Child Well-Being Declined In 29 States Between 2019 & 2024, Improved In 15 States & Remained Stable In 6 States; Education Losses Drove The Decline

Between 2019 and 2024, child well-being declined in 29 states, primarily because of declines in education indicators, according to the 2026 Kids Count Data Book compiled by the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF). Child well-being ranked highest in New Hampshire (1), Massachusetts (2), and Utah (3), and lowest in Louisiana (48), New Mexico (49), and Mississippi (50).

The Data Book ranks states using 16 indicators of child well-being. Since 2019, performance improved on seven of the 16 indicators, worsened on seven, and remained unchanged on two.

Among the indicators showing improvement, teen birth rates declined, fewer children . . .