Economic Circumstances Figures

NOTE: In 2021, the poverty threshold for a two-parent, two'child family was $27,479. The data for calendar year 2017 and beyond reflect the implementation of an updated processing system. Users should use caution when comparing post-2017 data to pre-2017 data. The source of the calendar year 2013 data for this figure is the portion of the 2014 Current Population Survey (CPS) Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) sample that received income questions consistent with the 2013 CPS ASEC. Data for calendar year 2014 and onward used the redesigned income questions. Users should use caution when comparing 2013 data to 2014 data. The data for 2019 were collected during the global COVID-19 pandemic. While the Census Bureau went to great lengths to continue to complete interviews by telephone, the response rate for the survey was negatively impacted. The Census Bureau creates weights designed to adjust for nonresponse, but non-respondents in 2020 are less similar to respondents than in earlier years. Of particular interest, respondents in 2020 had relatively higher income and were more educated than non-respondents. For possible effects on these estimates, please see https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/research-matters/2020/09/pandemic-affect-survey-response.html. Some estimates have been revised since previous publication in America's Children. The Census Bureau has reviewed this data product to ensure appropriate access, use, and disclosure avoidance protection of the confidential source data used to produce this product (Data Management System (DMS) number: D-0000010797, Disclosure Review Board (DRB) approval number: CBDRB-FY23-SEHSD003-028).

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

NOTE: This graph shows income categories derived from the ratio of a family's income to the family's poverty threshold. In 2021, the poverty threshold for a family of four with two children was $27,479. For example, a family of four with two children would be living below 50% of the poverty threshold if their income was less than $13,740 (50% of $27,479). If the same family's income was at least $27,479 but less than $54,958, the family would be living at 100%–199% of the poverty threshold. The data for calendar year 2017 and beyond reflect the implementation of an updated processing system. Users should use caution when comparing post-2017 data to pre-2017 data. The source of the calendar year 2013 data for this figure is the portion of the 2014 Current Population Survey (CPS) Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) sample that received income questions consistent with the 2013 CPS ASEC. Data for calendar year 2014 and onward used the redesigned income questions. Users should use caution when comparing 2013 data to 2014 data. The data for 2019 were collected during the COVID-19 global pandemic. While the Census Bureau went to great lengths to continue to complete interviews by telephone, the response rate for the survey was negatively impacted. The Census Bureau creates weights designed to adjust for nonresponse, but non-respondents in 2020 are less similar to respondents than in earlier years. Of particular interest, respondents in 2020 had relatively higher income and were more educated than non-respondents. For possible effects on these estimates, please see https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/research-matters/2020/09/pandemic-affect-survey-response.html. The Census Bureau has reviewed this data product to ensure appropriate access, use, and disclosure avoidance protection of the confidential source data used to produce this product (Data Management System (DMS) number: D-0000010797, Disclosure Review Board (DRB) approval number: CBDRB-FY23-SEHSD003-028).

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

NOTE: The term "White, non-Hispanic" is used to refer to people who reported being White and no other race and who are not Hispanic. The term "Black, non-Hispanic" is used to refer to people who reported being Black or African American and no other race and who are not Hispanic, and the term "Asian, non-Hispanic" is used to refer to people who reported only Asian as their race and who are not Hispanic. The use of single-race populations in this table does not imply that this is the preferred method of presenting or analyzing data. The U.S. Census Bureau uses a variety of approaches. From 1980 to 2002, following the 1977 U.S. Office of Management and Budget standards for collecting and presenting data on race, the Current Population Survey (CPS) asked respondents to choose one race from the following: White, Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander. An "Other" category was also offered. Beginning in 2003, the CPS allowed respondents to select one or more race categories. People who reported only one race are referred to as the race-alone population. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. The Census Bureau reviewed this data product for unauthorized disclosure of confidential information and approved the disclosure avoidance practices applied to this release (CBDRB-FY23-SEHSD003-024).

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

NOTE: Year-round, full-time employment is defined as usually working 35 hours or more per week for 50–52 weeks. The data for 2019 were collected during the global COVID-19 pandemic. While the U.S. Census Bureau went to great lengths to continue to complete interviews by telephone, the response rate for the survey was negatively impacted. The Census Bureau creates weights designed to adjust for nonresponse, but non-respondents in 2020 are less similar to respondents than in earlier years. Of particular interest, respondents in 2020 had relatively higher income and were more educated than non-respondents. For possible effects on these estimates, please see https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/research-matters/2020/09/pandemic-affect-survey-response.html. Data for 2020 reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to contain it.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

NOTE: Food-insecure households are those in which either adults or children or both were "food insecure," meaning that, at times, they were unable to acquire adequate food for active, healthy living because the household had insufficient money and other resources for food.

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement; tabulated by Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service and Food and Nutrition Service.