Fewer People Living in Poverty Areas in 2015-2019

Share of people living in poverty areas fell by 6.6 percentage points since first half of the decade. Learn more in this story.

America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers Fewer People Living in Poverty Areas in 2015-2019 The share of the U.S. population living in poverty areas declined in the second half of this decade, dropping below levels a decade earlier, according to recent data. The U.S. Census Bureau's 2015-2019 5-year American Community Survey (ACS) shows the percentage of people in the United States living in poverty areas – defined as census tracts where at least 20% of the population lives in poverty – increased between 2005-2009 and 2010-2014. It then decreased in 2015-2019 to a lower level than in 2005-2009. Read More These changes reflect the broader economic trends of the last decade. Living in communities with high poverty concentrations exposes residents to several challenges, such as poor housing conditions, limited job opportunities and high crime rates. Government programs often target resources to these high-poverty neighborhoods. Continue reading to learn more about: Poverty areas by state and region Help us spread the word about America Counts. Share this story on social media or forward it to a friend. Share This You May Be Interested Poverty Rates for Blacks and Hispanics Reached Historic Lows in 2019: Black and Hispanic poverty rates reached historic lows of 18.8% and 15.7% respectively in 2019 but inequalities persist. Learn More About America Counts America Counts tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. It features stories on various topics such as families, housing, employment, business, education, economy, emergency preparedness, health, population, income and poverty. Contact our Public Information Office for media inquiries or interviews. Don't miss an America Counts story! Subscribe here.

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