Poverty in the U.S. has been the lowest ever from 2019-24

The average poverty rate for the years 2019-2024 is 11.13%. This includes the 2 lowest years ever reported by the U.S. Census Bureau: 2019 (10.5%) & 2024 (10.6%).

The average from 1959-2018 was 14.02%. The average from 2009-2018 was 13.9%.

The highest in any one year from 2019-2024 was 11.6% (2021). So that is much lower than historical averages.

The 11.13% for the six years from 2019-2024 is the lowest six year average ever. The previous low was 11.57% from 1968-1973. 49 of the 60 six year periods averaged at least 12.0%.

See Historical Poverty Tables: People and Families - 1959 to 2024. Then click on Table 2. Poverty Status of People by Family Relationship, Race, and Hispanic Origin. It is an Excel file. 

Related post:

A comparison of the inflation rates, unemployment rates and poverty rates from 1975-83 with the current rates (2024)