Poverty in America: New Mexico Tops the Chart with 18.2% in Latest Census Data
According to Report, New Mexico now tops the list of U.S. states with the highest poverty rates. The state registered a poverty rate of 18.2% on a recent map published by Visual Capitalist, which analyzed three-year average poverty rates from 2020 to 2022 across the country. The figures were based on the official poverty measure, which compares a family’s pre-tax annual income to a national threshold that adjusts for family size.
For individuals, the poverty threshold is $14,880. A two-person family has a threshold of $18,900, while a family of three is considered in poverty if they earn less than $23,280. For a family of four, the poverty rate threshold is $29,950. These thresholds were determined by the U.S. Census Bureau and updated as of September 2023.
Alongside New Mexico’s 18.2%, other states with high poverty rates include Mississippi (17.8%), Louisiana (16.9%), Arkansas (15.9%), and Kentucky (15.8%). These states, largely composed of rural areas, have long been associated with higher poverty levels. Oklahoma follows with a rate of 15.8%, West Virginia at 15.6%, Alabama at 14.8%, while the District of Columbia and Texas round out the top 10 at 14.7% and 13.7%, respectively.
Most of these states are located in the South, a region where lower education levels and limited workforce participation have contributed to slow economic growth and lower incomes. This is reflected in the region’s persistent poverty. For over 30 years, one in five Southern counties has maintained a poverty rate above 20%. Today, more than 80% of the U.S.’s persistently poor counties are found in the South.
Nationwide, the official poverty rate in 2022 stood at 11.5%, with 37.9 million people living in poverty, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. However, there is some positive news. The poverty rate for Black Americans reached its lowest level on record between 2021 and 2022, providing hope for continued progress within the community.
