This Is How Many Georgia Children Live in Poverty

As of 2019, more than 12 million U.S. children — 16.8% of all Americans under the age of 18 — were living below the poverty line in this country. This is significantly higher than the overall national poverty rate of 12.3%.

Child poverty varies widely from state to state. In some parts of the country, fewer than 10% of children live below the poverty line. In others, more than a quarter of children are impoverished. None of the six New England states have a child poverty rate exceeding the U.S. average for children of 16.8%. On the other hand, of the seven states with child poverty rates over 20%, six are in the South.

Though the federal poverty level is the same for all states and the District of Columbia, the reality is that a dollar goes much farther in some parts of the country than others. In some states, the cost of living for most families of two is less than $45,000 per year, including housing and food costs. In other states, that cost can be well over $65,000. This is the income a family really needs to avoid poverty in every state.

Children are more likely to live in poverty than adults in the U.S. The overall national poverty rate is 12.3%, but the poverty rate for those under 18 years old is 16.8%. In Georgia, the child poverty rate is higher than the national rate, at 18.7%. This is the 14th highest child poverty rate among states.

Georgia has a relatively low median household income, at $61,980. The U.S. median is $65,712. Families are much more likely to have very low incomes in Georgia compared to other states. Nationwide, 3.3% of families earn less than $10,000 per year. In Georgia, 3.7% of families live on less than $10,000 annually — tied for the 12th highest percentage of all states.

To determine the number of children living in poverty and the child poverty rate in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed poverty and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Supplemental data also came from the ACS.