According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2019, about 18.5 million children (or 14.2%) under the age of 18 in the United States were living in poverty. Additionally, in 2019, an estimated 34.5 million children (or 26.5%) under the age of 18 were living in families with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level, which is considered to be near poverty.
It’s important to note that poverty and near poverty can have a significant impact on a child’s well-being, including their physical and mental health, education, and overall development. Many studies have shown that children from low-income families are at a disadvantage in terms of education, health and overall well-being, compared to children from more affluent families.
It’s also important to note that, poverty and near poverty affect children of color at a disproportionately high rate. In 2019, for example, about 19.4% of children of Black or African American, and 18.0% of Hispanic or Latino children were living in poverty, compared to 9.3% of white children.