which state has the highest poverty rate
Louisiana currently has the highest poverty rate among U.S. states, with just under one in five residents living below the poverty line (about 19–20%).
Quick Scoop
- Louisiana has the highest poverty rate, around 19–20%.
- Mississippi is a very close second, with a poverty rate just under Louisiana’s (about 19%).
- Other states with very high poverty rates include New Mexico, West Virginia, and Kentucky , all with rates well above the national average.
Why Louisiana ranks highest
- Louisiana struggles with long‑term economic hardship , including lower median incomes and fewer high‑paying jobs than many other states.
- Historic and ongoing issues like limited access to quality education, vulnerability to hurricanes and floods, and regional inequality contribute to persistent high poverty levels.
How this fits into the latest news
- Recent analyses of 2024–2025 data show that Southern states dominate the top of the poverty‑rate rankings, highlighting a sustained regional gap in economic well‑being.
- National debates about the cost of living, wage growth, and safety‑net programs often reference these high‑poverty states as examples of where policy changes could have the biggest impact.
Mini table: states with highest poverty
| Rank | State | Poverty rate (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | ≈19.6% |
| 2 | Mississippi | ≈19.4% |
| 3 | New Mexico | ≈18–18.5% |
| 4 | West Virginia | ≈16–17% |
| 5 | Kentucky | ≈16–17% |
TL;DR
Louisiana has the highest poverty rate of any U.S. state right now, narrowly edging out Mississippi, with several other Southern and Southwestern states also facing very high poverty levels.
Information gathered from public data and reporting available on the internet and portrayed here.