what is the poverty level in the united states
The U.S. official poverty rate was 10.6% in 2024, which equals about 35.9 million people living below the poverty line. The Census Bureau says a person or family is counted in poverty if their income is below the official poverty threshold for their household size and composition.
Poverty thresholds
For 2024, the poverty guideline for the 48 contiguous states was $15,060 for one person and $31,200 for a family of four. The official poverty thresholds used for statistics are similar but not identical to the federal poverty guidelines used for program eligibility.
What it means
- A single number does not capture everyone’s situation, because the poverty line changes by household size and sometimes by location/program rules.
- The 2024 official poverty rate of 10.6% was down slightly from 2023.
- In plain terms, the poverty line is the income cutoff the government uses to estimate how many people lack enough resources for basic needs.
Quick reference
| Measure | 2024 figure |
|---|---|
| Official poverty rate | 10.6% | [9]
| People in poverty | 35.9 million | [9]
| 1-person poverty guideline | $15,060 | [8]
| Family of 4 poverty guideline | $31,200 | [8]