HUNGER 2009  /  Global Development: Charting a New Course

The Hunger Report

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size

Poverty in the United States

E-mail Print

Over 37 million people in the United States lived in poverty in 2007

  • The number of people living in poverty has increased by almost 6 million since 2000. U.S. Census Bureau, 2008
  • Over 15.5 million people lived below half of the poverty line in 2007. U.S. Census Bureau, 2008
  • 37 percent of households headed by women with children present lived in poverty in 2007. U.S. Census Bureau, 2008
  • In 2007, the poverty threshold for a family of four was $21,203. U.S. Census Bureau, 2008

 
Children in the United States have the highest poverty rate of all age groups

  • Over 13 million children (age 18 and younger) lived in poverty in 2007. U.S. Census Bureau, 2008
  • The poverty rate for children was 18 percent in 2007—much higher than the poverty rates for adults 18-64 (10.9 percent) and for the elderly (9.7 percent). U.S. Census Bureau, 2008
  • A family of four generally needs to earn twice the poverty threshold to provide children with basic necessities. National Center for Children in Poverty, 2008


Employment alone is not always sufficient to provide a family’s basic needs

  • 55 percent of children in low-income families have at least one parent who works full-time, year-round. National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP), 2008
  • 36 percent of households receiving emergency food assistance had at least one employed adult. Feeding America, 2007 (Formerly America’s Second Harvest)
  • In 2005, 25 percent of all workers earned a poverty level hourly wage.Economic Policy Institute, 2008


Minorities and immigrants are disproportionately affected by poverty

  • 24.5 percent of black and 21.5 percent of Hispanic people live in poverty, compared to 8.2 percent of white people. 34.5 percent of black and 28.6 percent of Hispanic children live in poverty, compared to 15 percent of white children. U.S. Census Bureau, 2008
  • 16.5 percent of foreign born US residents experience poverty versus 11.9 percent of native born residents. This number is particularly high among immigrants who have not naturalized, at 21.3 percent.U.S. Census Bureau, 2008

 

Section Features | U.S. Poverty Reduction Brings Development Home

Rising Food Prices and Hunger in the U.S.

"Retail food prices remained stable over the last two decades. But in 2007, grocery prices rose 4.2 percent, the largest increase since 1990. Prices for milk, bread, flour, and eggs doubled in the last year.

Families seeking food assistance from SNAP (formerly the food stamp program) reached a record high in September 2008.

More than one in 10 Americans now receives food stamps." Read more »

 U.S. Poverty Figures

"Over 37 million people in the United States lived in poverty in 2007.

The number of people living in poverty has increased by almost 6 million since 2000.

55 percent of children in low-income families have at least one parent who works full-time, year-round.

24.5 percent of black and 21.5 percent of Hispanic people live in poverty, compared to 8.2 percent of white people. Read more »

Hunger and Human Development

"Infants (12 months or younger) that did not receive WIC benefits because of access problems were more likely to be underweight, short, and perceived as having fair/poor health than were WIC recipients.

In children aged 6-11, food insufficiency is associated with low arithmetic scores and the likelihood of repeating a grade, having seen a psychologist, and having had difficulty getting along with other children." Read more »

Hunger 2009
Global Development:
Charting a New Course