The U.S. government defines poverty based on income thresholds that vary by family size and composition,, updating them annually for inflation. In 2024, the federal poverty level (FPL) is generally defined as an annual income of $15,060 for an individual and $31,200 for a family of four. Anyone with a total pre-tax income below these levels is considered in poverty.
According to the most recent report issued in January 2023, the poverty threshold for a family of four is $29,960. For an individual, the poverty threshold is $14,891. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issues its poverty guidelines based on the Census Bureau's poverty thresholds.
What is poverty? The U.S. government uses income to measure poverty. A family of four needs more than $30,000 a year to afford basic necessities.
The United States measures poverty based on how an individual's or family's income compares to a set federal threshold. For example, in the 2021 definition, people are considered impoverished if their individual income is below $12,880 or their household income is below $26,500 for a family of 4.
Poverty level income, or the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), is an income threshold set annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that varies by household size, used to determine eligibility for federal programs, with the 2025 guideline being about $15,650 for a single person and $32,150 for a family of four, increasing for each additional person. These guidelines are based on the Census Bureau's poverty thresholds, adjusted for inflation, and help define who qualifies for benefits like subsidized health insurance or nutritional assistance.
Since India is a lower-middle-income country, poverty estimates under the LMIC poverty line of $4.20 per day (2021 PPP) are considered more appropriate for the country. At the LMIC poverty line, 24% of India's population or nearly one in four Indians were poor in 2022.
The term "poor" generally refers to individuals or groups who have an income level significantly below the established national poverty line. This line is determined based on various factors, including family size and geographic location, and is used to assess eligibility for government assistance programs.
Scheduled tribes comprise 8% of India's population–104 million as per the 2011 Census–yet, they account for one-fourth of its population living in the poorest wealth quintile, according to a World Bank brief, India's Adivasis.
The U.S. Census Bureau's poverty threshold for a family with two adults and one child was $25,249 in 2024. This is the official measurement of poverty used by the Federal Government, and the measure used for most poverty-based data presented on State Health Facts.
Official Poverty Measure
The OPM uses calculations of these three elements—income, poverty threshold, and family composition—to estimate what percentage of the population experiences poverty.
The Poor Any individual or group of individuals that is deprived of the means that are considered basic is classified as poor because he is not capable of satisfying his needs in the way that he desires.
$50,000 a year is generally considered a middle-class income nationally, but whether it's "low income" depends heavily on your location and household size, as it can feel low in high-cost cities like San Francisco or New York but comfortable in lower-cost Midwest areas, especially for a single person. For federal purposes, it's well above the poverty line but might qualify for some assistance in very expensive areas.
Dalit (English: /ˈdælɪt/, Hindi: [d̪əlɪt̪] from Sanskrit: दलित meaning "broken/scattered"), also called Harijans ( Hindi: [ɦəɾɪdʒən]) is a term used for untouchables and outcasts, who represent the lowest stratum of the castes in the Indian subcontinent.
Rajesh Saraiya (born 1969) is an Indian industrialist and member of the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI). He is considered as the first Dalit billionaire of India.
A measure of relative poverty defines "poverty" as being below some relative poverty threshold. For example, the statement that "those individuals who are employed and whose household equivalised disposable income is below 60% of national median equivalised income are poor" uses a relative measure to define poverty.
Sociologists have identified several types of poverty, including:
There are two main ways to measure poverty: "objective" and "welfaristic." Objective poverty lines look at whether people can afford a fixed list of basic needs. Welfaristic poverty lines look at whether people are worse off than a certain standard of living. These two methods can give different results.
Bihar is consistently ranked as India's poorest state by metrics like the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and per capita income, with significant portions of its population in poverty, though figures vary by report and year, often followed by Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. While these states lag in development, indicating a significant gap with wealthier states like Goa and Kerala, the BIMARU acronym highlights this historical trend, despite some recent growth.
Let that sink in. In a country of 140 crore people, this income level already places you among the highest earners.