Most Southern states have poverty rates above the national average: Poverty rates in Southern states and the U.S., 2019
| State | Poverty rate |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | 19.6% |
| Louisiana | 19.0% |
| Kentucky | 16.3% |
| Arkansas | 16.2% |
| West Virginia | 16.0% |
| Alabama | 15.5% |
| Oklahoma | 15.2% |
| Tennessee | 13.9% |
| South Carolina | 13.8% |
| Texas | 13.6% |
| North Carolina | 13.6% |
| District of Columbia | 13.5% |
| Georgia | 13.3% |
| Florida | 12.7% |
| United States | 12.3% |
| Delaware | 11.3% |
| Virginia | 9.9% |
| Maryland | 9.0% |
Source: Author’s analysis of American Community Survey table S1703 for 2019.