Mississippi consistently ranks as the poorest U.S. state, often followed by Louisiana, New Mexico, West Virginia, and Kentucky, due to having the lowest median household incomes and the highest poverty rates, though exact rankings vary slightly by the specific 2025 data source, with Louisiana sometimes leading in share of people in poverty. These states struggle with high child poverty, food insecurity, and lower life expectancies, with median incomes well below the national average, as seen in data from late 2024 and mid-2025 reports.
List Of the US States With the Highest Poverty Rates Mississippi (19.58%) West Virginia (17.10%) Arkansas (16.08%) New Mexico (18.55%) Louisiana (18.65%) Kentucky (16.61%) Alabama (15.98%) Oklahoma (15.27%) South Carolina (14.68%) Tennessee (14.62%) North Carolina (13.98%) Georgia (14.28%)
The 2025 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for the 48 contiguous states and D.C. starts at $15,650 for one person, increasing by $5,500 for each additional household member (e.g., $32,150 for a family of four), with higher figures for Alaska and Hawaii. These guidelines, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), determine eligibility for programs like Medicaid and health insurance subsidies.
To begin with, we're bringing you the main event: the wealthiest state by 2025. Combining each of the three criteria, California comes out on top, with an impressive index score of 2.71, followed by Massachusetts (2.13), Washington (2.00), New York (1.95), and Hawaii (1.52).
Take Detroit, Michigan—a city often synonymous with struggle. With a staggering 31.5% poverty rate, it stands as the poorest big city in America for 2025.
Overall leaders: WalletHub's 2025 “Best States to Live” ranking puts Massachusetts, Idaho, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Minnesota in the top five. Natural environment standouts: U.S. News ranks Hawaii No.
A poverty wage in the U.S. is generally considered any pay that keeps a full-time worker below the federal poverty line (FPL), which for 2024 was around $15,060 for an individual and $31,200 for a family of four, making the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour a poverty wage for full-time work. These thresholds, updated annually by HHS, determine eligibility for assistance programs, with higher figures for Alaska and Hawaii due to cost of living differences.
The 2025 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for the 48 contiguous states and D.C. starts at $15,650 for one person, increasing by $5,500 for each additional household member (e.g., $32,150 for a family of four), with higher figures for Alaska and Hawaii. These guidelines, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), determine eligibility for programs like Medicaid and health insurance subsidies.
The states with the lowest incomes in the U.S. consistently include Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Kentucky, often appearing at the bottom for both median household income and poverty rates, indicating lower earnings and higher poverty levels, particularly in the South. These states face challenges with low wages and higher poverty, with Mississippi frequently cited as having the lowest median household income overall.
Mississippi consistently ranks as the state with the highest poverty rate in the U.S., often followed by states like Louisiana, New Mexico, and West Virginia, according to World Population Review data from late 2024/early 2025 and U.S. Census data cited by FCNL and Visual Capitalist. Factors contributing to Mississippi's high poverty include low median household income, lower educational attainment, and higher rates of child poverty, though rates have seen some improvement over the years.
The pyramid shows that: half of the world's net wealth belongs to the top 1%, top 10% of adults hold 85%, while the bottom 90% hold the remaining 15% of the world's total wealth, top 30% of adults hold 97% of the total wealth.
Where Americans Moved in 2025. In 2025, the data revealed inbound migration patterns to states across Southern regions, with a few exceptions. Inbound moves were led by Oregon (65%), West Virgina (62%) and South Carolina (61%).
The highest poverty rates in the United States are in the U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands). American Samoa has the lowest per capita income in the United States — it has a per capita income comparable to that of Botswana.