U.S. Poverty Rate 1974-2023
Poverty headcount ratio at $5.50 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $5.50 a day at 2011 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.
- U.S. poverty rate for 2020 was 1.20%, a 0.5% decline from 2019.
- U.S. poverty rate for 2019 was 1.70%, a 0% increase from 2018.
- U.S. poverty rate for 2018 was 1.70%, a 0.3% decline from 2017.
- U.S. poverty rate for 2017 was 2.00%, a 0% increase from 2016.
| U.S. Poverty Rate - Historical Data |
| Year |
% Under US $5.50 Per Day |
Change |
| 2020 |
1.20% |
-0.50% |
| 2019 |
1.70% |
0.00% |
| 2018 |
1.70% |
-0.30% |
| 2017 |
2.00% |
0.00% |
| 2016 |
2.00% |
-0.20% |
| 2015 |
2.20% |
0.20% |
| 2014 |
2.00% |
0.00% |
| 2013 |
2.00% |
0.00% |
| 2012 |
2.00% |
0.00% |
| 2011 |
2.00% |
0.00% |
| 2010 |
2.00% |
0.30% |
| 2009 |
1.70% |
-0.30% |
| 2008 |
2.00% |
0.30% |
| 2007 |
1.70% |
-0.30% |
| 2006 |
2.00% |
0.30% |
| 2005 |
1.70% |
-0.30% |
| 2004 |
2.00% |
0.00% |
| 2003 |
2.00% |
0.30% |
| 2002 |
1.70% |
0.00% |
| 2001 |
1.70% |
0.20% |
| 2000 |
1.50% |
0.00% |
| 1999 |
1.50% |
0.00% |
| 1998 |
1.50% |
0.00% |
| 1997 |
1.50% |
0.00% |
| 1996 |
1.50% |
0.00% |
| 1995 |
1.50% |
-0.20% |
| 1994 |
1.70% |
0.00% |
| 1993 |
1.70% |
0.00% |
| 1992 |
1.70% |
0.20% |
| 1991 |
1.50% |
0.00% |
| 1990 |
1.50% |
0.30% |
| 1989 |
1.20% |
-0.30% |
| 1988 |
1.50% |
0.00% |
| 1987 |
1.50% |
-0.50% |
| 1986 |
2.00% |
0.00% |
| 1985 |
2.00% |
0.00% |
| 1984 |
2.00% |
-0.50% |
| 1983 |
2.50% |
0.30% |
| 1982 |
2.20% |
0.20% |
| 1981 |
2.00% |
0.30% |
| 1980 |
1.70% |
0.00% |
| 1979 |
1.70% |
-0.50% |
| 1974 |
2.20% |
-0.50% |
