Figure C
Just four of the 16 Southern states have a lower poverty rate than the national average: Poverty rate by state, 2023
| Southern states plus DC and US | Population for whom poverty status is determined |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | 18.9% |
| Mississippi | 18.0% |
| West Virginia | 16.7% |
| Kentucky | 16.4% |
| Oklahoma | 15.9% |
| Arkansas | 15.7% |
| Alabama | 15.6% |
| District of Columbia | 14.0% |
| Tennessee | 14.0% |
| South Carolina | 13.9% |
| Texas | 13.7% |
| Georgia | 13.6% |
| North Carolina | 12.8% |
| United States | 12.5% |
| Florida | 12.3% |
| Delaware | 10.5% |
| Virginia | 10.2% |
| Maryland | 9.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. 2023b. “S1703: Selected Characteristics of People at Specified Levels of Poverty in the Past 12 Months.” Public data series accessed via the Census data tool. Accessed March 2025.
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