About 10% Of U.S. Counties Have Had Poverty Rates Of 20% Or Higher For Two Decades

More than 300 U.S. counties have experienced sustained high poverty for the past two decades, according to newly released Census Bureau data. In 309 counties—about 10% of all U.S. counties—poverty rates remained at 20% or higher across every five-year period from 2005 through 2024. In comparison, the national poverty rate was 10.6% in 2024.

Sustained poverty is concentrated geographically. Approximately 85% of these counties are located in Southern states, with clusters in regions such as the Mississippi Delta and Appalachia.

While the number of counties with high poverty rates has declined over time, it . . .