U.S. Poverty Rate 1963-2024
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 2022 was 2.00%, a 1% increase from 2021.
- U.S. poverty rate for 2021 was 1.00%, a 0.2% decline from 2020.
- 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 - Historical Data |
Year |
% Under US $5.50 Per Day |
Change |
2022 |
2.00% |
1.00% |
2021 |
1.00% |
-0.20% |
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% |
-0.20% |
1986 |
1.70% |
0.00% |
1985 |
1.70% |
0.00% |
1984 |
1.70% |
-0.30% |
1983 |
2.00% |
0.00% |
1982 |
2.00% |
0.50% |
1981 |
1.50% |
0.00% |
1980 |
1.50% |
0.00% |
1979 |
1.50% |
-0.70% |
1978 |
2.20% |
0.20% |
1977 |
2.00% |
0.00% |
1976 |
2.00% |
-0.50% |
1975 |
2.50% |
0.00% |
1974 |
2.50% |
0.30% |
1973 |
2.20% |
-0.30% |
1972 |
2.50% |
0.00% |
1971 |
2.50% |
-0.50% |
1970 |
3.00% |
0.50% |
1969 |
2.50% |
-0.20% |
1968 |
2.70% |
-0.50% |
1967 |
3.20% |
-0.80% |
1966 |
4.00% |
0.30% |
1965 |
3.70% |
-0.50% |
1964 |
4.20% |
-0.50% |
1963 |
4.70% |
-0.50% |