Contents
Poverty Rates
Another myth about the Reagan years is that millions were thrown into poverty. However, the facts as shown below tell a different story. As with so many economic indicators, they get worse during the Carter years, then do an about face as Reagan's economic programs get under way.
By 1989 the poverty rate was 1.2% lower than it was in 1981 and 2.4% below the peak rate of 15.2%. Another supply side success story.
| Poverty Rates 1979-89 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | People | Families | ||
| % below poverty line | number below poverty line (millions) | % below poverty line | number below poverty line (thousands) | |
| 1979 | 11.7 | 26.1 | 9.2 | 5461 |
| 1980 | 13.0 | 29.3 | 10.3 | 6217 |
| 1981 | 14.0 | 31.8 | 11.2 | 6851 |
| 1982 | 15.0 | 34.4 | 12.2 | 7512 |
| 1983 | 15.2 | 35.3 | 12.3 | 7647 |
| 1984 | 14.4 | 33.7 | 11.6 | 7277 |
| 1985 | 14.0 | 33.1 | 11.4 | 7223 |
| 1986 | 13.6 | 32.4 | 10.9 | 7023 |
| 1987 | 13.3 | 32.2 | 10.7 | 7005 |
| 1988 | 13.0 | 31.7 | 10.4 | 6874 |
| 1989 | 12.8 | 31.5 | 10.3 | 6784 |
Access the current statistics from the Census Bureau.
Visualize the poverty rate numbers.
For another angle on the real poverty rate, check out the poverty income breakdown.
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