KIDS COUNT indicators capture what children and youth need most across four domains:
Each domain includes four indicators for a total of 16.
Because state policies play a critical role in shaping children's lives, a child's future success often depends on where they grow up.
This year’s Data Book tells a mixed story — steady progress in some areas, setbacks in others and opportunities to do better for kids and families.
Since 2019, seven of the 16 key indicators have improved, six have worsened and three have stayed the same. Bright spots include:
Some of these trends reflect years of progress. Others highlight the resilience of children and families after the COVID-19 pandemic and the success of strong policies that provided support during that time.
Among all four domains, Education saw the biggest decline — 3 out of 4 education indicators worsened since 2019:
Still, there's encouraging news: High school graduation rates continued to rise, a sign of students’ perseverance and the support of families, schools and communities.
In 2023, only 5% of children were without health insurance, down from 6% in 2019. This is an encouraging milestone made possible through coordinated, effective policy.
The Family and Community domain also shows promise:
These trends show that meaningful progress is possible, especially when investments are targeted and sustained.
However, serious challenges remain as 16% of children still live in poverty, and nearly 1 in 3 children live in households struggling with high housing costs.
Where a child lives continues to matter deeply, with stark geographic disparities shaped by local and state policies, economic conditions, community investment and infrastructure.
This year's Data Book highlights these patterns clearly:
These gaps aren’t just between states, however: They show up between neighborhoods and ZIP codes.
Looking closer, each state shows a mix of progress and ongoing needs. Some states made strong gains — like higher graduation rates or less concentrated poverty — while still facing deep challenges. Others that rank highly overall still struggle with persistent child poverty or housing burdens. Strong state-level numbers can sometimes mask the struggles of individual children or communities.
We know what helps kids thrive: stable homes, strong schools, nutritious food, supportive relationships and real opportunities to learn and grow. These aren’t luxuries, they’re basic needs, shared by all children in all communities, and meeting them is a shared responsibility. We need action at every level — backed by data, shaped by what families say they need and committed to ensuring that all young people have the chance to succeed.
When we get it right, we’re not just helping children — we’re strengthening the workforce, reducing long-term costs and building a better future for everyone.
View the national data profile or download your state's data profile as a PDF below:
View the 2025 national data profile in Spanish or download your state's data profile as a PDF below:
The Foundation calculates a composite index of overall child well-being for each state by combining data across four domains: (1) Economic Well-Being, (2) Education, (3) Health and (4) Family and Community. These scores are then translated into state rankings. Explore overall child well-being in the interactive KIDS COUNT Data Book.
The Northeast includes five of the top 10 states for overall child well-being — New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut — showing consistent strength across domains.
States like Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin rank highly overall. However, some Midwestern states — such as North Dakota and Michigan — rank low in Education despite strong Economic Well-Being scores.
North Dakota ranks first in Economic Well-Being but 42nd in Education, while Mississippi ranks low overall yet 16th in Education. Similarly, New York excels in Health and Education but ranks 46th in Economic Well-Being, and Maine lags in Education despite strong Family and Community scores. These gaps reveal that state-level success in one area doesn’t guarantee across-the-board well-being for children.
To help children grow into prepared, productive adults, parents need jobs with family-sustaining pay, affordable housing and the ability to invest in their children’s future. Explore economic well-being in the interactive KIDS COUNT Data Book.
Growing up in poverty is one of the greatest threats to healthy child development. It increases the likelihood that a child will be exposed to factors that can impair brain development and lead to poor academic, cognitive and health outcomes.
The child poverty rate for 2023 ranged from a low of 8% in New Hampshire to a high of 25% in Louisiana and New Mexico. In Puerto Rico, 54% of children lived in poverty.
Housing is one of the largest expenses for families, and high costs disproportionately affect those with low incomes. When families spend more than 30% of their income on housing, they have fewer resources for essentials like food, child care and health care — making it harder to achieve financial stability.
In 2023, 44% of Black children and 40% of Latino children lived in households with a high housing cost burden, compared with 22% of white kids.
Teens ages 16 to 19 who are not in school or working face significant barriers as they enter adulthood — especially those who have left school, transitioned out of foster care or had early contact with the juvenile justice system. Even among youth who have completed high school, limited work experience, skills and financial resources can block access to meaningful employment and long-term economic stability.
American Indian or Alaska Native (10%), Black (9%), Latino (8%) and multiracial (7%) teens had higher rates of neither being in school nor working than their white (6%) and Asian and Pacific Islander (3%) counterparts.
The early years of a child’s life lay the foundation for lifelong success. Establishing the conditions that promote educational achievement for children is critical. Explore educational well-being in the interactive KIDS COUNT Data Book.
Reading by third grade is a pivotal milestone in a child’s education, as students begin using reading to learn other subjects in fourth grade. Those who fall behind at this stage face greater risks of academic struggles, school dropout and limited career opportunities. Despite some progress since the 1990s, literacy gains have stalled — and the pandemic has further set back reading proficiency, especially for children in low-income families and communities of color.
State differences in fourth grade reading levels among public school students were wide. Massachusetts had the lowest percentage of fourth graders who were not proficient in reading, at 60%, compared with a high of 80% in New Mexico. All states have more than half of their fourth graders struggling to read on grade level.
As the economy evolves, strong math and science skills are increasingly essential for success in school, work and daily life. These skills open doors to higher education, better jobs and financial stability — even for those who don’t pursue college. Expanding access to high-quality math education early and throughout childhood is key to helping young people thrive.
Data show eighth grade math achievement worsened across all racial and ethnic groups between 2019 and 2024. The largest percentage point drops in proficiency were seen among white and multiracial students.
Earning a high school diploma expands opportunities for young people, leading to higher education, better health choices and stronger employment prospects. In 2023, median annual earnings for individuals without a diploma were just 80% of those with one — and less than half the earnings of someone with a bachelor’s degree. Graduating on time is a critical step toward long-term stability and success.
After a decade of steady gains, progress in on-time high school graduation stalled. In 2021–22, 13% of students did not graduate within four years.
Children’s good health is fundamental to their overall development, and ensuring kids are born healthy is the first step toward improving their life chances. Poor health in childhood affects other critical aspects of children’s lives, such as school readiness and attendance, and can have lasting consequences on their future health and well-being. Explore health indicators in the interactive KIDS COUNT Data Book.
Birth weight is a key measure of infant health, with low birth-weight babies facing greater risks of developmental delays, disabilities and early death. Factors like poverty, poor nutrition, stress and exposure to violence can contribute to low birth weight. Among wealthy nations, the United States has one of the highest rates of babies born underweight — trailing only Japan, Greece and Colombia.
In 2023, 14.3% of Black infants were born at a low birth weight — more than double the rate for white babies (7%) and significantly higher than for Latino infants (7.9%). Rates rose across all racial and ethnic groups between 2019 and 2023, underscoring persistent disparities in birth outcomes.
Health insurance helps children access regular, preventive care and treatment for illnesses or injuries, supporting their overall well-being and school readiness. Kids without coverage are less likely to get the care they need, and families may face financial hardship during health emergencies. Ensuring coverage is key to keeping children healthy, active and on track to learn.
Massachusetts had the lowest rate of children without insurance, 1%, compared with a high of 12% in Texas. Although not ranked, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico also had low rates of children without insurance at 1% and 2%, respectively.
The child and teen death rate reflects many factors, including health, safety, community conditions and adult supervision. Accidents remain the leading cause of death for children, while teens face growing risks from homicides and suicides — together accounting for 76% of deaths among 15- to 19-year-olds in 2023. Since 2020, firearms have been the top cause of death for kids and teens ages 1 to 17.
In 2023, 22,841 children and youth ages 1 to 19 died in the United States, which translates into a mortality rate of 29 deaths per 100,000 children and teens. The child and teen mortality rate increased by 16% from 2019 to 2023.
Childhood obesity can lead to serious health issues — including asthma, heart disease and diabetes — and often affects emotional well-being through stigma and low self-esteem. These risks are shaped by environments that promote unhealthy food choices, limit physical activity and restrict access to nutritious options. Early interventions are essential to support healthy growth and lifelong wellness.
Asian and Pacific Islander children and teens were the least likely (22%) to be overweight or obese, while Latino (39%) and Black children and teens (38%) were the most likely. Compared to 2018–19, the rate of overweight or obese American Indian or Alaska Native, Black and multiracial children and teens decreased from pre-pandemic levels.
Children who live in nurturing families and supportive communities have stronger personal connections and higher academic achievement. Explore familial and community well-being in the interactive KIDS COUNT Data Book.
Children whose parents have higher levels of education tend to experience better health, stronger academic outcomes and greater opportunities later in life. In contrast, kids whose parents did not finish high school face more barriers, including health challenges and limited economic prospects. As the job market increasingly demands advanced skills, it is encouraging that parental education levels have risen steadily in recent decades.
In 2023, 11% of children lived in households headed by an adult without a high school diploma. This is a slight improvement from 2019, where the rate was 12%. While this is only a slight improvement, the rate has been cut in half since 1990, when 22% of children lived with parents who lacked a high school diploma.
Children and families in high-poverty neighborhoods face serious barriers — from underfunded schools and limited job access to higher crime and poorer health outcomes. These conditions make it harder to achieve financial stability and upward mobility. All children in these communities, regardless of household income, are affected by the challenges of concentrated poverty.
Variation among the states remains wide: One percent of children in Colorado, Idaho, New Hampshire, Utah, Vermont and Wyoming lived in high-poverty areas, compared with 20% of children in Louisiana and Mississippi. Puerto Rico (80%) had the highest rate.
Teen childbearing can lead to lasting challenges for both mother and child, including higher risks of preterm birth, low birth weight and limited family resources. Children born to teen mothers often face academic and behavioral hurdles and are more likely to become teen parents themselves. While U.S. teen birth rates have dropped to historic lows, they remain among the highest compared with other wealthy nations.
In 2023, 140,977 babies were born to mothers ages 15 to 19. That translates to a birth rate of 13 births per 1,000 teens.
We hope you'll find value in this report. We’d love to get a little information from you, which we'll use to notify you about relevant new resources.
