More than 2 in 5 low-income Black and Hispanic families continue to struggle with poverty after the last two crises: Share of low-income families below the federal poverty line (FPL), 2007–2023

Year White Black Hispanic
2007 38.7% 53.6% 44.6%
2008 37.8% 54.4% 46.7%
2009 41.0% 55.0% 49.3%
2010 42.1% 57.7% 51.2%
2011 42.1% 58.5% 48.2%
2012 41.1% 57.7% 49.8%
2013 44.4% 52.3% 49.2%
2014 41.2% 56.0% 47.5%
2015 39.8% 52.7% 44.2%
2016 39.8% 50.1% 43.8%
2017 40.0% 49.1% 43.3%
2018 38.0% 49.3% 40.8%
2019 38.1% 50.0% 38.8%
2020 41.0% 49.8% 40.9%
2021 37.4% 49.8% 41.6%
2022 40.0% 44.1% 42.1%
2023 38.9% 47.4% 42.0%
Economic Policy Institute

Note: Low-income refers to families with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty line. Shaded areas denote recessions. Race and ethnicity are mutually exclusive (i.e., white alone non-Hispanic, Black alone or in any combination non-Hispanic, Hispanic any race). 

Source: EPI analysis of 2008–2024 U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement microdata.

View the underlying data on epi.org.