Poverty Rate for Latino Kids Hits Pre-recession Level
In America’s battle against poverty, there’s some good news to share: The prevalence of poverty among America’s Latino children has returned to a pre-recession rate — 28% — despite rising from 2008 to 2013.
Good news: Among America’s youngest Latinos (ages 5 and under), the poverty rate has dipped to 30% — below the pre-recession mark for this age group.
Despite these gains, the prevalence of poverty among Latino children continues to be high. In 2016, Latino kids were more than twice as likely as their white peers to live in poverty, and nearly one-third of all Latino children were growing up poor.
At the state level: Poverty rates among Latino children range from a high of 39% in Pennsylvania, Alabama and Kentucky to a low of 11% in Hawaii.
Policies like the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Affordable Care Act and child care assistance have helped lower the nation’s child poverty rate. Looking ahead: Added support and action are necessary to help reduce persistent disparities and ensure that all children — regardless of their demographic details — have an equal chance to grow and thrive.
Access economic well-being data on the KIDS COUNT Data Center:
- Population in poverty
- Families with related children that are below poverty by family type
- Children in extreme poverty
- Children in poverty
- Children in poverty by race and ethnicity
- Children in poverty by age group
- Children in poverty by age group and by race and ethnicity
- Children below 150% poverty
- Children below 200% poverty
- Persons ages 18 to 24 in poverty
