The latest data on poverty and income in the United States, released by the U.S. Census Bureau in early September, paints a bleak picture for our nation's children.

Poor Children in 2008: A Closer Look at the Numbers

All Children

• The number of poor children under age 18 was 14.1 million (19.0%) or 1 child in 5.
• The number of extremely poor children under age 18 was 6.3 million (8.5%) or 1 child in 12.
• The number of poor children under age 5 was 4.7 million (22.2%) or 2 children in 9.
• The number of poor related children in working families was 9.5 million, or 2 of every 3 poor children.

Black Children

• The number of poor children under age 18 was 3.9 million (34.7%) or 1 child in 3.
• The number of extremely poor children under age 18 was 2.0 million (17.6%) or 1 child in 6.
• The number of poor children under age 5 was 1.3 million (40.5%) or 2 children in 5.
• The number of poor related children in working families was 2.4 million, or 3 of every 5 poor children.\
• More than half of all poor Black children live in extreme poverty.

White, non-Latino Children 

• The number of poor children under age 18 was 4.2 million (9.5%) or 1 child in 11.
• The number of extremely poor children under age 18 was 1.9 million (4.5%) or 1 child in 22.
• The number of poor children under age 5 was 1.3 million (12.3%) or 1 child in 8.
• The number of poor related children in working families was 2.8 million, or 2 of every 3 poor children.

Latino Children (Latino children may be of any race.)

• The number of poor children under age 18 was 5.0 million (30.6%) or 3 children in 10.
• The number of extremely poor children under age 18 was 2.1 million (12.5%) or 1 child in 8.
• The number of poor children under age 5 was 1.8 million (33.6%) or 1 child in 3.
• The number of poor related children in working families was 3.8 million, or 3 of every 4 poor children.
• More poor children are Latino than any other group.

Trends in Child Poverty and Extreme Child Poverty

All Children

One in 5 is poor; 1 in 12 is in extreme poverty.

From 2000 to 2008:

• Poverty increased by 2.5 million children (21.4%) to reach 14.1 million.
• Extreme poverty increased by more than 1.6 million children (35.5%) to reach 6.3 million.

From 1992 to 2000:

• Poverty fell by more than 3.0 million children to a low point in 2000 of 11.6 million.
• Extreme poverty fell by more than 2.2 million children to a low point in 2000 of about 4.6 million.
  

Black Children

One in 3 is poor; 1 in 6 is in extreme poverty.

From 2000 to 2008:

• Poverty increased by about 297,000 children (8.3%) to reach 3.9 million.
• Extreme poverty increased by 381,000 children (24.1%) to reach 2.0 million.

From 1992 to 2000:

• Poverty fell by 1.4 million children to 3.6 million children in 2000.
• Extreme poverty fell by 1.3 million children to a low point in 2000 of fewer than 1.6 million.

White, non-Latino Children 

One in 11 is poor; 1 in 22 is in extreme poverty.

From 2000 to 2008:

• Poverty increased by 346,000 children (8.6%) to reach 4.4 million.
• Extreme poverty increased by 219,000 children (13.3%) to reach 1.9 million.

From 1994 to 2000:

• Poverty fell by 1.8 million children to a low point in 2000 of 4.0 million.
• Extreme poverty fell by almost 650,000 children to under 1.7 million in 2000.

Note:  The 1992 report does not show estimates for White, non-Latino children.

Latino Children (Latino children may be of any race.)

Three in 10 are poor; 1 in 8 is in extreme poverty.

From 2000 to 2008:

• Poverty increased by 1.5 million children (42.2%) to reach 5.0 million.
• Extreme poverty increased by 885,000 children (75.8%) to reach 1.7 million.

From 1994 to 2000:

• Poverty fell by more than half a million children to 3.5 million in 2000.
• Extreme poverty fell by more than half a million children to a low point in 2000 of under 1.2 million.

Notes: Poor children are defined as those living in families with incomes below the poverty threshold (or below half the poverty threshold for extreme poverty), which varies by family size and number of children. In 2008, the poverty threshold was $21,910 for a family of four with two children. The employment status of families is available only for related children.

Source:  U.S.  Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey, 2009 Annual Social and Economic Supplement, Detailed and Historical Poverty Tables.  Calculations by Children's Defense Fund.