Hunger and Poverty

Hunger is a condition of poverty. Living below poverty puts tremendous strains on a household, giving families barely enough money to purchase healthy and nutritious foods, as well as other essentials of life. Nutrition research shows that as income goes down, the nutritional adequacy of the household's diet goes down as well.

According to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, 53.8 million people, or 17.9 percent of all Americans, lived on less than 125 percent of the federal poverty level in 2008. This means they are income-eligible for most federal nutrition programs, like food stamps and other child nutrition programs. These programs can help families and children stretch their food dollars and get access to healthy foods.

To set the poverty level, the U.S. Census Bureau uses a set of income thresholds based on the Consumer Price Index. The income thresholds were originally set using the cost of a minimal diet (based on eating patterns in the 1950's), multiplied by three.

In 2008, 39.8 million Americans – or 13.2 percent of our population – lived in poverty, an increase of 2.3 million people from 2007. Children continue to be the poorest age group in the country.

In 2008:

• 14.1 million children, or 19 percent of all children under age 18, were poor – a larger percentage than any other age group. This was an increase from 2007, when 13.3 million children (18 percent) lived in poverty.

• 6.3 million (8.5 percent) of all children under 18 lived in families with incomes below 50 percent of the federal poverty level – that’s an annual income of $11,000.

• 21.3 percent of related children under age six in families lived in poverty.

• 9.7 percent of all Americans 65 and over, or 3.7 million elderly, were poor. This was unchanged from the previous year.

• The poverty rate for non-Hispanic whites was 8.6 percent, 24.7 percent for blacks, 23.2 percent for Hispanics, and 11.8 percent for Asians.

• 46.3 million did not have health insurance, an increase from 45.7 million in 2007.

• Median income fell to $50,300, a drop of 3.6 percent from 2007.

To set the poverty level, the U.S. Census Bureau uses a set of income thresholds based on the Consumer Price Index. The income thresholds were originally set using the cost of a minimal diet (based on eating patterns in the 1950's), multiplied by three. The federal poverty guideline for a family of four was $22,025 in 2008.

Link:

State of the States: A Profile of Food and Nutrition Programs across the Nation, including poverty statistics, from FRAC

Updated October 2007