Childhood poverty drops 59% over last three decades

Childhood poverty dropped 59% in the United States since 1993, with rates decreasing in every state, according to new research.

Thirty years ago about 28% of the country’s children were poor, meaning their families’ income did not meet all their basic needs, according to the New York Times, which collaborated with Child Trends on the study. By 2019, that number had fallen to about 11%.

The decline in childhood poverty has come as federal spending on low-income children has almost doubled. Lower unemployment and an increase in state-level minimum wage also have helped improve the lives of children, according to the research.

Despite the decline in poverty, more than 8 million children still live in families that don’t have the income to meet their basic needs.