By Kids Count Data Center, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, September 27, 2019
In 2018, 13 million children in the United States — 18% of all kids — were living in poverty, and for the first time since 2014, the percentage did not decrease compared to the previous year. This is discouraging news; all children should have the economic security that provides them the opportunity to thrive. However, the share of children in poverty remains significantly lower than its recent peak of 23%, seen in 2011 and 2012 in the shadow of the Great Recession, and the rate has not been lower than 18% since 2001.
Racial and ethnic disparities remained sharp, reflecting the work that remains to be done to address persistent inequities. African American (32%) and American Indian (31%) children are nearly three times as likely — and Latino kids (26%) more than twice as likely — to live in poverty as white (11%) and Asian and Pacific Islander (11%) children.
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