Despite overall decreases in poverty, racial and ethnic disparities remain
Published March 31, 2023 - Last update: August 23, 2023
The lines show the trend in poverty rates in the past 40 years. Although poverty rates have decreased overall, racial and ethnic disparities remain.
Data show the percent of the population living below the poverty line by race and ethnicity. Data for some racial and ethnic categories were reported later than others: Hispanic (1972), Asian Pacific Islander–a combined category for people identifying as Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (1987-2000), and Asian (2001).
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Racial Wealth Gap
An important driver of the racial wealth gap are policies favoring White people at the expense of Black, Latino, and Indigenous families. The wealth gap between White and Black Americans has remained consistent for decades. Visit the racial wealth gap topic page to learn more.
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