Poverty rates among Americans aged 65 or more years increased in 10 states in 2023, according to American Community Survey data released Thursday by the US Census Bureau.
2023 was the third year in a row that poverty rates increased for this group, based on the use of standard data products.
Poverty rates for older adults increased in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia in 2023. Poverty rates for older adults decreased in Alaska, Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming in 2023.
The overall poverty rate in the ACS was 12.5% in 2023. Poverty among adults aged 65 or more years was 11.3%. The poverty rate for this demographic increased 0.3 percentage points, from 10.9%, from 2022.
The 2023 poverty rate for the older population ranged from 7.2% in Alaska to 17.7% in Washington, DC. Mississippi was a close second, at 15.8%.
In addition to Alaska, the lowest poverty rates were found in Wyoming (7.4%), New Hampshire (7.6%), Delaware (7.9%) and Utah (8.2%).
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