Children in Poverty by Race and Ethnicity (U.S. Only) (Archives, 1959-2023)

Database Detail

Name	Children in Poverty by Race and Ethnicity (U.S. Only) (Archives, 1959-2023)
Summary	Children by race and ethnicity as a proportion of all in poverty
Additional Background	This database contains the total number of persons in poverty in the United States and the share of children in poverty by racial and ethnic measures. Poverty is based on money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold, then that family and every individual in it is considered in poverty. The official poverty thresholds do not vary geographically, but they are updated for inflation using Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). The official poverty definition uses money income before taxes and does not include capital gains or noncash benefits (such as public housing, Medicaid, and food stamps). The average poverty threshold for a family of four in 2011 was $23,021. 2013 reflects survey results baseed on the CPS sample of 68,000 addresses. 2013R reflects results based on a redesigned survey mailed to 30,000 addresses. Over the years, the Census Bureau has implemented several changes in its collection of these data. As a result, data are not available for all possible search combinations. These changes include: 1967: New Current Population Survey processing system 1971: Census population controls 1974: New Current Population Survey (CPS) processing system that asked eleven income questions 1979: Census population controls and a questionnaire with 27 possible values from 51 possible sources of income; also, unrelated subfamilies were excluded from all families 1981, Three technical changes to the poverty definition 1983: Implementation of Hispanic population weighting controls 1987: Implementation of a new March CPS processing system 1992: Implementation of 1990 census population controls 1993: Data collection method changed from paper and pencil to computer- assisted interviewing and changes in income amounts on selected questionnaires items 1999: Implementation of Census 2000 based population controls 2000: Implementation of Census 2000 based population controls and sample expanded by 28,000 households 2003: CPS offered respondents the option of choosing more than one race 2010: Implementation of Census 2010-based population controls, including a provision that allowed people of Hispanic origin to identify with any race.
Geographic Coverage	U.S.
Periodicity	Annually
Series Begins/Ends	1959 - 2023
Data Source	U.S. Bureau of the Census

Note: Database contains variables for all categories, areas, and time periods for which data are available from the originating source.

Summary	Children by race and ethnicity as a proportion of all in poverty
Geographic Coverage	U.S.
Series Begins/Ends	1959 - 2023
Reporting Period	Annually
Updated	Oct. 24, 2024
Next update	None
Original Source	U.S. Bureau of the Census
Sample File	Sample_CSV__Children_in_Poverty_by_Race_and_Ethnicity_U.S._Only.zip
Number of records	16
Values Missing or Not Reported	56.3%
File Size	7.9 KB
Latest data available	Year 2023
Source (APA):	StatsUSA. (2024, October 24). Children in Poverty by Race and Ethnicity (U.S. Only) (Archives, 1959-2023). https://statsusa.org/us/stats/children-in-poverty-by-race-and-ethnicity-(u.s.-only)-(archives,-1959-2023).html Set APA as default format Children in Poverty by Race and Ethnicity (U.S. Only) (Archives, 1959-2023). StatsUSA. Last modified October 24, 2024. https://statsusa.org/us/stats/children-in-poverty-by-race-and-ethnicity-(u.s.-only)-(archives,-1959-2023).html. Set Chicago as default format Children in Poverty by Race and Ethnicity (U.S. Only) (Archives, 1959-2023). StatsUSA, 24 Oct 2024, https://statsusa.org/us/stats/children-in-poverty-by-race-and-ethnicity-(u.s.-only)-(archives,-1959-2023).html. Set MLA as default format Children in Poverty by Race and Ethnicity (U.S. Only) (Archives, 1959-2023). StatsUSA. Updated October 24, 2024. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://statsusa.org/us/stats/children-in-poverty-by-race-and-ethnicity-(u.s.-only)-(archives,-1959-2023).html Set AMA as default format
Additional Background	This database contains the total number of persons in poverty in the United States and the share of children in poverty by racial and ethnic measures. Poverty is based on money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold, then that family and every individual in it is considered in poverty. The official poverty thresholds do not vary geographically, but they are updated for inflation using Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). The official poverty definition uses money income before taxes and does not include capital gains or noncash benefits (such as public housing, Medicaid, and food stamps). The average poverty threshold for a family of four in 2011 was $23,021. 2013 reflects survey results baseed on the CPS sample of 68,000 addresses. 2013R reflects results based on a redesigned survey mailed to 30,000 addresses. Over the years, the Census Bureau has implemented several changes in its collection of these data. As a result, data are not available for all possible search combinations. These changes include: more 1967: New Current Population Survey processing system 1971: Census population controls 1974: New Current Population Survey (CPS) processing system that asked eleven income questions 1979: Census population controls and a questionnaire with 27 possible values from 51 possible sources of income; also, unrelated subfamilies were excluded from all families 1981, Three technical changes to the poverty definition 1983: Implementation of Hispanic population weighting controls 1987: Implementation of a new March CPS processing system 1992: Implementation of 1990 census population controls 1993: Data collection method changed from paper and pencil to computer- assisted interviewing and changes in income amounts on selected questionnaires items 1999: Implementation of Census 2000 based population controls 2000: Implementation of Census 2000 based population controls and sample expanded by 28,000 households 2003: CPS offered respondents the option of choosing more than one race 2010: Implementation of Census 2010-based population controls, including a provision that allowed people of Hispanic origin to identify with any race.

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Category Definition

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Category	Units	Definition
Total in poverty	Thousands	Total persons in poverty
Total children in poverty	Thousands	Total persons age 0-17 in poverty
Asian alone	Thousands	A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, or Vietnam.
Asian alone or in combination	Thousands	A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, or Vietnam alone or in combination with other races.
Asian or Pacific Islander	Thousands	A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, or Vietnam or having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
Black	Thousands	A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.
Black alone	Thousands	A person having origins only in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.
Black alone or in combination	Thousands	A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa alone or in combination with other races.
Hispanic origin	Thousands	A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American origin, or a person of other Spanish cultural origin.
White	Thousands	A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.
White alone	Thousands	A person having origins only in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.
White alone, not Hispanic	Thousands	A person having origins only in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa and not of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American origin, or a person of other Spanish cultural origin.
White, not Hispanic	Thousands	A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa not of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American origin, or a person of other Spanish cultural origin.
Two or more races	Thousands	A person having two or more races.
American Indian and Alaska Native alone	Thousands	A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.
American Indian and Alaska Native alone or in combination	Thousands	A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment alone or in combination with another race.

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2013(R) reflects is the portion of the CPS ASEC sample which received the redesigned income questions, approximately 30,000 addresses.
2017(R) reflects implementation of an updated CPS ASEC processing system.

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Children in Poverty by Race and Ethnicity (U.S. Only) (Archives, 1959-2023)

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