot County27.3+6.5 pts
94Barnwell County27.2+6 pts
94Marlboro County27.2-1.5 pts
96La Salle County27.1-1.9 pts
97Avoyelles Parish27-0.2 pts
98Hidalgo County26.9-0.5 pts
98Whitley County26.9+0.6 pts
100Hancock County26.7-0.4 pts
100Leslie County26.7-3.4 pts
100Randolph County26.7-0.7 pts
103Taylor County26.6+4.1 pts
104Conecuh County26.5-3.6 pts
104Floyd County26.5-8.3 pts
106Clay County26.4+1.3 pts
106Dougherty County26.4-1.3 pts
106Gilmer County26.4+3.2 pts
106Luna County26.40 pts
106Radford city26.4+1.8 pts
111Monroe County26.3+1.4 pts
111Sumter County26.3+4 pts
111Webster County26.3+2.6 pts
114Baker County26.2+4.6 pts
114Charlton County26.2+3.3 pts
114Dewey County26.2+0.8 pts
114Johnson County26.2-1.1 pts
114Lincoln County26.2+1 pts
114Panola County26.2+1.7 pts
120Emanuel County26.1+5.3 pts
120Knott County26.1-3.1 pts
122Crisp County26+0.9 pts
122Mellette County26-9 pts
124Fulton County25.9-3.3 pts
124Kemper County25.9-1.8 pts
126Alexander County25.8+2.4 pts
126Elliott County25.8-1.4 pts
128Greer County25.7+2.9 pts
128Tattnall County25.7+2.2 pts
130Frio County25.6+1 pts
131Barbour County25.5-1.2 pts
131Early County25.5+1.8 pts
131Halifax County25.5+5.9 pts
131Oktibbeha County25.5+1.9 pts
135Marion County25.4-6.2 pts
136Athens County25.3+3.7 pts
136Bienville Parish25.3-0.2 pts
138Adams County25.2-5.9 pts
138Concordia Parish25.2-2.5 pts
138Socorro County25.2+0.6 pts
141Harmon County25.1-1 pts
141Menifee County25.1+2 pts
141Prince Edward County25.1+4.8 pts
141Richland Parish25.1+4.5 pts
145Acadia Parish25+0.1 pts
145Desha County25-2.9 pts
145Jefferson Davis County25-6.3 pts
145Johnson County25-1 pts
145Lee County25+0.6 pts
145Okfuskee County25+1.2 pts
145Wayne County25-3.8 pts
152Bee County24.9-3.8 pts
152Guadalupe County24.9+1.1 pts
152Mississippi County24.9+3.1 pts
155Choctaw County24.8+4.1 pts
155Forest County24.8-0.7 pts
155Whitman County24.8+5.3 pts
155Williamsburg County24.8-1.5 pts
159Morgan County24.7-0.5 pts
159Navajo County24.7-1.2 pts
159San Miguel County24.7+1.3 pts
162Jackson County24.6-0.1 pts
162Jim Hogg County24.6-2.3 pts
162Lauderdale County24.6+5.1 pts
165Lee County24.5-3.4 pts
165Red River Parish24.5-0.2 pts
165Taliaferro County24.5+4.5 pts
168Ben Hill County24.4-2.4 pts
168Dillon County24.4-5.9 pts
168Woodruff County24.4+1.8 pts
171Bertie County24.3+0.5 pts
171Jefferson County24.3+2.1 pts
171Natchitoches Parish24.3-4.6 pts
171Roosevelt County24.3+0.7 pts
175Hampton County24.2+2.3 pts
175Hughes County24.2+1.4 pts
175Jefferson County24.2+2.9 pts
175Marion County24.2+4.8 pts
175Metcalfe County24.2-0.1 pts
175Warren County24.2+0.8 pts
175Winn Parish24.2+0.2 pts
182Anson County24.1+1.7 pts
182Clarke County24.1-2.4 pts
184Hidalgo County24-1.2 pts
184Rowan County24+2.6 pts
184Treutlen County24+2.3 pts
187Franklin Parish23.9-0.9 pts
187Jackson County23.9-0.6 pts
187Turner County23.9-1.6 pts
190Harrisonburg city23.8-4.7 pts
190Letcher County23.8-4.9 pts
190Mitchell County23.8+1.1 pts
190Montgomery County23.8+2.8 pts
190Pike County23.8-3.6 pts
195Brazos County23.7+1.5 pts
195Bulloch County23.7-0.1 pts
195Cibola County23.7-5.9 pts
195Dixie County23.7+1.6 pts
195Evans County23.7+2.1 pts
195Monroe County23.7+2.8 pts
195Quitman County23.7+1.4 pts
202Butler County23.6+0.2 pts
202Clinton County23.6+0.1 pts
202Karnes County23.6+4.1 pts
202Lauderdale County23.6-0.1 pts
202Pike County23.6-2.1 pts
202Pushmataha County23.6+1.5 pts
208Cameron County23.5+0.9 pts
208Choctaw County23.5-0.9 pts
208Clay County23.5-0.3 pts
208Dodge County23.5-0.9 pts
208Jefferson County23.5+7.5 pts
208Marengo County23.5+4 pts
208Rolette County23.5-2.2 pts
208Sierra County23.5+1.1 pts
216Colquitt County23.4+0.8 pts
216Danville city23.4-3.4 pts
216Dillingham Census Area23.4+3.7 pts
216Pike County23.4-1.7 pts
216Union County23.4+5 pts
221Clinch County23.3+1.8 pts
221Columbia County23.3+1.1 pts
221Hyde County23.3+2.5 pts
221Washington Parish23.3+0.2 pts
225Bradley County23.2+1.3 pts
225Nevada County23.2+1.3 pts
225St. Landry Parish23.2-4.8 pts
225Vance County23.2+3.1 pts
229Adair County23.1+2.4 pts
229Cumberland County23.1-0.8 pts
229Latimer County23.1+2.4 pts
229Lenoir County23.1+1.8 pts
229Orleans Parish23.1+0.5 pts
234Colleton County23+2.7 pts
234Dunklin County23-2.9 pts
234Hale County23+0.1 pts
234Pulaski County23+3.4 pts
234Torrance County23+2.7 pts
239Bacon County22.90 pts
239Calhoun County22.9+0.7 pts
239Presidio County22.9-0.1 pts
239Shannon County22.9+1.5 pts
239Somerset County22.9+0.7 pts
244Amite County22.8+2.5 pts
244Brooks County22.8-2.7 pts
244Buchanan County22.8-4.1 pts
244Caddo Parish22.8+0.6 pts
244Grundy County22.8+1.5 pts
244Lafayette County22.8-0.9 pts
244Maverick County22.8+0.9 pts

Showing the top 250 of 3143. 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. 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

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Questions

Which county has the highest poverty rate?

Issaquena County, with 49.6% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate?

Lincoln County, with 3.3% in 2023.

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 counties: more rankings