According to a 2025 report from the US Census Bureau, a family of four needs to have an annual income of US$32,150, and US$15,650 for an individual, to be above the poverty level. This is applicable to 48 contiguous states, while the District of Columbia, Alaska, and Hawaii have separate poverty measures.
Poverty is a combination of several systemic issues like discrimination and inequality, which limit economic opportunities for some communities. High cost of living, unaffordable housing, low wages, and unemployment also result in a significant portion of the population living in poverty. In this gallery, we take a look at some states with the highest level of poverty and its underlying factors. Curious to know which states are on the list? Click to find out.