Mapped: U.S. Poverty Rates by State

Key Takeaways

• The highest poverty rates in the U.S. are concentrated in the South and Southwestern states.
• Louisiana leads at 18.9%, followed by New Mexico (18.5%), Mississippi (17.3%), Arkansas (15.8%), and West Virginia (15.3%).
• These states often have lower wages, fewer high-paying industries, and different economic structures compared to states with lower poverty rates.