12.0%
Poverty rate
2023
13.2%
Supplemental poverty measure
Highest in the U.S.
Historical data
Long-run evolution of the key indicators, so you can see the trend — not just today's snapshot.
Poverty rate
2010–202312%▼ 26%
Official poverty measure, U.S. Census.
Data table
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 2023 |
| Supplemental poverty measure | 13.2% | Highest in the U.S. |
Compared to the United States
| Indicator | California | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate2023, U.S. Census | 12.0% | 11.5% |
National ranking
California ranks #28 of 49 states by poverty rate.
| #1 | New Hampshire | 7.2% |
| #2 | Utah | 9% |
| #3 | Minnesota | 9.3% |
| #4 | Connecticut | 9.6% |
| #5 | Hawaii | 9.6% |
| #6 | Arkansas | 9.6% |
| #7 | Mississippi | 9.6% |
| #8 | Alabama | 9.6% |
| #9 | South Carolina | 9.6% |
| #10 | West Virginia | 9.6% |
| #11 | Nebraska | 9.6% |
| #12 | Maryland | 9.6% |
| #13 | Iowa | 9.6% |
| #14 | Idaho | 9.6% |
| #15 | Kansas | 9.6% |
| #16 | New Jersey | 9.7% |
| #17 | Colorado | 9.7% |
| #18 | Washington | 10% |
| #19 | Virginia | 10.2% |
| #20 | Massachusetts | 10.4% |
| #21 | Wisconsin | 10.7% |
| #22 | Rhode Island | 10.8% |
| #23 | Delaware | 11.4% |
| #24 | South Dakota | 11.4% |
| #25 | Maine | 11.4% |
| #26 | Illinois | 11.6% |
| #27 | Pennsylvania | 12% |
| #28 | California | 12% |
| #29 | Vermont | 12 |
| #30 | Oregon | 12.1% |
| #31 | Indiana | 12.2% |
| #32 | Nevada | 12.2% |
| #33 | Arizona | 12.2% |
| #34 | Montana | 12.4% |
| #35 | Florida | 12.7% |
| #36 | Missouri | 12.7% |
| #37 | North Carolina | 12.8% |
| #38 | Michigan | 13.2% |
| #39 | Ohio | 13.4% |
| #40 | Georgia | 13.5% |
| #41 | Tennessee | 13.6% |
| #42 | New York | 13.9% |
| #43 | Texas | 14% |
| #44 | Oklahoma | 15.2% |
| #45 | Kentucky | 16.4% |
| #46 | New Mexico | 18.2% |
| #47 | Louisiana | 18.9% |
| #48 | Wyoming | 20% |
| #49 | Alaska | 24% |
Overview
The official poverty rate in California is about 12.0%, but under the cost-adjusted Supplemental Poverty Measure it rises to 13.2%, the highest of any state.
Did you know?
- California ranks worst in the U.S. on the cost-of-living-adjusted poverty measure, largely due to housing costs.