Percentage of Children Living in “Relative” Poverty (households with income below 50 percent of the national median income)
NOTICE how U.S. child poverty is so much worse than the other "developed" countries.
One out of every five U.S. children lives in poverty
Although countries differ in their approach, higher government spending on family and social benefits is associated with lower child poverty rates.
In countries like Sweden and France, government interventions reduce child poverty by 70 percent or more, while in the U.S. social spending lowers it only slightly – from 26% to 21%.
Childhood poverty affects health, behavior, safety, development, as well as future income and job prospects. The effects of childhood poverty are cumulative, lasting into adulthood and even the next generation.
The U.S. child poverty rate is by far the highest among rich nations. Children in poverty are 7 times more likely to be in poor or fair health than the rich.
