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In 2019, child poverty rates had dropped among all major racial and ethnic groups


In 2019, child poverty rates had dropped among all major racial and ethnic groups
% of children living in poverty, by race and ethnicity
Chart
Source: U.S. Census Bureau historical poverty data, 1976-2019.
Note: Children include those who are younger than 18. White children include only those who report being one race and are not Hispanic. In 2001 and earlier, Asian Americans included Pacific Islanders. Data on Asian Americans not available prior to 1987. From 2002-2019, respondents could choose more than one race; White, Black and Asian children include only the single-race components of their populations in these years. Hispanics are of any race.
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In 2019, child poverty rates had dropped among all major racial and ethnic groups

% of children living in poverty, by race and ethnicity

YearAsianWhiteHispanicBlack
1976 9.8%30.2%40.6%
1977 9.9%28.3%41.8%
1978 9.6%27.6%41.5%
1979 10.1%28.0%41.2%
1980 11.8%33.2%42.3%
1981 12.9%35.9%45.2%
1982 14.4%39.5%47.6%
1983 14.8%38.1%46.7%
1984 13.7%39.2%46.6%
1985 12.8%40.3%43.6%
1986 13.0%37.7%43.1%
198723.5%11.8%39.3%45.1%
198824.1%11.0%37.6%43.5%
198919.8%11.5%36.2%43.7%
199017.6%12.3%38.4%44.8%
199117.5%13.1%40.4%45.9%
199216.4%13.2%40.0%46.6%
199318.2%13.6%40.9%46.1%
199418.3%12.5%41.5%43.8%
199519.5%11.2%40.0%41.9%
199619.5%11.1%40.3%39.9%
199720.3%11.4%36.8%37.2%
199818.0%10.6%34.4%36.7%
199911.9%9.4%30.3%33.2%
200012.7%9.1%28.4%31.2%
200111.5%9.5%28.0%30.2%
200211.7%9.4%28.6%32.3%
200312.5%9.8%29.7%34.1%
20049.9%10.5%28.9%33.7%
200511.1%10.0%28.3%34.5%
200612.2%10.0%26.9%33.4%
200712.5%10.1%28.6%34.5%
200814.6%10.6%30.6%34.7%
200914.0%11.9%33.1%35.7%
201014.4%12.3%34.9%39.0%
201113.5%12.5%34.1%38.8%
201213.8%12.3%33.8%37.9%
201310.1%10.7%30.4%38.3%
201414%12.3%31.9%37.1%
201512.3%12.1%28.9%32.9%
201611.1%10.8%26.6%30.8%
201710.4%10.2%25.0%30.4%
201811.3%8.9%23.7%29.5%
20197.3%8.3%20.9%26.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau historical poverty data, 1976-2019.

Note: Children include those who are younger than 18. White children include only those who report being one race and are not Hispanic. In 2001 and earlier, Asian Americans included Pacific Islanders. Data on Asian Americans not available prior to 1987. From 2002-2019, respondents could choose more than one race; White, Black and Asian children include only the single-race components of their populations in these years. Hispanics are of any race.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER


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