Poorest County in US 2025 | Statistics & Facts

Poorest County in America 2025

When examining economic inequality across America, certain regions stand out as facing extraordinary financial hardships that challenge the very foundation of opportunity and prosperity. The poorest county in the United States in 2025 continues to be a stark reminder of the economic disparities that persist within one of the world’s wealthiest nations. Understanding these poverty-stricken areas requires looking beyond simple statistics to comprehend the complex web of historical, geographical, and systemic factors that perpetuate cycles of economic disadvantage across generations.

The landscape of poverty in America reveals concentrated pockets of extreme economic distress, particularly in rural counties across the South and Native American reservation lands. These communities face interconnected challenges including limited educational opportunities, scarce employment prospects, inadequate healthcare access, and aging infrastructure that collectively create barriers to economic mobility. While the national median household income stands at approximately $80,610 as of 2025, the poorest counties report median incomes less than one-quarter of this figure, underscoring the profound economic divide that defines modern American inequality.

Interesting Facts About the Poorest County in the United States in 2025

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2022 5-Year Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census, USDA Economic Research Service County-Level Data Sets 2023-2025

The data reveals alarming economic conditions in America’s poorest counties that demand immediate attention from policymakers and community stakeholders. Issaquena County, Mississippi holds the distinction of having the lowest median household income at just $17,900, representing barely one-fifth of the national median. This microscopic Mississippi Delta county of only 1,338 residents exemplifies the extreme rural poverty concentrated in the Deep South, where historical legacies of slavery and sharecropping continue influencing modern economic structures.

Equally troubling are the poverty rates in South Dakota’s Native American reservation counties, where Oglala Lakota County reports 52.8% of residents living below the poverty line and Todd County reaches an staggering 60.49% poverty rate. These statistics reflect generations of economic marginalization, limited infrastructure investment, and restricted access to quality education and healthcare services. The 353 persistent-poverty counties identified by the USDA Economic Research Service demonstrate how poverty becomes entrenched across decades, with 85.3% of these counties located in rural nonmetropolitan areas where economic opportunities remain severely limited. The regional clustering is unmistakable—84% of persistent-poverty counties are in the South—revealing systemic regional economic challenges that transcend individual county boundaries and require comprehensive policy interventions addressing education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development simultaneously.

Median Household Income in the Poorest US Counties in 2025

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2022 5-Year Estimates (Released December 2023), U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) Program 2023

The median household income data paints a devastating picture of economic deprivation across America’s poorest counties. Issaquena County, Mississippi stands alone at the bottom with a median household income of merely $17,900—a figure that is 77.8% below the national median of $80,610. This means the typical Issaquena County household earns less in an entire year than many American professionals earn in a single quarter. The economic gap is not merely a statistical curiosity but represents profound differences in living standards, access to necessities, and opportunities for upward mobility that fundamentally shape residents’ life trajectories.

The concentration of Mississippi counties in this ranking is unmistakable, with five of the ten poorest counties located in the Magnolia State. Holmes County ($23,270), Humphreys County ($24,289), Claiborne County ($25,135), and Tunica County ($27,315) all report median household incomes below $30,000 annually. These Mississippi Delta counties share common characteristics: predominantly African American populations, agricultural economies that never transitioned to higher-value industries, limited educational infrastructure, and persistent outmigration of working-age residents seeking better opportunities elsewhere. South Dakota’s Native American reservation counties including Buffalo County ($23,800), Jackson County ($26,686), and Todd County ($30,142) face similar structural challenges compounded by geographic isolation, federal land management policies that restrict economic development, and historical marginalization of Native American communities. The income disparities between these counties and the national median represent more than $50,000 to $60,000 annual gaps—differences that accumulate over lifetimes to create wealth divides measured not in thousands but in millions of dollars between residents of America’s richest and poorest counties.

Poverty Rates in the Poorest US Counties in 2025

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2018-2022 5-Year Estimates, USDA Economic Research Service Persistent-Poverty Counties 2025 Edition, U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates 2023

The poverty rates in America’s poorest counties reveal economic conditions that approach those found in developing nations rather than the world’s largest economy. Todd County, South Dakota leads with a staggering 60.49% poverty rate, meaning more than six in every ten residents live below the federal poverty threshold. This Native American reservation county exemplifies how historical injustices, geographic isolation, and limited economic infrastructure combine to create seemingly intractable poverty. Oglala Lakota County follows closely at 52.8% poverty, while Mellette County reports 49.1%—all three South Dakota counties are home to Native American reservations where economic opportunities remain severely constrained by federal land policies, distance from urban markets, and decades of underinvestment in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Mississippi Delta counties demonstrate similarly severe poverty concentration, with Claiborne County at 48.2%, Holmes County at 44.7%, and both Humphreys County and Issaquena County at 40.1%. These predominantly African American counties carry the weight of historical economic systems built on slavery and sharecropping that never successfully transitioned to modern economies. The child poverty rates are even more alarming—Claiborne County, Mississippi reports an unconscionable 72.0% child poverty rate, meaning nearly three-quarters of children grow up in poverty, while East Carroll Parish, Louisiana (66.4%), Mellette County, South Dakota (65.7%), and Todd County, South Dakota (64.0%) all exceed 60% child poverty. These statistics represent not just current hardship but future economic challenges, as children growing up in poverty face reduced educational attainment, poorer health outcomes, and limited social mobility that perpetuates intergenerational poverty cycles. All ten counties listed qualify as persistent-poverty counties under USDA definitions, having maintained poverty rates above 20% across multiple decades and census periods since 1980.

Unemployment Rates and Labor Force Participation in the Poorest US Counties in 2025

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics 2023-2024, USDA Economic Research Service County-Level Data Sets 2023, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2022 5-Year Estimates

The unemployment crisis in America’s poorest counties far exceeds national averages, creating economic conditions that prevent families from escaping poverty even when willing to work. Issaquena County, Mississippi reports an 18.4% unemployment rate—more than four times the national average of 4.1%—coupled with an exceptionally low labor force participation rate of just 42.6%. This means that not only are nearly one in five job seekers unemployed, but well over half of working-age adults have stopped looking for work entirely, likely due to the scarcity of available employment opportunities in this rural Delta county of barely 1,300 residents.

Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota faces a 16.8% unemployment rate with only 47.3% labor force participation, while Todd County reports 15.2% unemployment and 48.9% participation. These Native American reservation counties struggle with geographic isolation from major employment centers, limited local economic development, and historical patterns of economic exclusion that have left few viable career pathways for residents. Mississippi Delta counties including Holmes County (14.6% unemployment), Humphreys County (12.9%), and Claiborne County (12.3%) all report double-digit unemployment rates alongside labor force participation rates barely exceeding 50%. The employment gap column reveals the stark disparity—poorest counties face unemployment rates 5.7 to 14.3 percentage points higher than the national average. This translates to tens of thousands of Americans in these counties who want to work but cannot find employment, perpetuating poverty cycles that span generations. The combination of high unemployment and low labor force participation suggests not merely temporary joblessness but fundamental structural unemployment caused by lack of local economic opportunities, business closures, limited industrial diversity, and inadequate job training programs that could connect residents to emerging employment sectors.

Educational Attainment in the Poorest US Counties in 2025

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, USDA Economic Research Service County-Level Educational Attainment Data 2023

Educational attainment in America’s poorest counties reveals a critical barrier to economic mobility that perpetuates intergenerational poverty. Todd County, South Dakota reports only 10.2% of adults hold bachelor’s degrees or higher—less than one-third the national rate of 34.3%—creating an educational gap of 24.1 percentage points. This profound educational disadvantage severely limits residents’ access to professional careers, managerial positions, and higher-paying employment opportunities that increasingly require post-secondary credentials in the modern knowledge economy.

Issaquena County, Mississippi shows just 11.5% with bachelor’s degrees alongside a relatively low 76.2% high school graduation rate, while Starr County, Texas struggles most with secondary education completion at only 65.3% high school graduation—meaning more than one-third of adults never completed high school. Oglala Lakota County (12.8% bachelor’s), Holmes County (13.4%), and East Carroll Parish (12.6%) all report bachelor’s degree attainment below 15%, creating massive educational gaps ranging from 18.1 to 24.1 percentage points compared to national averages. These statistics reflect multiple compounding factors: inadequate funding for rural schools, limited access to college preparatory programs, poverty-driven pressures that force students to work rather than continue education, geographic distance from colleges and universities, and historical underinvestment in educational infrastructure in minority and Native American communities. The correlation between educational attainment and poverty is unmistakable—counties with the lowest degree completion rates consistently rank among those with highest poverty rates and lowest median incomes. Breaking this cycle requires substantial investment in K-12 education quality, expanded access to affordable higher education, scholarship programs targeting students from persistent-poverty counties, and career training programs that provide viable pathways to middle-class employment without requiring four-year degrees.

Population Demographics and Economic Characteristics in the Poorest US Counties in 2025

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census, U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages Q4 2024

The demographic profiles of America’s poorest counties reveal concerning patterns of depopulation, aging populations, and persistently low wages that compound economic challenges. Issaquena County, Mississippi stands as the least populous county east of the Mississippi River with merely 1,338 residents—a 4.9% decline from 2010—and reports the lowest average weekly wage in the state at just $687 (equivalent to approximately $35,724 annually for full-time work). This tiny, predominantly African American county (70.4%) in the Mississippi Delta exemplifies extreme rural depopulation as working-age residents migrate to urban areas seeking better opportunities, leaving behind aging populations with median age of 43.1 years and limited economic prospects.

Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota presents a different demographic profile with 13,587 residents who are overwhelmingly Native American (91.4%) and notably younger (median age 27.0 years), yet still face severe economic hardship with average weekly wages of only $712. Todd County shows even more extreme youth concentration (median age 23.8 years) among its 86.2% Native American population, suggesting high birth rates but limited economic opportunities that force many to leave upon adulthood. The population decline trends are devastating—Claiborne County, Mississippi lost 18.9% of its population between 2010 and 2020, East Carroll Parish, Louisiana declined 18.3%, and Tunica County, Mississippi shrank 13.8%. These massive population losses reflect decades of economic stagnation, job losses from agricultural mechanization and factory closures, and brain drain as educated young people leave for opportunities elsewhere. Claiborne County reports the highest average weekly wage among this group at $1,261, likely due to presence of a major correctional facility that provides above-average wages but limited broader economic benefits. The racial and ethnic demographics are striking—nine of the ten poorest counties have majority African American, Native American, or Hispanic populations, underscoring how America’s poverty crisis disproportionately affects communities of color due to historical discrimination, geographic isolation, and systemic barriers to economic opportunity that persist generations after their initial implementation.

Healthcare Access and Life Expectancy in the Poorest US Counties in 2025

Data Source: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps 2024-2025, U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Health Insurance Estimates 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation County Life Expectancy Data 2023

Healthcare access disparities in America’s poorest counties contribute directly to shortened life expectancies and preventable deaths that widen the gap between wealthy and poor regions. Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota demonstrates the most severe healthcare crisis with only 56.5% health insurance coverage—meaning nearly half the population lacks health insurance—combined with just 23.4 primary care physicians per 100,000 residents and a devastating life expectancy of only 66.8 years. This represents a 10.7-year life expectancy gap compared to the national average of 77.5 years—equivalent to residents dying more than a decade earlier simply due to their county of residence.

Issaquena County, Mississippi and Mellette County, South Dakota report zero primary care physicians serving their communities, forcing residents to travel significant distances for basic medical care and delaying treatment for chronic conditions. Todd County, South Dakota faces similarly dire conditions with only 18.6 physicians per 100,000 and 68.2 years life expectancy—a 9.3-year gap. While Mississippi counties show higher insurance coverage rates (82.4% to 86.3%) due to Medicaid expansion and other programs, physician shortages remain severe with Holmes County reporting only 12.3 physicians per 100,000. The life expectancy gaps range from 3.2 to 10.7 years, representing tens of thousands of years of life lost across these communities due to inadequate preventive care, delayed treatment for chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension, limited access to mental health and substance abuse treatment, higher rates of preventable deaths, and generally poorer health outcomes associated with poverty. These disparities reflect broader systemic failures including hospital closures in rural areas, insufficient incentives for healthcare professionals to practice in impoverished counties, lack of transportation to reach distant medical facilities, and the direct health impacts of poverty including poor nutrition, housing instability, environmental hazards, and chronic stress that accelerate disease progression and mortality.

Housing Conditions and Infrastructure in the Poorest US Counties in 2025

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2022 5-Year Estimates, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps 2024-2025, Federal Communications Commission Broadband Deployment Report 2024

Housing and infrastructure conditions in America’s poorest counties present additional barriers to economic opportunity and quality of life. Todd County, South Dakota reports the lowest median home value at just $41,200—less than one-fifth the national median—coupled with an alarming 58.9% of households experiencing severe housing problems including overcrowding, high housing costs relative to income, lack of kitchen facilities, or inadequate heating. Oglala Lakota County shows similarly distressing conditions with median home values of only $48,900, 47.2% homeownership (well below the national 65% average), and 55.1% severe housing problems.

The digital divide severely impacts these counties’ ability to participate in the modern economy. Todd County reports only 25.6% broadband internet access, Oglala Lakota County just 28.4%, and Issaquena County 31.2%—meaning roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of residents lack reliable high-speed internet access essential for remote work, online education, telemedicine, and basic communication. Transportation poverty compounds these challenges, with Oglala Lakota County showing 24.7% of households without vehicles, Todd County 22.3%, and Issaquena County 18.6%—severely limiting residents’ ability to commute to distant jobs, access healthcare facilities or shop for affordable groceries.

Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.

Email ID:

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Email

Email *

SUBSCRIBE