How Many Seniors Live in Poverty?

Table 1: Adults Ages 65 and Older With Incomes Below 100% of Poverty Under Official and Supplemental Poverty Measures, by Selected Characteristics
 

 

Number of people ages 65 and older (in millions) Percent below 100% of the poverty threshold Number below 100% of the poverty threshold (in millions)
Official poverty measure Supplemental poverty measure Difference Official poverty measure Supplemental poverty measure Difference
Total 65+1 51.1 9.2% 14.1% 4.9%* 4.7 7.2 2.5
Age
65-69 years 16.8 8.2% 12.2% 4.0%* 1.4 2.0 0.7
70-79 years 21.0 8.5% 13.3% 4.8%* 1.8 2.8 1.0
80+ years 11.5 11.4% 18.3% 6.9%* 1.3 2.1 0.8
Gender
Men 22.1 7.4% 12.2% 4.8%* 1.6 2.7 1.1
Women 27.2 10.5% 15.6% 5.1%* 2.8 4.2 1.4
Gender by age
Men 65-69 years 7.9 7.3% 11.1% 3.9%* 0.6 0.9 0.3
Men 70-79 years 9.6 7.0% 11.7% 4.7%* 0.7 1.1 0.5
Men 80+ years 4.6 8.4% 15.1% 6.7%* 0.4 0.7 0.3
Women 65-69 years 8.8 9.1% 13.1% 4.0%* 0.8 1.2 0.4
Women 70-79 years 11.4 9.8% 14.7% 4.9%* 1.1 1.7 0.6
Women 80+ years 6.9 13.4% 20.4% 7.0%* 0.9 1.4 0.5
Race/ethnicity
White 37.9 6.9% 11.4% 4.5%* 2.6 4.3 1.7
Black 4.4 18.7% 23.5% 4.8%* 0.8 1.0 0.2
Hispanic 4.1 17.3% 25.5% 8.2%* 0.7 1.0 0.3
Gender by race/ethnicity
White men 17.3 5.6% 9.6% 4.0%* 1.0 1.7 0.7
Black men 1.8 16.2% 21.1% 4.8%* 0.3 0.4 0.1
Hispanic men 1.8 14.1% 24.7% 10.6%* 0.2 0.4 0.2
White women 20.6 8.0% 12.8% 4.9%* 1.6 2.6 1.0
Black women 2.6 20.4% 25.2% 4.9%* 0.5 0.7 0.1
Hispanic women 2.3 19.7% 26.1% 6.4%* 0.5 0.6 0.1
Health status
Excellent/very good 18.5 5.7% 9.6% 3.9%* 1.1 1.8 0.7
Good 17.3 8.4% 13.8% 5.4%* 1.5 2.4 0.9
Fair/poor 13.5 14.6% 20.6% 6.1%* 2.0 2.8 0.8
NOTE: The official poverty threshold was $11,756 for adults 65 and older in 2017.
1Estimates for the total 65+ population are based on data from 2017; all other estimates are pooled three-year averages from 2015-2017. All differences in the table between SPM estimates and official poverty estimates are statistically significant. Subtraction of official poverty measure estimates from SPM estimates may not equal estimates in difference column due to rounding.
SOURCE: KFF analysis of Current Population Survey, 2016-2018 Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
Table 2: Adults Ages 65 and Older With Incomes Below 200% of Poverty Under Official and Supplemental Poverty Measures, by Demographic Characteristics
 

 

Number of people ages 65 and older (in millions) Percent below 200% of the poverty threshold Number below 200% of the poverty threshold (in millions)
Official poverty measure Supplemental poverty measure Difference Official poverty measure Supplemental poverty measure Difference
Total 65+1 51.1 30.1% 42.0% 11.8%* 15.4 21.4 6.0
Age
65-69 years 16.8 24.9% 35.8% 11.0%* 4.2 6.0 1.8
70-79 years 21.0 29.9% 42.0% 12.0%* 6.3 8.8 2.5
80+ years 11.5 40.0% 52.6% 12.7%* 4.6 6.1 1.5
Gender
Men 22.1 25.8% 37.4% 11.6%* 5.7 8.3 2.6
Women 27.2 34.4% 46.5% 12.0%* 9.4 12.6 3.3
Gender by age
Men 65-69 years 7.9 22.8% 33.0% 10.2%* 1.8 2.6 0.8
Men 70-79 years 9.6 25.3% 37.3% 12.0%* 2.4 3.6 1.2
Men 80+ years 4.6 32.0% 45.0% 13.0%* 1.5 2.1 0.6
Women 65-69 years 8.8 26.7% 38.3% 11.6%* 2.4 3.4 1.0
Women 70-79 years 11.4 33.9% 46.0% 12.1%* 3.9 5.2 1.4
Women 80+ years 6.9 45.2% 57.7% 12.5%* 3.1 4.0 0.9
Race/ethnicity
White 37.9 26.7% 37.2% 10.6%* 10.1 14.1 4.0
Black 4.4 47.0% 60.3% 13.3%* 2.1 2.6 0.6
Hispanic 4.1 46.7% 65.5% 18.8%* 1.9 2.7 0.8
Gender by race/ethnicity
White men 17.3 21.9% 32.3% 10.4%* 3.8 5.6 1.8
Black men 1.8 42.3% 54.8% 12.5%* 0.8 1.0 0.2
Hispanic men 1.8 44.0% 63.0% 19.0%* 0.8 1.1 0.3
White women 20.6 30.7% 41.4% 10.7%* 6.3 8.5 2.2
Black women 2.6 50.2% 64.1% 13.8%* 1.3 1.7 0.4
Hispanic women 2.3 48.7% 67.4% 18.6%* 1.1 1.6 0.4
Health status
Excellent/very good 18.5 20.7% 30.9% 10.1%* 3.8 5.7 1.9
Good 17.3 30.6% 43.3% 12.7%* 5.3 7.5 2.2
Fair/poor 13.5 43.9% 56.9% 13.0%* 5.9 7.7 1.8
NOTE: The official poverty threshold was $11,756 for adults 65 and older in 2017.
1Estimates for the total 65+ population are based on data from 2017; all other estimates are pooled three-year averages from 2015-2017. All differences in the table between SPM estimates and official poverty estimates are statistically significant. Subtraction of official poverty measure estimates from SPM estimates may not equal estimates in difference column due to rounding.
SOURCE: KFF analysis of Current Population Survey, 2016-2018 Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
Table 3: Adults Ages 65 and Older With Incomes Below 100% of Poverty Under Official and Supplemental Poverty Measures, by State
State Number of people ages 65 and older (in millions) Percent below 100% of the poverty threshold Number below 100% of the poverty threshold (in millions)
Official poverty measure Supplemental poverty measure Difference Official poverty measure Supplemental poverty measure Difference
Total 65+1 51.1 9.2% 14.1% 4.9%* 4.7 7.2 2.5
Alabama 0.74 10.8% 11.1% 0.3% 0.080 0.083 0.002
Alaska 0.08 7.4% 12.8% 5.4%* 0.006 0.011 0.005
Arizona 1.12 10.1% 14.0% 3.9%* 0.114 0.158 0.044
Arkansas 0.47 9.7% 13.3% 3.6%* 0.046 0.063 0.017
California 5.36 10.7% 19.8% 9.1%* 0.571 1.061 0.490
Colorado 0.77 6.5% 13.0% 6.5%* 0.050 0.100 0.050
Connecticut 0.58 5.3% 10.3% 5.0%* 0.031 0.060 0.029
Delaware 0.16 8.2% 11.8% 3.6%* 0.013 0.019 0.006
District of Columbia 0.09 15.5% 27.3% 11.8%* 0.014 0.025 0.011
Florida 3.96 9.6% 16.6% 7.0%* 0.380 0.658 0.278
Georgia 1.29 11.8% 14.1% 2.3% 0.153 0.182 0.029
Hawaii 0.24 8.0% 15.7% 7.7%* 0.019 0.037 0.018
Idaho 0.26 6.8% 11.5% 4.7%* 0.018 0.029 0.012
Illinois 1.91 8.0% 12.6% 4.6%* 0.153 0.242 0.088
Indiana 1.00 9.5% 13.6% 4.0%* 0.095 0.135 0.040
Iowa 0.49 6.6% 8.3% 1.6% 0.032 0.041 0.008
Kansas 0.44 9.7% 12.8% 3.1% 0.043 0.056 0.014
Kentucky 0.74 13.3% 14.0% 0.6% 0.098 0.103 0.005
Louisiana 0.64 15.2% 17.4% 2.2% 0.097 0.111 0.014
Maine 0.26 6.5% 6.9% 0.4% 0.017 0.018 0.001
Maryland 0.87 7.5% 15.6% 8.1%* 0.065 0.136 0.071
Massachusetts 1.02 7.8% 14.4% 6.6%* 0.080 0.147 0.067
Michigan 1.66 6.9% 9.6% 2.7%* 0.115 0.160 0.046
Minnesota 0.89 6.8% 11.5% 4.6%* 0.061 0.102 0.041
Mississippi 0.44 12.7% 14.5% 1.8% 0.056 0.064 0.008
Missouri 0.98 8.7% 11.7% 3.0% 0.085 0.115 0.030
Montana 0.19 6.7% 9.8% 3.2%* 0.013 0.019 0.006
Nebraska 0.29 6.5% 8.9% 2.4% 0.019 0.026 0.007
Nevada 0.46 9.4% 14.4% 5.0%* 0.043 0.066 0.023
New Hampshire 0.22 6.8% 10.7% 3.9%* 0.015 0.024 0.009
New Jersey 1.40 8.5% 17.1% 8.6%* 0.120 0.240 0.120
New Mexico 0.33 11.4% 15.2% 3.8%* 0.038 0.050 0.013
New York 3.21 10.9% 14.9% 4.0%* 0.349 0.477 0.128
North Carolina 1.53 8.6% 14.3% 5.7%* 0.132 0.218 0.086
North Dakota 0.11 9.4% 12.7% 3.3%* 0.010 0.014 0.004
Ohio 1.81 8.0% 10.8% 2.8%* 0.145 0.196 0.050
Oklahoma 0.58 9.4% 11.5% 2.2% 0.055 0.067 0.013
Oregon 0.69 5.4% 10.0% 4.7%* 0.037 0.069 0.032
Pennsylvania 2.24 7.8% 11.6% 3.8%* 0.174 0.259 0.085
Rhode Island 0.17 7.8% 9.5% 1.7% 0.013 0.016 0.003
South Carolina 0.84 7.5% 10.7% 3.2%* 0.063 0.090 0.027
South Dakota 0.14 10.2% 12.0% 1.8% 0.015 0.017 0.003
Tennessee 1.09 8.7% 12.9% 4.2%* 0.095 0.141 0.046
Texas 3.43 10.5% 16.8% 6.3%* 0.361 0.577 0.216
Utah 0.34 6.3% 11.6% 5.3%* 0.022 0.040 0.018
Vermont 0.11 6.6% 9.7% 3.1%* 0.007 0.011 0.003
Virginia 1.18 8.8% 16.3% 7.5%* 0.104 0.192 0.088
Washington 1.12 6.3% 9.6% 3.3%* 0.071 0.108 0.037
West Virginia 0.34 9.0% 10.2% 1.3% 0.030 0.035 0.004
Wisconsin 0.92 5.9% 8.1% 2.3% 0.054 0.075 0.021
Wyoming 0.09 9.1% 11.8% 2.8% 0.008 0.010 0.002
NOTE: The official poverty threshold was $11,756 for adults 65 and older in 2017.
1Estimates for the total 65+ population are based on data from 2017; all other estimates are pooled three-year averages from 2015-2017. *Indicates difference between SPM estimate and official poverty estimate is statistically significant. Subtraction of official poverty measure estimates from SPM estimates may not equal estimates in difference column due to rounding.
SOURCE: KFF analysis of Current Population Survey, 2016-2018 Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
Table 4: Adults Ages 65 and Older With Incomes Below 200% of Poverty Under Official and Supplemental Poverty Measures, by State
State Number of people ages 65 and older (in millions) Percent below 200% of the poverty threshold Number below 200% of the poverty threshold (in millions)
Official poverty measure Supplemental poverty measure Difference Official poverty measure Supplemental poverty measure Difference
Total 65+1 51.1 30.1% 42.0% 11.8%* 15.4 21.4 6.0
Alabama 0.74 37.9% 44.4% 6.5%* 0.282 0.330 0.048
Alaska 0.08 22.0% 35.6% 13.5%* 0.019 0.030 0.011
Arizona 1.12 28.8% 36.6% 7.8%* 0.324 0.412 0.088
Arkansas 0.47 39.2% 45.4% 6.2%* 0.185 0.214 0.029
California 5.36 31.2% 49.3% 18.1%* 1.674 2.645 0.971
Colorado 0.77 23.6% 36.3% 12.7%* 0.181 0.279 0.097
Connecticut 0.58 20.8% 32.8% 12.0%* 0.121 0.191 0.070
Delaware 0.16 24.7% 38.8% 14.1%* 0.040 0.062 0.023
District of Columbia 0.09 34.0% 51.0% 16.9%* 0.031 0.047 0.016
Florida 3.96 34.7% 48.4% 13.7%* 1.373 1.915 0.542
Georgia 1.29 37.7% 47.1% 9.3%* 0.488 0.609 0.121
Hawaii 0.24 24.6% 47.0% 22.3%* 0.058 0.111 0.053
Idaho 0.26 31.7% 40.5% 8.8%* 0.081 0.104 0.023
Illinois 1.91 26.0% 38.2% 12.3%* 0.497 0.732 0.235
Indiana 1.00 29.1% 40.5% 11.3%* 0.290 0.403 0.113
Iowa 0.49 24.2% 30.3% 6.1% 0.119 0.148 0.030
Kansas 0.44 32.0% 39.9% 7.9%* 0.141 0.175 0.035
Kentucky 0.74 38.4% 45.7% 7.3%* 0.283 0.337 0.054
Louisiana 0.64 42.0% 49.8% 7.8%* 0.268 0.318 0.050
Maine 0.26 32.9% 44.7% 11.9%* 0.086 0.117 0.031
Maryland 0.87 23.8% 41.7% 17.9%* 0.208 0.364 0.156
Massachusetts 1.02 28.6% 45.4% 16.8%* 0.291 0.462 0.171
Michigan 1.66 25.7% 35.4% 9.7%* 0.427 0.587 0.160
Minnesota 0.89 25.5% 34.7% 9.2%* 0.226 0.308 0.082
Mississippi 0.44 45.6% 49.6% 4.0% 0.201 0.219 0.018
Missouri 0.98 31.2% 37.9% 6.7%* 0.306 0.372 0.065
Montana 0.19 30.2% 37.5% 7.3%* 0.059 0.073 0.014
Nebraska 0.29 26.8% 34.8% 8.0%* 0.078 0.102 0.023
Nevada 0.46 28.7% 41.8% 13.2%* 0.132 0.193 0.061
New Hampshire 0.22 22.0% 36.6% 14.5%* 0.049 0.081 0.032
New Jersey 1.40 28.1% 46.3% 18.2%* 0.394 0.649 0.255
New Mexico 0.33 36.0% 41.3% 5.3%* 0.119 0.136 0.017
New York 3.21 31.0% 46.0% 15.0%* 0.996 1.478 0.482
North Carolina 1.53 33.9% 44.1% 10.2%* 0.518 0.674 0.156
North Dakota 0.11 31.2% 38.3% 7.2%* 0.033 0.041 0.008
Ohio 1.81 28.0% 34.8% 6.8%* 0.506 0.629 0.123
Oklahoma 0.58 36.5% 43.3% 6.8% 0.213 0.253 0.040
Oregon 0.69 24.0% 34.3% 10.3%* 0.165 0.236 0.071
Pennsylvania 2.24 27.7% 39.2% 11.5%* 0.619 0.876 0.257
Rhode Island 0.17 27.8% 36.1% 8.3%* 0.046 0.059 0.014
South Carolina 0.84 30.3% 39.6% 9.3%* 0.255 0.333 0.078
South Dakota 0.14 32.2% 37.1% 4.9% 0.046 0.053 0.007
Tennessee 1.09 33.3% 43.0% 9.7%* 0.363 0.469 0.106
Texas 3.43 33.3% 44.4% 11.1%* 1.141 1.521 0.380
Utah 0.34 24.5% 34.3% 9.8%* 0.084 0.117 0.034
Vermont 0.11 30.2% 40.4% 10.2%* 0.033 0.044 0.011
Virginia 1.18 31.3% 43.0% 11.6%* 0.368 0.505 0.137
Washington 1.12 24.2% 34.6% 10.4%* 0.272 0.389 0.117
West Virginia 0.34 37.4% 41.2% 3.7% 0.127 0.140 0.013
Wisconsin 0.92 23.6% 34.1% 10.6%* 0.218 0.316 0.098
Wyoming 0.09 27.4% 35.7% 8.3% 0.023 0.031 0.007
NOTE: The official poverty threshold was $11,756 for adults 65 and older in 2017.
1Estimates for the total 65+ population are based on data from 2017; all other estimates are pooled three-year averages from 2015-2017. *Indicates difference between SPM estimate and official poverty estimate is statistically significant. Subtraction of official poverty measure estimates from SPM estimates may not equal estimates in difference column due to rounding.
SOURCE: KFF analysis of Current Population Survey, 2016-2018 Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
Appendix

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