Kids Count Data Center

Poverty

Child Poverty -- Annual Estimates (2008)

The number of children living in poverty estimates related children under the age of 18 who live in families with incomes below the U.S. poverty threshold.  The percent of children living in poverty compares the estimate of chilren living in poverty to an estimate of children who live in families with any amount of income. Related children are the children related to the "family head" by birth, marriage or adoption and include relatives such as nieces and nephews. Children under age 18 who do not live in a household where they are related to the head of the household are not included in this analysis. Data estimates only families for whom an income level has been determined.  Updated annually using the Consumer Price Index, the poverty thresholds, as defined by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, are based upon the amount of money required to purchase a nutritionally adequate diet. A family is classified as poor if its income falls below this minimum standard. For example, in 2008, a single adult (under age 65) with one child would be counted as poor if their income fell below $1,207/month; with two children below $1,430/month; with three children below $1,835; and so on.