One-Third of American Children Now Live in Poverty

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Sunday, November 02, 2014

(photo: olesiabilkei via Getty Images)

The wealthiest nation on earth has somehow allowed a third of its children to slip into poverty, according to the United Nations.
Thirty-two percent of all U.S. children reside in households that have annual incomes below 60% of the national median income for 2008, or $31,000, UNICEF reported (pdf). In some states, the rate is even higher. New Mexico’s is 41.9%, the worst in the country. New Hampshire has the best rate, at 12.5%. Regionally, the South has the highest child poverty rates. In terms of population, more than 24 million American minors live in poverty.
UNICEF chose 2008 to show how bad things have become in the U.S. since it was before the Great Recession. Since then, the percentage of American kids living in poverty increased by 2% while 18 other nations lowered their child poverty rates.
READ MORE: http://www.allgov.com/news/top-stories/one-third-of-american-children-now-live-in-poverty-141102?news=854699