Poverty rates highest for rural children under 5 years old in 2023

The poverty rate for rural children under 5 years old was the highest of any age group in both rural and urban areas, standing at 20.9 percent. The poverty status of children is based on their family’s total income, so it is typically correlated with labor force characteristics of the parent(s). Young adults often have low levels of education, may be enrolled in school, and may be early in their career or have limited time in the workforce, which may restrict their ability as parents to earn enough to be above the poverty level. In addition, workers in many rural areas face limited job opportunities and lower wages relative to urban areas. Single parenthood (only one potential earner) and lack of childcare can also inhibit parental engagement in the labor force. The poverty rate—the portion of the population living below the official poverty level—for the rural population in general was 13.6 percent (about 6 million people) in 2023 compared with 10.7 percent for the urban population. About 46 million people lived in rural counties in 2023, roughly 14 percent of the U.S. population. This figure appears in Rural America at a Glance: 2024 Edition, published in November 2024.