The chart reveals Mississippi leading with the highest child poverty rate, peaking at 28.3% in 2021 and slightly declining to 27.3% by 2025, followed closely by Louisiana with 26.1% in 2025. New Mexico ranks third with 25.4%, while Arkansas records 24.5%. States like West Virginia, Kentucky, and Alabama maintain rates above 22%, highlighting persistent economic challenges. Although there is a gradual downward trend across most states, the figures indicate continued socioeconomic disparities in the southern and central U.S., emphasizing the urgent need for policy interventions to address child poverty in these regions.
| Labels | 2020 (%) | 2021 (%) | 2022 (%) | 2023 (%) | 2024 (%) | 2025 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 27.9 | 28.3 | 28.1 | 27.8 | 27.5 | 27.3 |
| Louisiana | 26.8 | 27 | 26.9 | 26.5 | 26.3 | 26.1 |
| New Mexico | 25.6 | 26.1 | 26 | 25.8 | 25.5 | 25.4 |
| Arkansas | 24.9 | 25.3 | 25.1 | 24.8 | 24.6 | 24.5 |
| West Virginia | 24.2 | 24.4 | 24.3 | 23.9 | 23.8 | 23.6 |
| Kentucky | 23.7 | 24 | 23.8 | 23.5 | 23.3 | 23.1 |
| Alabama | 22.8 | 23.1 | 23 | 22.7 | 22.5 | 22.4 |
| Oklahoma | 22.5 | 22.7 | 22.6 | 22.3 | 22.1 | 22.1 |
| South Carolina | 22 | 22.3 | 22.2 | 21.9 | 21.7 | 21.5 |
| Tennessee | 21.7 | 21.9 | 21.8 | 21.6 | 21.4 | 21.3 |
