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Poverty
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Poverty: 2004 Highlights
The data presented here are from the Current Population Survey (CPS), 2005 Annual
Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC), the source of official poverty estimates. The
CPS ASEC is a sample survey of approximately 100,000 household nationwide. These
data reflect conditions in calendar year 2004.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The official poverty rate in 2004 was 12.7 percent, up
from 12.5 percent 2003.
- In 2004, 37.0 million people were in poverty, up 1.1 million from 2003.
- Poverty rates remained unchanged for Blacks (24.7
percent) and Hispanics (21.9 percent), rose for non-Hispanic Whites (8.6
percent in 2004, up from 8.2 percent in 2003) and decreased for Asians (9.8
percent in 2004, down from 11.8 percent in 2003).
- The poverty rate in 2004 (12.7 percent) was 9.7 percentage points lower than in
1959, the first year for which poverty estimates are available (Figure 3). From the most recent trough in 2000 both the number and rate have risen for four consecutive years, from 31.6 million and 11.3 percent in 2000, to 37.0 million and 12.7 percent in 2004 respectively.
- For children under 18 years old, both the 2004 poverty rate (17.8 percent) and the number in poverty (13.0 million) remained unchanged from 2003. The poverty rate for children under 18 remained higher than that of 18-to-64-year olds (11.3 percent) and that of people aged 65 and over (9.8 percent).
- Both the poverty rate and number in poverty increased
for people 18 to 64 years old (11.3 percent and 20.5 million in 2004, up from
10.8 percent and 19.4 million in 2003).
- The poverty rate decreased for seniors aged 65 and over
was 9.8 percent in 2004, down from 10.2 percent in 2003, while the number in
poverty in 2004 (3.5 million) was unchanged.
Contact the Demographic Call Center Staff at 301-763-2422 or 1-866-758-1060 (toll free) or visit
ask.census.gov for further information on Poverty Statistics.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division
Last Revised: August 30, 2005